DIY

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How to Build a Comfortable Pallet Sofa in 3 Simple Steps

I bet you never thought about building a couch for yourself. A couch or sofa is one of the most basic, yet effective types of pallet furniture you can make. They’re highly usable and rewarding to relax on after completion. Plus, it’s not very hard to make a halfway decent one for yourself. One thing to keep in mind is the location, because this thing can get real heavy real fast. These are best used outdoors, or in an open-air space, but you could always make a pallet loveseat that weighs a little bit less. Below you’ll find a quick breakdown of how to approach this diy pallet build.

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Step 1 – Acquire pallets and prep the frame

You’ll need a decent amount of used pallets for this project, somewhere in the range of 6-8 to create something like you’ll see here. The first thing you should do is sand any surfaces that will be exposed. Nobody likes splinters, and you don’t want your project to bite you. Arrange two pallets on top of one another, two on the side for armrests, and two behind to get the basic frame laid out.

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Step 2 – Add surfacing

You’ll want to cover the bare surface with something a bit more aesthetically pleasing, and in this case we chose a sort of grooved plywood. Get creative and use whatever you think will work. The main places you should cover are the armrests, the top of the back bolsters, and the bottom of the front.

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Step 3 – Add cushions

You may want to have something custom made for the couch, that way the cushion fits perfectly up and down. Otherwise you might end up with loose fitting cushions that move around too much. Alternatively, you could cover the frame with a fabric, and choose some outdoor cushions to sit on top. It’s up to you really. Whatever you choose will add much more charm and appeal to the overall design than the simple wood pallets could ever provide.

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Step 4 – Relax!

The result will be a totally hand-made pallet sofa that has a rustic look and feel to it without sacrificing comfort. Overall the cost will be less than $100 in most cases, if not free depending on the choices you make for cushions, surfacing, and so on. This is a pretty straightforward project that anyone can complete in a matter of an afternoon with a few friends and some beers to help with the creative juices.

This Simple Trick Will Keep Your Plants Happy and Healthy

Gardeners tend to fall into two camps. Some have a natural green thumb, while others struggle to keep anything green alive. Water is obviously essential to the survival of any plant, but the quality can vary greatly, and a small shift in PH, or excess nutrients might be all it takes to kill a plant.

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This simple recipe for eggshell water might be all you need to go from zero to hero in the garden. All you need is a plastic milk jug (or some other container) and a few crushed egg shells.

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Grind up anywhere from 3-6 shells, and mix them with a gallon of water. Let the water sit for a day or so while it absorbs the shells, and then water your plants. It’s ok if a piece of shell falls into the soil, as it will slowly break down over time.

Why does this work? Egg shells are rich in micronutrients, including calcium, which acts as a natural PH buffer. It also has trace amounts of potassium and magnesium, two essential nutrients that work together to help deliver necessary food to plants. So you end up with an organic fertilizer that costs pennies on the dollar!

A Simple Way To Beautify Plastic Planters Using Pallets

Ah, pallets – is there anything they can’t be used for? In this simple lesson, you’ll learn how to salvage those plain black planter containers you get from the nursery, giving them a rustic look that’s worth displaying anywhere around the house.

First you’ll want to measure the pallet slats to the correct length…

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Next you’ll fasten them to the sides using thin “brad” style nails.

pallet-wood-planter-project-container-gardening-gardening-pallet (1)Once you finish that step, the inside of your container will look more like something Hannibal would create. To make this safe, use pliars and bend the nails inward.

pallet-wood-planter-project-container-gardening-gardening-pallet (2)Boom – your finished planters! They look great as-is, but you could also layer a coat of paint to give them a bolder look.

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25 Cheeky Hidden Storage Ideas. #22 Is Hilarious!

With Big Brother being more all-seeing than ever these days, all we can do is carve out little spaces in our lives that are just for us. These 25 brilliant hidden storage ideas go way beyond the clichéd billionaire with a secret safe behind the Monet painting (although no-one is saying that isn’t still cool). From storing disks and documents inside a keyboard to hidden under-floor wine cellars, these DIYers make sure secret remains secret. Although you always have to wonder…what else are they hiding?

