Wooden pallets are one of the most popular bases used for transporting fruits and vegetables from farms and orchards to packinghouses and grocery stores. However, once a shipment has been unloaded and the pallets are no longer needed, they provide a wonderful resource for anyone interested in trying their hand at a few DIY pallet projects for their home, garden, and business. Join us as we describe four of the best pallet projects that you can do yourself to improve your home and save money.
Essential Tools for Your DIY Pallet Project
Whichever of our projects most appeals to you, you are going to need a few simple tools, including:
- Hammer
- Nails
- Screwdriver
- Screws
- Tape measure
- Hand saw or jigsaw
- Sander or sanding paper
- Safety gloves
- Safety goggles
Once you have gathered these basic tools and sourced a few used pallets from a warehouse or retail store, you are ready to create your pallet paradise!
1- Pallet Candle Holders
The simplest of our DIY pallet projects and the one that will take you the least amount of time is a set of three to four rustic-looking candle holders. This quick and easy project is ideal for creating a romantic ambience for candlelit dinners and provides a warm, nostalgic feel when placed in a hallway or in the family living room.
For this project, you will need:
- 3-4 pallet blocks (also called chocks or dice)
- 3-4 tealight candles
- A couple of pallet slats with a consistent width and depth
- A hand saw or jigsaw
- A sander
- A screwdriver
- A drill
- Fire-resistant wood varnish
- High-strength wood glue
- Metal hook and screws
- Metal ring with its mounting surface
Instructions
- Begin your DIY pallet candle holders by sanding the pallet blocks. Then, drill tealight-shaped pockets into the top of each one. Sand and varnish.
- Using the hand saw or jigsaw, cut the slats into three (or four) shorter lengths of flat wood. Sand and varnish.
- Mount the blocks onto the slats and arrange in an ascending (or descending) staircase pattern, joining the pieces together with a high-strength wood glue.
- Screw the metal ring into the top of the middle slat and screw the metal hook into the wall where you want to hang the candle holder.
- Hang the candle holder on the hook, put the tea-light candles in place, and light the wicks.
- Enjoy the ambience!
2- Pallet Coffee Mug Holder
Next on our list of the best pallet projects is a simple and easy-to-make coffee mug holder. This DIY pallet wall-mounted holder keeps coffee (or beer) mugs within easy reach and adds a rustic farmhouse look to homes of any style or aesthetic.
What you will need:
- 1 wooden pallet
- Measuring tape
- Hand saw or jigsaw
- Sander
- Wood stain or varnish
- Hammer
- Drill
- Screwdriver
- 16 nails
- 9 metal hooks
- 18 screws
- White paint and medium art paintbrush
- Large lettering stencil (optional)
Instructions
- Remove three slats from the pallet, cutting the slats to the desired length (suggestion is a half-length) for your DIY pallet coffee mug holder. Sand and varnish.
- Arrange four of the half-slats horizontally over the remaining two half slats, separating the horizontal slats the correct distance for the size of your coffee or beer mugs.
- Nail the front slats onto the two mounting slats.
- Drill holes in the lower three front slats and mount the metal hooks far enough apart to hang your coffee or beer mugs.
- Using the lettering stencil if desired, paint the word “COFFEE” or “BREW” on the top slat.
- Mount your coffee mug holder onto the wall, hang your mugs, and you’re done!
3- Pallet Shoe Rack
Keep your shoes and work boots tidy with a simple DIY pallet shoe rack made from dismantled pallet slats. This pallet project is one of the best for farming families because it allows you to customize not only the number of shelves but also the distance between shelves to accommodate knee-high rubber Wellington work boots and bulky steel-toe Caterpillar boots.
What you’ll need:
- Wooden pallets
- Hammer and nails
- Hand saw or jigsaw
- Sander
- Wood stain, varnish, or paint
- Measuring tape
Instructions
- Decide which shoes will go on the DIY pallet rack and calculate the required height, width, and number of shelves to hold all of these shoes.
- Dismantle the pallets, cutting the slats to the desired length and cutting several smaller lengths of slat to sit above and below each block.
- Sand and paint (or varnish) all of the blocks and slats.
- Assemble the shoe rack, separating the shelves with a block (or two or three), topped above and below with a small length of pallet slat.
- Place the rack by the door ready to receive the family’s shoes each time you come and go.
4- Pallet Planter
Some of the simplest pallet projects really are the best. In addition to making a vertical pallet garden for your wall, you can also make an easy DIY pallet planting bed using the pallet slats as the raised walls that sit on top of the ground. Simply dismantle the pallet and nail it back together in a square shape with the number of levels that you want and using smaller lengths as brackets for uniting the interior corners. Fill your planter with compost, plant some herbs and veggies, and you should soon have a delicious bed of homegrown food ready to harvest and eat!
Why You Should Choose Pallets from Fruit Growers Supply for Your DIY Pallet Projects
Since 1907, Fruit Growers Supply has been working with the fruit growers of California to grow abundant, healthy crops and deliver them safely to market. All of our pallets and corrugated fiberboard boxes are made from sustainably-sourced timber and can be recycled (and re-recycled) at the end of their lifetime.
If you would like a large quantity of pallets for transporting your crop or for DIY pallet projects, let us know exactly what you need and we will make sure that the structure of the pallets as well as any treatments used on the wood (heat, fungicides, and fire-resistant chemicals) match the usage you have in mind.
Contact our team to discuss your ideas and receive a free, no-obligation quote today!