15 Shipping Pallet Projects for the DIY Home

If pulling out the hammer and nails isn’t really your thing, use a bevy of pallets in good condition to create a platform for your bed. Remove splinters and apply a healthy dose of paint for a quick and easy makeover for your bed.

When securely fastened to a tree or the ceiling of a porch, a pallet and some cushioning make the ideal place to lounge. Vary the size and add on whatever options you like—the pallet swing is endlessly customizable.

Related: Weekend Projects—5 DIYs to Improve Your Outdoor Space

A great project for a slightly damaged shipping pallet, this wine rack doesn’t require a lot of wood. Keep it bare-bones for an easy undertaking or kick it up a notch and create a place to store wineglasses below.

Customize a sandbox for your kids! You can assemble shipping pallets to create an area for playing, benches to sit on, and even a lid to keep out rain. Use a strong liner to keep sand contained to the box.

While a platform bed made from pallets requires little work, a matching headboard needs a bit more elbow grease. Deconstructed and reassembled, these pieces of wood only hint at their former life.

Related: 9 "Dreamy" Headboards You Can Make

Repurposed pallets offer great storage solutions for everything from pots and pans to sneakers and boots. Just see how naturally this pallet takes to a new life as a shoe rack. Cut the pallet down to the appropriate size and, if you like, customize with a coat of paint for your entryway.

Related: Giving Boots the Boot! 11 Smart Storage Ideas for Your Winter Footwear

Whether or not you have a green thumb, you can still use pallets to create raised beds in your garden or to help you keep your vegetables organized into easily identified (or labeled) rows.

Related: Pro Tips—Square-Foot Gardening

A coat of paint and a healthy number of succulents can transform just four pallets into a room divider for both indoor and outdoor use. This configuration is great for privacy and just perfect for an outdoor shower.

Related: Outdoor Showers—The New Accessible Luxury

Reclaimed wood floors are a popular look—and this popularity makes them pricey. Salvaged pallets can be deconstructed and treated to imitate the appearance of reclaimed wood in less trafficked and rawer spaces (think workshop, cabin, and similar spots).

Related: 11 Ways to Use Salvaged Wood in Your Home

Constructing a backyard patio requires a thorough plan and consultation with an experienced builder. You might supplement this project with additional materials, but pallets can form the foundation of your backyard oasis.

Related: 7 Easy, Budget-Friendly Backyard Makeovers

The shelves and tiers of a pallet make them ideal for curating collections. Securely fasten a pallet to the wall, or even lean one against the wall on top of a dresser, and voilà—an instant home for jewelry and trinkets.

For the more ambitious DIYer, an architecture-backed plan and plenty of shipping pallets can form the basis for a shed in your backyard. With a few upgrades, the structure can even be a potential guesthouse. The architects of I-Beam Design developed the one seen here as a model of a sustainable emergency shelter.

Related: 11 Homemade Sheds to Fill Your Storage Needs

If you are interested in more woodworking project ideas, consider:

11 Homemade Sheds to Fill Your Storage Needs

10 Surprisingly Simple Woodworking Projects for Beginners

Chick Magnets: 10 Irresistible DIY Chicken Coops

Discover and admire beautiful and innovative home architecture, from grand Victorians to quaint cabins and all the styles in between. Take a look at the latest images and inspiration!