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Do you have old wooden pallets lying around? If so, you’ve probably been wondering how you can get rid of them. After all, wooden pallets can be bulky and hard to dispose of, and many people don’t see use for them outside of shipping and storing items. However, the good news is that instead of throwing them in the nearest dumpster, you can repurpose them into the perfect accessories for your backyard. 

However, there are a few precautions you should take when using pallets for your outdoor DIYs. Look for ones that are stamped with “HT” to indicate that they are heat-treated or with “KD” for kiln-dried. These are typically safe to use for garden projects. Ones with a “DB” mark mean that the wood is debarked. These aren’t chemically-treated, so they’re okay to use in place of lumber. However, make sure to avoid ones that are stamped with “MB”. This means that they were treated with a pesticide that could harm your plants, pets, or family members.

So, if you have some safe discarded pallets, you’re in luck. Whether you need additional storage space or are simply looking to make your outdoor space more functional, a little DIY magic and a few pallets can help. Not only will these ideas give you an upcycling opportunity, but they’ll also help you save money. The best news, though, is that you don’t have to be a DIY aficionado to tackle any of these projects. So, let’s take a look at some affordable upcycling projects you can do with old wooden pallets.

With this quick and easy DIY, you can turn an old pallet into a beautiful vertical garden for your favorite plants, herbs, or flowers. In addition to your pallet, all you’ll need is three wooden planks, wood screws, and a drill. If you want to get extra creative, you can sand and stain the pallet to customize it even further. This is a great project for people who want to save a significant amount of money since purchasing a vertical garden can cost upwards of $300. Keep in mind, however, that there are some plants that work better in vertical gardens than others. 

@jennifer.cline

SUPER simple DIY #easydiy #diy #furniture #furnitureflip #upcycling #summer #outdoors

♬ Star Wars – Produced – Ettore Stratta

Are you looking for ways to design a perfect patio, including a functional furniture setup, but don’t want to break the bank? Pallets to the rescue! With just two pallets and a can of stain (or paint), you can make your very own outdoor table. You can even add wheels if you’d like your table to be easy to move around. However, since the table is made from pallets, you’ll need to be mindful of the gaps in the top. You may want to add a tabletop accessory like SforGuva’s Square Serving Tray to create a flat surface area. 

@simonakeroydgardener

Simple and free way to create a raised bed. Couldn’t be easier. Pallets are easy to get hold of and are usually free. Use heat treated pallets (look for HT logos or similar on the pallet) as opposed to ones treated with wood preservative. They are ideal for planting strawberries or sowing types of salad leaves, mini beetroot leaves, rocket, radishes, herbs and so much more #nodiggardening #nodig #gardening #growyourown #vegetablegardeningforbeginners #vegetablegardening

♬ This Is Me – Keala Settle & The Greatest Showman Ensemble

Raised planter boxes can cost upwards of $150, but with this quick and easy DIY, you can make your own for next to nothing. The only things you need to get the job done are a pallet, a hammer, a pry bar, nails, and compost or soil. From one pallet, you can make a raised planter box with six pockets so you’ll have plenty of room to grow your favorite things. It’s a good idea to clean your wood pallets before starting to remove any debris. 

@gardeneriddler

Time for some more pallet action 🪚 The easiest build you are ever going to see but so useful and will tidy up you garden and mind in the space of about 30 minutes. All you need is a an electric drill a saw and probably about 30 screws and a few extra bit of pallet wood that you can get from another pallet if your like me and have load 😂 So to start you need to lengths of wood about a metre long and screw these to the blocks at either side of one end of your pallet as shown. Next you need another couple of bits of wood to block the opening to create storage boxes on the top two opening (the opposite end to where you screwed the feet to. Then you can put your pallet storage in place and go and collect all the tools that you have abandoned around the place. A couple of screw about an inch apart are perfect for holding small trowels and forks, then spaces and shovels and forks slide in the open side without the boxes. If you don’t want this to be free standing you can screw it to the wall in your shed 👍🏻 #diy #recycling #growyourown #ecofriendly #easypalletideas

♬ Roll With It – Oasis

Do you need more space to store your gardening supplies? This DIY project will give you just that. The only things you’ll need are a pallet, a few extra pieces of wood, around 30 screws, a saw, and a drill. This DIY tool storage system is great because it can hold (and organize) everything from large shovels to bags of soil. Plus, it can be built in under an hour, and its slim design makes it perfect for people who don’t have a lot of space. If your storage unit will be exposed to the elements, you may want to consider sealing it with something like Storm Stain to make it more durable. 

This DIY compost project encompasses all of the best elements of doing things yourself: it’s cheap, it’s fast, and it’s easy. To make your own three-bin compost system, you’ll need seven pallets that are about the same size. Additionally, you’ll need screws and a drill to connect the pallets to each other. If you want to take this project to the next level, you can even add a roof or a door. This DIY composter is more affordable than buying a three-bin system, which can cost over $300, and it’s also more efficient than a single-bin system. 

@diamond.legacy

Easy pallet DIY for your pool accessories! Anyone can do it! ☀️⛱️ #diy #diyproject #husbandsoftiktok #reclaimedwood #easydiy #dadsoftiktok #cheap #pool #storage #summervibes #happykids

♬ GOOD DAY (Sped Up) – Forrest Frank

With the help of this fun DIY project, you can say goodbye to the days of pool toys being left around your yard. On top of a pallet, you’ll need a 2-by-4, a drill, and hooks. Once you’ve set up your pool toy storage pallet, you’ll have a convenient place to put things like towels, pool noodles, goggles, and floaties. One of the benefits of this storage solution is that it has different areas to store different items, which makes things easier to find when you need them, as opposed to placing them all into one large bin. Plus, this DIY project won’t take long to complete, so it’s especially helpful if you need storage ASAP.

@hourpointofview_

Easy diy boardwalk pathway that cost us pretty much nothing. Free wood pallets from Facebook Marketplace and a Lowe’s gift card pretty much got us this project for free. And I promise I didn’t buy the gift card. #garden #gardening #pathway #walkway #easydiy #fyp

♬ RINGS – Otis McDonald

Installing a pathway in your backyard may seem like an expensive project, but it doesn’t have to be. You can use old wooden pallets to make a beautiful boardwalk-style pathway that won’t cost you much time or money. To get this project done, you’ll need pallets (the number will depend on how long you want your pathway to be), a saw, a drill, and landscaping spikes, like this affordable option from YANEYRIE. This DIY may even help keep your house cleaner by reducing the amount of mud and grass picked up by shoes and tracked indoors.