22 DIY crafts ideas from pallets (pallets) for summer house and do-it-yourself home + photo
|Country crafts from improvised materials are not only a great opportunity to save on the purchase of necessary furniture and decor items, but also a chance to create truly unique things that fully meet your requirements for functionality and design. As a rule, they go plastic bottles and tiresbut today, in terms of popularity, they are overtaken by wooden pallets or pallets. This is a natural and durable material, the scope of which goes far beyond the scope of its direct purpose. Crafts from pallets for cottages easy to do with our own hands - we have collected some of the most interesting ideas. We study, get inspired and experiment.
Parameters and features of wooden pallets
The first and most logical question that any summer resident may have is where to get those same wooden pallets? Firstly, they can already be stored aimlessly in barn since some kind of cargo was delivered to the site, because the main purpose of the pallets is the transportation of various kinds of building materials. Secondly, they can be inherited from previous owners of a summer cottage. In the end, if you were inspired by some ideas and you definitely want to build something for your summer house or home, it’s easy to get wooden pallets - any more or less large construction store gives them for a penny. If you consider that of them you can make full furniture or even build a gazebo, then investments more than pay off. Entrepreneurial summer residents can try to directly contact construction companies and pick up unnecessary pallets from them for free - they will be happy to give them in order not to dispose of them on their own.
Pallets were created for convenient moving goods using forklifts, a pallet truck and other lifting devices. There is no single standard for pallets, but the most widely used are the so-called Euro pallets with dimensions 120 * 80 cm and a side height of 14.5 cm. The flooring is made of 22 mm thick boards, the distance between them should not exceed 5 cm. The capacity of a Euro pallet is 1500 kg. Pallets with parameters are also used. 120 * 100 cm and a height of 14.4 cm (domestic standard) For the flooring, seven boards of different widths (14.5 and 10 cm) are used, the distance between them is not more than 4.5 cm, the carrying capacity is up to 2500 kg.
Usually inexpensive wood species without a pronounced pattern, but strong enough: Pine, rarely spruce, aspen and birch. Elements are fastened with rugged or screw nails, there are pallets on nine legs. The pallets are characterized by excellent geometry, high quality, durability and, most importantly, environmental friendliness. This is an affordable and cheap material that can be easily processed, especially since it is not difficult to create structures from ready-made modules.
Reanimate pallets, extend their life and protect themselves and households from splintering easy enough.All irregularities can be smoothed out with a planer, the surface is treated with a grinder, putty cracks, the surfaces can be treated primer and wood preservatives. After that, the pallet can be painted in the required color and the result is varnished. There are plenty of possible options for what can be made of wooden pallets - they are limited only by imagination, because literally everything is created from them: from shelves and coffee tables to arbors, floorings and sheds.
No. 1. Pallets Coffee Table
Most often, wooden pallets acquire a second life in the form of garden furniture. Even the most inattentive could notice that decent cafes often organize summer areas using furniture from pallets: this stylish, eco-friendly, comfortablecheap and fast. The table of pallets is the easiest to make. To do this, you will need two pallets that are stacked on top of each other and fastened with nails, while you get improvised shelves for storing magazines and other little things. You can get by with one pallet - it all depends on the requirements for the height of the future table.
It remains to paint a new piece of garden interior and equip countertop, which can serve as glass or a sheet of moisture-proof plywood. For ease of movement, you can equip the table with wheels. Production will take a minimum of time, and coloring in pleasant shades will allow you to get a stylish table, a real decoration of the site, worthy of a cozy coastal cafe. By the way, the finished product can be safely used even in the living room as coffee table.
No. 2. Benches, armchairs and sofas from pallets
In addition to a table of wooden pallets, you can make comfortable sofasarmchairs and benches. A bench is constructed in this way:
- divide one standard and pre-prepared pallet into two parts, so that one of them is with 4 boards (future seat), and the second with 3 (back);
- combine the received parts at a right angle and fasten screws or screws, you can apply a double mount;
- for a more reliable connection of the back and seat, wooden blocks are used, which can be taken from the disassembled second pallet or use the boards available in the household. They will also play the role of armrests. It is better to fasten two bars on each side, connecting the back and seat, the length of the bars depends on the angle of inclination;
- four legs can be cut out from the remaining boards. It is better that they be of maximum width, but small height, which will increase the stability of the bench. The legs are attached to the bottom of the pallet, you can further strengthen the mount with a corner;
- in the final, you can cut decorative elements on the back, then cover the bench with varnish or paint of the desired shade and decorate with pillows. The latter can be bought, made to order or sew on your own.