1 | Hidden “Art” Wall Cabinet
1-procecthome 2 | Pop, Lock and Drop It
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3 | Not Your Ordinary Bathtub
3-stowaway-bath 4 | It’s Just A Keyboard…What??
4-storage-keyboard 5 | For All Your Soap Hiding Pleasure5-clever-tile-
6 | Nice Collection
6-slide-out 7 | Good For Hiding Blankets, Pillows, and Bodies! (kidding, of course)
7-floor_storage1 8 | To Hide Your Tupperware Party Binge Problem8-booth-china 9 | Now We’re Talking!
9-wine-storage 10 | The Millennium Falcon Used These For Smuggling
10-Yo-Home 11 | Chilled, Please
11-storage-dining 12 | Sorry. Degas, not Monet12-hugenot 13 | Taking Storage A Step Further13-home-Stairs 14 | Watch What It Does Now!14-storage-tv 15 | Just Hanging Around15-Wood-Pillar 16 | Lightning McQueen Would Be So Proud16-entertainment 17 | I Want That Oscar Meyer Shirt Now17-floor-storage 18 | So That’s Where The Remote Is!
18-coffee-table 19 | Damn. I Already Used My Stair Pun19-hidden-storage 20 | I’m Checking Every Plug Everywhere
20-wall-socket 21 | Anyone Else See The Irony Here?21-Novelty-Creative 22 | Not Touching This One22-diy-hidden 23 | That’s A Lot Of Leather23-Shoe-Storage 24 | Really? More Stairs?24-step 25 | If There’s Not Beer In There I Quit
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He Made His PubShed Incredible With 5,500 Pennies

With the growing trend of “pubsheds” comes an increasing amount of creativity, as demonstrated by this guy who turned a simple shed dubbed “The Barn” into a very creative backyard bar where he and his buddies can hang out and enjoy a couple drinks. What makes his build unique though is the peculiar use of a whopping 5,500 pennies which he incorporated into the design. Check it out below.

The gabled barn style shed looks nice on the outside…

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Yet the inside was lacking in proper bar decor, so he went to work building a bar.

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The bar itself isn’t too fancy…yet.

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Here’s where he starts to get creative, setting aside $55 worth of pennies for special use.

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He even sorted the pennies, keeping the pre-1982 ones from the rest. Talk about commitment!

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Before using the pennies, he decided to soak them in vinegar and salt, which removes the oxidization and brings them back to a shiny new state.

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But he also left half of them to dry without polishing, which created a nice variation in the color for his project.

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Then he set to work, laying the pennies in a diamond pattern according to their shades of color.

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You might notice every penny is facing heads up.

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Finally he slathered four quarts of resin over the top, using a blowtorch to remove any bubbles, and was left with a beautiful surface on his new bar.

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And of course he installed a kegerator to dispense ice cold brews for him and his friends.

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The completed project on display, with three local Virginia beers on tap!

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Images via Imgur | American Standard

7 Impressive DIY Pallet Tables

We’re always impressed at the ingenuity some people display. Like with these tables for example, all of which are totally awesome and built for just a few dollars. Check out these examples below for ideas to create your own DIY pallet table from what would otherwise be scrap wood.

 Two old crates + window

This one has a classy yet rustic feel with the combination of wood and glass.

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DIY Round Pallet Table

This approach is simple. Buy a table stand on Amazon, or re-purpose one you already have. Then use a jigsaw to cut a round piece of plywood, and lay the pallet staves over it. Use the jigsaw to trim the staves to match the curved edge, and voila, you have a beautiful round table for outside.

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Pallet Kitchen Table

Here’s a great example of how you can re-use pallet to create a kitchen table that not only looks great but won’t give you splinters. Using about 5 pallets, some wood stain and sanding you can build this in an afternoon, easily.

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Pallet Picnic Table

If you want a nice place to sit the kids outside, but don’t want to buy a picnic table this might be the best option. It’s a fairly simple approach, using several pallets that have been taken apart to a degree and then joined together with a bench on either side.

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Pallet Coffee Table on Wheels

Here’s another great idea, and one that’s simple to do. Attach four wheels to the bottom of a pallet, with a 2×4 separating them and you’re good to go.

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Pallet Planting Table

We love planting tables for the versatility they offer, and the amount of bending over they save on our backs. This one uses a single pallet for the back, some 2x4s and a few pieces of flat plywood for a work surface.

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Colorful Dining Table

One of our favorite examples is this dining table, which makes use of sanded and finished pallets laid tight together and joined by a clean metal frame.

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Ultimate Collection of DIY Pallet Furniture Ideas

We come across so many great ideas that showcase pallets, and thought it would be nice to gather some of them in one place for your viewing pleasure. The amount of creativity shown below is astounding, and we can’t even imagine how some people come up with these ideas, but they do. From using pallets for gardening, to creating a beautiful pallet sofa, pallet bench, and much more. Most of these projects can be accomplished in an afternoon. While a fair amount may require some sort of instructions on cutting angles and so forth, the vast majority of these DIY projects can be done without instructions to be honest.

When building pallet furniture it’s important to keep in mind a few things.

