How to make outdoor pallet furniture

DIY project from NZ Gardener magazine

Rose Hughes upcycles pallets into stylish pieces for your deck or patio.

Recycle pallets into outside furniture

You will need

  • Pallets / cushions
  • Nails / Nail punch
  • Screwdriver / screws (various)
  • Skilsaw and Clamps

Pallets:

The scale and scope of this project is dependent on the size of your pallets. I sourced 4 pallets measuring 1500mm x 1200mm, and found the smaller 650mm x 650mm pallet on the side of the road. Check out the internet for inspiration and ideas.

Cushions:

I found an old foam mattress at the local recycle centre and made the covers from fabric I had already, but you can source outdoor furniture cushions as an option.

Instructions

 
Step 1Step one
Work out the best options for the pallets you have. Using the skilsaw, I cut 4 x 550mm deep for the two seats and 2 x 900mm high for the backs. Cut the foam to size for the seat squabs and backs (optional), and make the covers.
Step 2Step two
Replace any rotten or damaged boards. Check and replace nails to ensure they are below the surface of the timber. Sand well. Use a firm bristle brush to clean and dust the areas you can’t reach with the sander or hand sand.
Step 3Step three
Stain all pieces. I used Resene Waterborne Woodsman stain in Pitch Black. Move the pieces to their location. Stack two seats together and screw through the top into the lower one. Clamp and join the back to the seats using suitable length screws.
Step 4Step four
I added a pair of lower struts to the small pallet and attached castors to each corner to make a coffee table.

Photos: Rose Hughes

› Download a PDF of this project