How to Improve Your Bedroom With a Simple DIY Bed

DIY projects don’t need to be complex, difficult or expensive in order to be great. Take the word of an amateur that constructed a bed, a small table using some DIY makeover ideas, and clothes rack with my own two hands in which I couldn’t be more pleased. I’ve been fed up with beds that cost a small fortune and wind up being unstable, unsafe and uncool. Wardrobes that have faulty doors that don’t close properly or lean on one side, anyone? Tables that don’t fit with my vision of how my bedroom should look and just useless. I don’t want furniture that I waste money on every three to five years or things that I find inadequate in the same amount of time. I want a sustainable way of refurnishing my bedroom with things that are long lasting and environmentally friendly. So I’m going to focus on some simple bedroom decorating ideas.
I’m not Nordic nor am I a carpenter but with a bit of sandpaper and wood pallets, I wound up only spending a tenth of what I would have otherwise spent on a bed that I’d get bored of in one year and that would have no stability.

I especially like the fact that I did it, but maybe that’s just me. So here is a romantic bedroom decorating idea on a low budget. I should say a very low budget as pallets aren’t expensive at all. You can even find warehouses who give them away for free but the aspect is important, so spend an extra buck for a cleaner look.

Pallet bed

For this simple bed idea, all you need is:

• 8-10 pallets (it depends on the design, I went for 8 but you can use two extra for the headrest)
• A sandpaper machine (with a belt or rotating, I went for belt)
• And that’s it (you can screw the pallets together with wooden rods and add wheels if you want, I didn’t)

Step 1: The First Step Is Protection

I can’t stress this enough. As I said, I’m not a carpenter but you don’t need to be. Safety is NOT jumping in a puddle of water when there’s a live wire in it or keeping your hand away from flames.

• Get some rough gloves. Latex grip gloves are great but the important part is to keep your hands safe.
• Get a mask. It can be a surgical mask or even better. I used a bandana and it worked. Other things might work better.
• Get protective glasses. This is very important as small wood particles might get in your eye and infections are not a joke. Scuba glasses or other types of safety goggles. What is important is that it sticks to your face and not only covers your eyes. So simple glasses aren’t an option.

I don’t work out frequently, while I am rather fit but this little step made my back, legs and arm muscles hurt for two days after. Depending on how well you get organized, it can be done in one or two days.

Step 2: The Second Step Is Sandpapering

I only cleaned the parts that would be visible. There isn’t really any point in overworking yourself. The part that will be on display should be cleaned of splinters or rough edges. I cleaned the top part of four pallets and two sides for each.
It helps if you mark how you plan to install them once you’re ready to construct your bed. Simple things like “top left”, “bottom right” and so on. Like that, when you clean them you know which sides need to be worked on. For the other four pallets that would be left on the bottom, I only cleaned the edges that would be visible.

Step 3: The Third and Final Step Is Construction

Here you need to go to your room and stack the pallets in the desired design.
I first placed the base. Two at the top, head to head, and two at the bottom, side by side, centered with the ones at the head. This created something resembling nightstands on each side. Do the same for the second layer. The only thing you have to make sure is that you don’t mix up the order. The ones thoroughly cleaned on top are to be placed in the second layer.

Step 4: End Game

The final product is a bed that is resistant, strong and long-lasting with an edgy look. It can be perfect for Nordic designs as well as that warehouse look that’s so in style right now. A simple DIY makeover for a romantic bedroom on a budget.
You can paint it if you want with acrylic latex water-based paint but I enjoy the wood texture, color, and aspect so I didn’t. What I did do is arrange some Christmas lights, those that are simply yellow, no flickering or dimming, between the pallets at the bottom. You can also use led lights but I recommend a warm yellow and not cold white, it gives a cozier feel and it is your bedroom after all.