Wooden pallets are a dime a dozen on the job site with a clear functional use. But over the past few years, an entire subculture of crafty individuals has found countless ways to repurpose these seemingly static items into a variety of creative uses.
As a craftsman, you’re never one to shy away from a new home project, especially one that requires a challenge. To help kickstart your creative process, let’s take a look at a few awesome things you can do with a wooden pallet. Don’t worry, you probably haven’t heard of these!
Bar Top
It’s every homeowner’s dream to have a fun little bar area to hang out and entertain guests. Whether you have extra space in your basement, garage, or backyard, a wooden pallet might just be your ticket to that elusive at-home bar. You can incorporate full pallets into the design or break them down for the lumber and reassemble something completely unique. Get creative on this one!
Wooden Accent Wall
Looking to add some flair to your master bedroom or living room? If you can collect enough pallets, you can make an entire wooden accent wall without having to spend money on expensive lumber. With some sanding and staining, you can transform busted pallets into a professional-grade accent wall to give your room that little something extra it needs.
Coffee Table
Pallets are notorious for their sturdiness and durability. Take advantage of this strength by converting a simple wooden pallet into a modern, functional coffee table. Fit a custom-sized glass top and attach some legs for an affordable coffee table that’s cooler than anything you’ll see in the magazines. Add some wheels instead of legs for a convenient, easy-to-move model.
Outdoor Swing
Have some extra porch space or empty space in your backyard? With a few tweaks here and there, you can easily make a farm-style outdoor swing out of wooden pallets. You can suspend the converted pallets using a chain or rope. Throw a few cushions on top, and you’ll have a new place to kick back and relax after a long day of work on the job site.
Workbench
You’ve invested time, energy, and money into the right work tools and gear. If only you could find a place to put all of it! That’s another place wooden pallets can help. You can build wall racks to hang your gear, shelves to organize your tools, or individual slots to house your various work shoes.
Outdoor Furniture
There’s no better way to tie together your backyard paradise than a matching set of outdoor furniture. If you’ve been putting off the purchase for a while, it might be time to let your craftsmen’s capabilities take over this project. Depending on how many pallets you can get your hands on, you could build a comfortable chair, sizeable loveseat, or sturdy table. If you turn out to enjoy making outdoor furniture out of pallets, you can even earn a side income from it!
Bed Frame
Bed frames are typically overpriced and downright ugly. So why not work your craftsman magic and whip up a homemade bed frame out of pallets? Whether you want to make a frame for a king, queen, or twin-size bed, all you have to do is adjust the number of pallets you use. If you’re feeling inspired, you could even build a matching headboard to tie it all together.
Have you been looking for rewarding construction gigs without any luck? Your search stops here! Head over to IamMadden.com for the latest job openings around the northwest. At Madden Craftsmen, we’ve been helping talented craftsmen just like you find work with some of the best construction employers in the area. Not yet fully qualified? Check out our apprenticeship program where you can earn the credentials and experience you need to land a competitive role in this exciting market.
