45 DIY Wood Pallet Crafts and Art Projects

Author:
Loraine Brummer
Updated date:
Sep 16, 2021

Loraine loves arts and crafts and used to volunteer at an elementary art class. She loves sharing fun and easy craft tutorials.

Repurpose your old wooden pallets into a number of cool crafts, including this light-up sign!

Craft Ideas Made From Pallet Wood

If you’ve ever searched for wood pallet crafts, you’ll know that there are a lot of projects shown, but so many of them don’t have instructions. In this article, all the crafts pictured also include a link that takes you directly to the tutorial for the project.

Most of the projects are easy enough, but there are a few that are meant for someone with carpentry experience.

How Do You Make the Lighted "Open" Sign?

You'll find the tutorial for making the charming, lighted sign shown above at Scavenger Chic.

1. Crates With Transfer Images

I really love this project because, not only do you get a great tutorial for making the crates at A Piece of Rainbow, there are also instructions on how to transfer images onto the crates. Plus, the author includes images that you can use. A whole lot of information freely given!

2. Stately Shelves

This rustic style of decor is really popular now. You'll find the instructions for making the beautiful rustic shelves on [the nest] site

3. Rustic Tray

You'll especially enjoy using this rustic tray with its branch handles when dining outdoors. Go to Funky Junk Interiors to find the instructions for making this woodsy tray.

4. Photo Display

I'm sure just about anyone of us would be able to find a suitable wall to display this photo board. SIMPLY + KIERSTE is the name of the site where you'll find the pictured tutorial.

5. Toddler Bed

Imagine how happy your little tyke will be to have a cute little bed like this. To find the tutorial for making this toddler bed, go to the Lori Danelle site.

6. American Flag

Even the broken pieces of the wood pallet can be used, and in this project, the look is very attractive. You'll find the instructions for making this flag at the mylove2create site.

7. Saloon Door Stair Gate

If you have a little one who loves to crawl up stairs and then either fall or cry because he or she feels stranded, you might consider making one of these baby gates. You can find the tutorial for this attractive gate at HOME DEPOT BLOG.

8. Rustic Wall Art

Although I find the font used in printing in this project hard to read, I think the overall wall art is very beautiful. The directions for this wall art project are found at diyready.

9. Patchwork Cross

Check out Beyond the Picket Fence for directions for making this patchwork cross.

10. Drop Leaf Wall Desk

How about an attractive wall desk like this one for the kitchen. How many times have you wished you had a desk in the kitchen but didn't want to give up the floor space. Check out the tutorial at Infarrantly Creative.

11. Tree Photo Card Holder

I can also see this tree, with more clothespins added, as an Advent calendar holding little envelopes that carried a message about a treat or special activity leading up to Christmas. The directions for making this Christmas tree photo card holder is found at Southern Revivals.

12. Pallet Wood Clock

This large, rustic clock is a great gift idea for just about anyone on your list. Do a light color wash for rooms like the baby's room or a girl's bedroom, leave it natural or use deeper colors for family rooms or kitchen or dining room. Go to Thistlewood Farms to find the tutorial for making this outstanding clock.

13. Sweet Swing Bed

Talk about a dream place, for relaxing and reading a good book, on a comfortable summer day. Start gathering your wood pallets and then go to The Merrythought to find the tutorial that will tell you all you need to know to make a sweet swing bed.

14. Workbench

A nice thing about making your own workbench is that you can make it the perfect height for you to work at. Find the tutorial for making this workbench at Little House of Four.

15. Hanging Planter

Rustic and beautiful are the first two words that came to mind when I saw this wood pallet project. The instructions for making this planter can be found at House by Hoff. A stunning was to display your favorite flowers.

16. Jack-o-Lantern

The directions that you'll find for making this Jack-o-lantern are found at HGTV, and they suggest using a battery operated votive to light up the lantern. I believe I'd try to figure out a way to add the "light" part of an inexpensive solar yard light instead. That way the jack-o-lantern would light as soon as it got dark. I wonder if that would work?

17. Photo Frames

This is a project that I'm going to have to try. I love working with Mod Podge, and that's how these photos are added to the pallet frames. For all the information that you need to do this craft, go to Southern Revivals.

18. Sofa

A really informative tutorial is given at Funky Junk Interiors. Who would believe wood pallets could look this good!

19. Rustic Frame

Although in this example the frame displays a vintage seed bag, I think the frame would be great to use with inspirational sayings or photos. Find the tutorial for this project at Knick of Time.

20. Pallet Tree

See how easy it is to make a wood pallet Christmas tree by going to The Turquoise Home to find the tutorial.