  • Always sand the wood. Pallets are typically unfinished and have course edges that would give you splinters. You don’t want to be attacked by the piece of furniture you just built!
  • Use 2x4s or similar pieces of lumber to brace pallets together and create separation between them.
  • Keep a jigsaw handy for those tricky cuts, especially the curved kind
  • Use your imagination and let your creative spark take over – you’ll be surprised how easy it is to build many of these pallet projects

Now go forth and create your own tables, chairs, benches, and planters!

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How to Make a DIY Pallet Bed Frame

One of the home furniture items in which you might need to invest big money is the bed. Go to any mattress store and you’ll find prices ranging from a thousand bucks on the low end to $5,000+ or more! Bed frames, especially those made of hard wood, are quite expensive, and if you need to furnish several rooms, the cost can make a dent on your pocket. Why not recycle pallet wood to make a sturdy and attractive bed frame instead? Here is how this DIY pallet project can be done.

Here’s a good example using six pallets that demonstrates just how simple it can be to make:

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Commercial movable bed frames are quite costly, but if you know how to use hammer, plane, nails, sander, and paint brush, you can save a lot of money by using pallet wood from discarded crates. For a bed frame, pallet wood pieces that are in good condition would be the best choice. They must be thick and sturdy to support the weight of one or two people. Consider the size of the bed you’re planning on using – a full, queen, or king size will each require a slightly different amount of pallets.

The head board can be made from two pallets put together to form a double purpose headboard, which will be a support and a storage place for items you always want to be close to you when you sleep such as your mobile phone or tablet, headset, charger, books, and magazines.

Determine the size of the bed and make the frame by nailing wood planks together. Then, make the head board from wood planks as well. Design the head board in such a way that there are recesses to contain gadgets, books, and magazines. After finishing the frame and headboard, apply paint. White is ideal, but using a color that matches the paint of the room will be fine. Then, attach metal wheels to make it easy for the bed to be moved.

This DIY bed frame from pallet wood will be a treasure to your home and could last for many years. And if the time comes when you need to get rid of it in a move or something, it won’t be that hard considering you didn’t spend very much on it.

Need some more inspiration for your next diy pallet bed frame? Check out the images below to get some great ideas. Have a questions? Let us know in the comments.

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5 Creative Pallet Shelf Ideas for Your Inspiration

Have a place for everything and everything in its place. But what if there is nowhere to place everything? Make your home clutter-free without buying more furniture for the purpose.  Salvage and restore pallet wood from old crates, and with creativity and ingenuity, you can have racks and shelves to serve the purpose. Here are some of the great rack designs to organize your home.

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Make a rack for your hats and gloves without spending money on it. Using pallet wood that you have salvaged from scrap, you can make your rack. Nail together some planks and place hooks that you have removed from old furniture at home. Using some tools, you can make decorative edgings to lend your rack a classy look. You can place this in the hallway and all family members can place their hats, caps, and gloves on the rack instead of dumping them on chairs and sofas.

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You can also make a hanging rack for the bathroom. Damp towels and other bathroom paraphernalia can be placed on the rack to keep them dry. In addition, there will be less clutter in the bathroom, and it will be a safe place for the whole family.

Keeping your jewelry items in boxes is fine but if you want to make decorative display furniture, you can make a rack where you can display your bracelets, necklaces, rings, earrings, bungles, and the like.  You can apply dark varnish to give the rack a vintage and antique look. Then, place hooks on the planks where you can hang your jewelry items conveniently. For the safety of your items, cover the rack with glass.

With these rack ideas, you can have a safe, clutter-free, and lovely home at all times.

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5 DIY Cleaning Products You Can Make Today

No doubt about it – DIY projects are booming right now. We’re all cooped inside our homes, running low on essential supplies and leery of heading into the supermarket to restock (if there’s anything there at all). But what if you have everything you need at your fingertips already? Here’s a list of fairly simple do it yourself projects all related to cleaning, disinfecting, and keeping those nasty germs away.

5Homemade Disinfectant Wipes

Disinfectant wipes are in short supply, that’s for sure, so if you can make your own, why not?? All you need is some clean face towels, or old rags/shirts you can tear into pieces and some basic ingredients:

  • Fabric 
  • 1/2 cup Alcohol 
  • 1/3 cup Distilled Water
  • 25 drops Lemon Essential Oil
  • 25 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil

Lemon and Tea Tree work wonders as natural antimicrobial substances, and the alcohol further boosts this mixture’s ability to wipe out nasty germs. Mix it all together, save in a glass jar, and douse a piece of fabric with the solution when you need to clean something. Simple and it saves wasting money and creating extra waste with normal wipes.

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