One of the inventive bloggers over at Sassy Sparrow, a family-based crafting and DIY blog, really liked her patio. It was a great place to relax and entertain, but there was just one problem: the patio furniture she’d bought only sat four, making it difficult to have larger groups over.
So what could she do without spending a lot of money? Well, with a little planning and a lot of old, wooden pallets, she was able to boost her seating capacity and create a super-cute, super-cheap patio bench. Here’s how:
First, she started by collecting wooden pallets. She found hers on CraigsList from a company trying to get rid of a shipment of wrong-sized pallets. They were around $20 for two truckloads!
15 pallets were used for this project, and there are still many left over for future endeavors. In addition to the pallets, a measuring tape, sandpaper, a hammer and nails, and paint were all used.
The pallets were cut in half with a regular handsaw.
The pallets were a bit wide for sitting, so they were sliced down the middle beam.
Using a chair as a height reference, she stacked the halved pallets. A stack of three seemed about the right height.
All 15 pallets, stacked in threes.
You can leave them simply stacked up, or nail them together for more stability. Leaving them unfastened, though, makes them easier to move and reconfigure.
For the backs, she used the leftover pieces that had been cut off, and removed the backing boards.
They pulled right off, but if they give you trouble, you can remove the nails with a hammer.
The backs were simply lined up against the wall, which provided enough support.
If there is no wall, the backs can be nailed down to the other pallets through the blocks on the back.
This is what it looked like after assembly. A small piece of pallet had to be cut to fill in a small gap in the corner.
However, pallets are usually very rough and full of splinters, so before using them as seating, you’ll need to sand them down.
This set got a paint job, but you can also just seal them and let their natural wood show through.
The original furniture was put back, and the patio was transformed into a great gathering space!
If you’re looking for cheap and easy additions to your home, pallets are a great option. They’re cost-effective and a great way to recycle materials. You can also see more crafts and creativity from the Sassy Sparrow family on their blog, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Be sure to visit their online shop, too!
