How to Make Pallet Furniture

We are going to show you in 3 easy steps how to make a bed, for indoor or outdoor use, using just 2 44x48 inch wooden packing pallets!!

This is cost-effective, comfortable, natural, and good-looking.

Better yet, if you ever get bored of it, you can take it apart and build something else!!

Step 1: Planning/Materials needed

Materials: 2 44x48 pallets, nails, hammer, crowbar, wrench, mattress and sheets (optional)

One pallet will be completely taken apart, and the other will have one side free of wood.

The strips of wood you end up with will become the legs of the bed (could have 4, 6, 8, or 12), we recommend 8 legs for stability.

Each leg is half of a strip of wood, and will be attached at the corners of the pallet.  

Step 2: Taking Apart Your Pallets

You can take apart your pallets using a hammer and a crowbar.
Wedge the crowbar under a plank, and hammer it in, creating a gap. Do the same on the other side, and pull.  When the plank is in an inch or so off its foundation, hammer it back in.  This should make leave the nails elevated slightly above the pallet.  Pull out the nails using the back of your hammer or a wrench (depending on the hammer, you could have a claw on the back).  
Remember, one pallet should still have wood on one side by the time you are done (this is the bed).  
We've attached a picture of what our pallet lokked like.  If yours has gaps like ours, make sure to fill them up with planks.  It will make the bed a lot more attractive and comfortable.  We will explain how to attach planks in step 4.

Step 3: Cutting the Wood

The size of the legs does not matter, but we suggest that each should be about half the length of the plank, again to ensure strength and stability.  You can use virtually any saw to cut the wood, but it is imperative that all legs are of equal length. (mark off where you are going to cut before just in case!) You should try and use the sturdiest pieces of wood you have for this, as the legs need to be the strongest part of the bed.  We've attached pictures of what the legs should look like.

Step 4: Attaching Legs

You will attach these legs onto the bed, at each of the corners.  If your pallet has three places where you can attach legs, it is best to do so.  You will attach legs with nails, hammer and a drill.  First, using the drill, create a hole at one of the corners.  Then, hammer in a nail.  At each corner, you can attach one or two half-planks, depending on preference as well as strength of wood.  (If you are confident in the strength of the wood, you should only need one, if not, 2 is a better idea).  Do this on all for corners before you try to use the bed.  The more legs you have, the better, but each leg needs to be attached carefully and securely.  We advise to hold the leg onto the pallet with a clamp as you are attaching them (as seen in our second picture below).

Step 5: Enjoy

At this point, you can do anything.  If you want to have a natural feel to it, and are not afraid of back pains, you could sleep on it just like that.  If not, adding a mattress and sheets will ensure a good night's sleep, outdoor or indoor.  You could add a third pallet below the legs if you are so inclined.
Have fun!!