21. Crate Boxes

Once you find a great tutorial for making crate boxes, like this one found at My Love 2 Create you can customize the boxes any way that you wish. Consider adding stenciling, painting or staining.

22. Merry Christmas Stocking Hooks

The first thing I thought of when I saw this project was how useful this would be if you didn't have a mantel to hang Christmas stockings from. This sign, with hooks added, would be a great alternative. Go to Beyond The Picket Fence to find all the information that you'll need to make this sign.

23. Painted Signs

For any of the wood pallet projects where the boards are placed flush against each other, you'll find that the Kreg jig is used. For the tutorial to make the beautiful inspirational signs shown above, go to The Turquoise Home.

24. Strawberry Planter Box

I would love to have one of these strawberry planter boxes. Imagine all the fresh strawberry pies I could make.

25. Home State Sign

When you go to the Create Babble site, you'll find the tutorial for making this home state sign.

26. Patchwork Star Ornament

You'll find a great tutorial for making this patchwork star ornament at Made to be a Momma.

27. Wood Christmas Tree

This wood Christmas tree would be a little easier to see if it weren't sitting in front of a wood background, but if you look closely you can see how very pretty it is. The tutorial for making this wood tree is found at Thistlewood Farms. Very impressive!

28. Garden Tool Hanger

To make a garden tool hanger like the one shown, go to Our Little Acre for the directions. This is one of those "why didn't I think of that" projects.

29. Cornhole Game

If you'd want to make this game, go to the Instructables site for a very good tutorial.

30. Bird Feeder

You'll find the instructions for making this bird feeder at Home-Dzine.

31. World Map

Need an idea for wall decor for a boy's room or a man cave? This world map is both masculine and vintage looking. Instructions for this wall decor is found at The Idea Room.

32. Planter Covers

Check out the tutorial at Make The Best of Things to make a wood covered planter

33. Towel Ladder

See how to make a wood pallet towel ladder by going to the Home-Dzine site for the tutorial.

34. Rustic Bench

The shelf holding shoes is a terrific idea for an entry way or porch. It looks so much neater than shoes kicked in a pile! You'll find out how to make this rustic bench by going to My Sophia Ryan. A very attractive, and useful bench.

35. Wine Rack

I like this wine rack attached to the railing of the patio or balcony idea. Go to the Sweet Pea site where you'll find a great pictured tutorial to guide you through all the steps of making a wine rack from pallet wood.

36. Halloween Fence

By going to the Sew Woodsy site, you'll find all the information you'll need to build a fence like this.

37. Roadside Lemonade Stand

The plans for making this roadside lemonade stand can be found at Heart Work.

38. Book Shelf

The kids will learn about keeping their books in a safe place when they have book shelves made especially for that purpose. Directions for making the book shelf shown above are found at Creative Outlets.

39. Coastal Whale Art

Are you wondering what to use to decorate your beach themed home or cabin? You'll love this coastal whale wall art. The tutorial to guide you on this project is found at Fox Hollow Cottage.

40. Giant Wooden Star

I guess this isn't actually a wood pallet project, but it's too neat to pass up. And I think you'll be able to make the pallet woodwork to make this giant star. The directions at Unskinny Boppy will make this project easy to do.

41. Pumpkins

This is an unique idea for adding these to a grouping of different styles of pumpkins. Imagine these along with others on your front step this fall. Go to Little House of Four and you'll see how to make these pumpkins.

42. Pontoon Boat

Although this is a really intense pallet project, if this is what you love, what a party platform! Or I guess you could fish from it, too. All the pictured instructions to help you make a pontoon boat can be found at Imgur. Good luck and have fun!

43. Xmas Tree

To make the Xmas tree shown above, go to Scavenger Chic. You'll see a few variations for decorating the tree also.

44. Pallet Planter Box

To make the planter box, go to Blooming Homestead. Then, think of alternative ways to use them.

45. Birdhouse

46. Photo Transfer on Wood

Would you make a wood pallet project? or leave a comment.

Loraine Brummer (author) from Hartington, Nebraska on July 16, 2015:

Your welcome, ThelmacC. What I like best is that all the links go to sites that share tutorials for making pallet projects. When I find an item I particularly like, I appreciate it if there are instructions so I can try my hand at making the item also.

Thelma Raker Coffone from Blue Ridge Mountains, USA on July 15, 2015:

Amazing ideas! Thanks for sharing all of the links.

Loraine Brummer (author) from Hartington, Nebraska on July 14, 2015:

Thanks for the visit and comment, WiccanSage. I wish I felt more comfortable using electric tools. Then I could make that cool clock.

Mackenzie Sage Wright on July 12, 2015:

Wow, amazing stuff! And now, I want a pallet desk. So cool! Thanks for sharing, I love these.