Similarly, you can equip corner bench or separate small armchair. From the made benches, armchairs and a table in the garden, it is easy to equip a cozy recreation area.
It’s easy to create from a pallet and sofas absolutely any sizes and configurations (straight, angular, U-shaped). To do this, you need to sequentially fasten a series of pallets to each other in order to obtain a workpiece of the required length and shape. A second row of pallets is attached to the top to achieve a comfortable seating height. The back is attached to the finished structure. Self-tapping screws and screws are used as fasteners. The blank is painted and decorated with pillows.
No. 3. Hanging Pallet Beds
If there is a suitable place in the garden or on the terrace, you can fix a cozy hanging bed there. Its base is made of two standard pallets, which are carefully fastened to each other. For reliable fixation of the mattress, you can build a special box and use for this the remaining unused third pallet. The height of the side will correspond to the thickness of the mattress.If desired, the remaining boards and bars can be used to headboard facilities. To support the canopy of such a bed, together with people resting on it, you will need strong chains or ropes, and a reliable support.
Number 4. Multistory bed for summer cinema
Those who keep up with the times and use the cottage not only for growing vegetables and fruits, know that you can organize your vacation in the country with the help of a projector, several good films and a group of friends. You can arrange a cozy place to watch a movie with the help of pallets. To create a three-tier bed, you will need 12 pallets: the base is knocked down and 6 pallets, and the height of the first tier will be equal to the height of one pallet. To equip the second floor, to the central part of the base fasten on a pallet. The third floor will require sequential fastening of two more layers of pallets. It remains to paint the design and decorate with pillows. By the way, a similar solution come in handy for organizing a home theater in a room.
No. 5. Wooden pallet bed
Bed of pallets is a rather bold, at first glance, solution, which, nevertheless, has already begun to be used in country houses, in summer cottages, and even in ordinary city apartments. You can arrange pallets as you like, depending on what requirements are put forward to the beds. The height is regulated by the number of pallets installed on each other, the presence or absence of legs, wheels, etc. The width and length of the berth is also easy to adjust. If desired, from the same pallet You can make the head of the bed.
If the wooden base turned out to be much larger than the mattress, it can be used as an improvised podium or bench for the legs. The holes that are formed during the installation of one tier of pallets on the other are used to store bedding, books, magazines or for organizing integrated backlight. Pallets are durable material, so there is no need to worry about the reliability of a berth - better pay attention to choosing a comfortable ergonomic mattress.
No. 6. Bar counter of pallets
This idea is useful to those who are used to actively spending time in the country, throwing noisy parties. To create your own bar counter right on the site you will need several pallets (the quantity depends on the required sizes) and a little patience. The base is assembled from 2-3 pallets, which are placed vertically and fastened together. The side walls are also equipped by attaching pallets, but the countertop is best made from thicker and wider boards. The design is decorated and buried in the ground for fixation, supplemented with chairs if necessary. It is worth remembering that the length of the standard pallet is 1.2 m, so the height of the bar counter is limited.
Number 7. Pallet flooring
From wooden pallets you get excellent terrace or flooring for those parts of the suburban area where the soil is loose or impassable. Such a solution will cost much cheaper than a traditional plank floor, and with proper protection and care, it will serve a lot. Installation should not cause difficulties, however, you will have to prepare the required number of pallets, and they will require a lot.
First you need to set up pallets in the territory that they should cover. Then it is necessary to carefully level the surface using the building level. Under pallets it will be possible to put bricks, boards, wedges or construction debris. Often the base for pallets is covered with bulk materials. In order for the platform to be integral, separate pallets are interconnected with the help of plates, which are inserted into the lumen between the individual pallets and are attached with self-tapping screws. Now it’s all about the small: treat the wood with protective substances, paint or varnish. If desired, the floor can be covered with boards from above, using pallets as a pre-fabricated frame.
Number 8. Floor in outbuildings
Wooden pallets can also be used as flooring in cellars, basements, sheds, pantries, vaults and chicken coops. They provide isolation from the cold. concrete floor, ventilation and dryness of the floor. The floor is equipped in the same way as the flooring on the terrace, only in some cases an additional floor may be needed. For example, in a winter house, it’s not superfluous to lay on top a small steel mesh so that the animals do not fall into the cells. In sheds and cellars, you can lay a board.
