What can you do with an old pallet?

So many things! If you ever come across the opportunity to pick up a few pallets take a look at some of the ideas I have come across for recycling old pallets into furniture and other practical and decorative pieces.

 

Make furniture for your home

 

 

 

ABOVE and BELOW: Who would have thought that a humble pallet could be transformed into so many practical pieces. Make a coffee table, make a dining room table, even make a sectional sofa or daybed with a wood pallet.

 

 

In the kitchen

 

ABOVE and BELOW: Don't stop there... Recycle a pallet into useful furniture and accessories for a country or cottage kitchen. Store your plate collection, make a kitchen island or dining room table. By recycling an old pallet you can create beautiful pieces - for free!

 

In the bedroom

ABOVE and BELOW: Complete your Shabby Chic bedroom with a rustic headboard made from... an old pallet !

 

ABOVE and BELOW: One blogger turned wooden pallets into an adorable bed for her daughter. But I would recommend some serious sanding if you plan to use pallets as a bed for a child.

In the garden

ABOVE and BELOW: Whip up a garden bench or a relaxing chair for the garden from an old pallet.

 

 

ABOVE and BELOW: Rustic pallets are perfect for in the garden. Make up a patio or table for the deck, or plant up pretty annuals and herbs for easy access.

 

ABOVE and BELOW: Use a pallet to create a vertical herb garden, or for planting up a vertical garden for a balcony. Start by wrapping the front and sides of the pallet with landscape fabric. Place the pallet on its back and fill with tightly compressed potting soil. Start adding your plants to the openings - and the top - and make sure that they are well-compacted into the soil before placing the pallet upright to rest against a wall.

Pallets for pets

 

Find and prepare your pallet

Its best if you have the opportunity to look through the pile of pallets and choose which one will work best for you.  Be picky!!! Choose one that doesn’t have a lot of nails sticking out.  Make sure it still has most of its structure as you’ll need that support to hold everything in.  You don’t want a pallet that is missing a lot of slats. Before leaving, make sure to flash your pearly whites to the person that is graciously giving you the pallet.

Set aside plenty of time to give the pallet a good sanding – start with 60-grit and move up to finish off with 22-grit sandpaper.

SAFETY FIRST:

It has been brought to my attention that, overseas they treat pallets with highly toxic preservatives. When picking up pallets it is preferable to use those that have been in use for quite some time, where toxins have degraded.