No. 9. Hanger from the pallet
Another interesting handicraft made from pallets is a hanger, which can become a decoration of a country house or even an ordinary apartment. To create it, you need a pallet base (flooring), so the sides must be carefully removed. Do not rush to throw away the leftovers - they may still be needed. The base is well sanded, treated with protective agents and painted in the desired shade. It remains to attach several hooks to it: their number and location relative to each other depends on your needs. Ready hanger is fixed on the wall near front door.
No. 10. Deck Chair
Many equip a recreation area in the country with sun loungers: ready-made ones are sold in the store in assortment, but if there are unnecessary pallets, you can do it yourself. To equip one deck chair you will need 3 pallets: two are the same and one is slightly wider. The first two are laid on top of each other and proceed to the analysis of the third pallet, which will serve as the back. All lower boards, as well as bars at the back and front of the pallet, and half of the boards from the upper row are given from it, all work is carried out carefully, because the waste from this stage will still be useful.
The backrest is attached to the base, legs made from the boards remaining at the previous stage are attached to it. Now you can fasten the remaining elements together, paint the deck chair and supplement it with pillows.
No. 11. Shoe rack
From pallets can turn out simple shoe rack for giving. It is enough to cut one pallet into two parts, install them on top of each other and securely fasten: in the area that the shelf will occupy, you can place three times more shoes than before, and if you take the time to decorate such a shoe, it will become a decoration for the cottage house.
No. 12. Fence from pallets
Wooden fences were and remain classics, so they are always popular when fencing cottage. A pallet is the same tree, only it will be even easier to equip the fence, because several boards are already actually knocked together. The construction of such a fence resembles a designer.
Pallets will be arranged vertically, if necessary in two rows, if a higher fence is required. The supports will be metal pipes, which are installed in the recesses and poured with concrete. The pallets are attached to the supports, the upper edge can be figured out, and the whole structure can be painted and, if desired, decorated with flower pots. If you have the skills of installing loops, then the gate from the pallet is not a problem to do. If necessary, you can duplicate such a fence netting or sheets of polycarbonate.
No. 13. Arbor and outbuildings from pallets
The exact geometry of wooden pallets allows them to be used in the construction of simple structures. From pallets it is easy to get a square or rectangular construction of any size. Following the same principle arbors, sheds, chicken coops, small summer houses and even pet booths - Decor and design features depend on personal preferences and imagination.
Foundation under more or less large structures will be needed in any case, but which one depends on the type of soil. For sites located on clay soils, it is better to use foundation on stilts, for rocky soils - a strip foundation. The floor of the building can be made of terrace boards or the pallets themselves.As a frame, you can use wooden blocks or metal pipes, and pallets in one or two layers will be attached to them.
You can close all the walls of the gazebo with pallets, or you can make them only up to a certain height - in any case, the space inside will be filled with light and adequately ventilated. Roof gazebo best made of polycarbonate, among the alternatives - flexible tile, ondulin and metal tile.
If we sew up the walls inside, for example, with plywood, we get full summer house, which from the outside can be decorated with plants and flowers, because the pots will be conveniently located in the formed pockets. If such a building is sheathed outside siding, then no one will ever guess about the features of its origin, and you can use the building for recreation, warehousing of summer cottage equipment or for other purposes. Similarly, on the site you can build a barn, a woodcutter, a chicken coop, a doghouse or small house for childrenthat will become the center playground in the country.
And 9 more crafts ideas from pallets (pallets)
Wooden pallets store the unlimited potential of creating various useful things for a summer residence and a city apartment. Here's another Some interesting options for what can be made from wooden pallets:
- vertical landscaping of the site. The pallet can become the basis for hanging pots and containers with flowers;
- shelf for flowers and garden tools;
- interesting lamp;
- a cabinet or chest of drawers - you only need to correctly place the pallets, and there are a lot of options;
- sandbox guard;
- nightstand or TV stand;
- parking for bicycles;
- a cozy place for a pet;
- even stairs in the apartment can be arranged if pallets are stacked on top of each other and secured well.
And the list does not end there: after thinking a little and turning on the imagination, you can make other stylish and convenient crafts from pallets.