Make Your Own Pallet Bed
Part industrial, part boho and definitely all cool, pallet beds are a great way to give your mattress a lift. Here's how to do it yourself
We’ve noticed a decorating trend popping up that’s changing the way some may lay down to sleep at night – the pallet bed. As a creative way to recycle old pallets, you can easily make one yourself. And the best part? You can potentially do this without spending a cent. Read on to learn how to create a unique pallet bed of your own.
Get the right type of pallet
There are quite a few different types of pallets, including reversible ones, close-boarded, or the baseless pallet pictured here. You need to work out what you like best aesthetically, what’s available and whether you want to use under the bed base for storage. Also make sure whichever style you go for will be structurally sound.
Ways to reinvent wooden pallets
There are quite a few different types of pallets, including reversible ones, close-boarded, or the baseless pallet pictured here. You need to work out what you like best aesthetically, what’s available and whether you want to use under the bed base for storage. Also make sure whichever style you go for will be structurally sound.
Ways to reinvent wooden pallets
Choose your treatment
Look for pallets that are heat treated, steam treated or kiln dried. These will be the most resilient types, and are safe to use. All pallets should have a stamp on them which tells you how they’ve been treated. If they don’t have a stamp, it means they’ve been used for domestic transport and are probably safe – but best to try and trace where they’re from. International pallets must be marked with the IPPC logo to be considered safe.
Look for pallets that are heat treated, steam treated or kiln dried. These will be the most resilient types, and are safe to use. All pallets should have a stamp on them which tells you how they’ve been treated. If they don’t have a stamp, it means they’ve been used for domestic transport and are probably safe – but best to try and trace where they’re from. International pallets must be marked with the IPPC logo to be considered safe.
Sand the pallets
An electric sander is most efficient for making pallets smooth to touch. New pallets may not need sanding, but if you are planning on painting them it’s definitely a good idea. Also make sure you get right to the edges of the pallet with the electric sander, and always wear eye protection and a dust mask while working.
If you’re going for a more rustic look, you may not need to sand them at all, just make sure they don’t have splinters.
An electric sander is most efficient for making pallets smooth to touch. New pallets may not need sanding, but if you are planning on painting them it’s definitely a good idea. Also make sure you get right to the edges of the pallet with the electric sander, and always wear eye protection and a dust mask while working.
If you’re going for a more rustic look, you may not need to sand them at all, just make sure they don’t have splinters.
Paint it (or not)
Make sure you dust down the pallets before beginning to paint them. Use spray paint if you’re after a more finished look, or apply a whitewash paint with a brush if you’re going for something more rustic. Be sparing with how much paint you apply – seeing a little wood grain through the paint is a positive thing. Next, apply polyurethane to protect the frame. Use a water-based poly if you’ve used white paint, as oil-based poly can turn the white to a yellow over time. Another option is staining the wood to make it darker.
Read more bed painting tips
Make sure you dust down the pallets before beginning to paint them. Use spray paint if you’re after a more finished look, or apply a whitewash paint with a brush if you’re going for something more rustic. Be sparing with how much paint you apply – seeing a little wood grain through the paint is a positive thing. Next, apply polyurethane to protect the frame. Use a water-based poly if you’ve used white paint, as oil-based poly can turn the white to a yellow over time. Another option is staining the wood to make it darker.
Read more bed painting tips
Stay low
If you prefer to be closer to the ground, you can use pallets that are lower in height. Or, if you want to be even lower, just use one level of pallets.
If you prefer to be closer to the ground, you can use pallets that are lower in height. Or, if you want to be even lower, just use one level of pallets.
Assemble the pallets
There’s no need for power tools when making a pallet bed – just place them next to each other in the shape of a rectangular base. There are usually four pallets per level. If you want the base to be higher, add another level of pallets.
Michaela Upton, whose room is pictured here, recommends making an Ideabook for inspiration of how you want the pallet bed to look before you start. Upton decided on assembling a pallet bed that would create a warehouse vibe in her room, without the designer furniture price.
It’s important to put a layer between the pallets and the mattress to keep your mattress protected. You can either use thick cardboard or a felt-like material.
There’s no need for power tools when making a pallet bed – just place them next to each other in the shape of a rectangular base. There are usually four pallets per level. If you want the base to be higher, add another level of pallets.
Michaela Upton, whose room is pictured here, recommends making an Ideabook for inspiration of how you want the pallet bed to look before you start. Upton decided on assembling a pallet bed that would create a warehouse vibe in her room, without the designer furniture price.
It’s important to put a layer between the pallets and the mattress to keep your mattress protected. You can either use thick cardboard or a felt-like material.
Suspend it from the ceiling
Suspending a pallet bed from the ceiling will require some professional help. You will first need to make sure the pallets are firmly attached to each other (using brackets) and are stable. The bolts in the ceiling need to be able to hold substantial weight, and this should definitely be checked by a pro! This look is super fun, but requires some planning and help to achieve.
Suspending a pallet bed from the ceiling will require some professional help. You will first need to make sure the pallets are firmly attached to each other (using brackets) and are stable. The bolts in the ceiling need to be able to hold substantial weight, and this should definitely be checked by a pro! This look is super fun, but requires some planning and help to achieve.
Make a bedhead
A bedhead can become an eye-catching feature of a room. You will need a pallet that’s wider than the ones used on the base. All you have to do is lean the pallet up against the wall, but make sure you sand it back first to avoid splintery edges, which might pull the fabric on your linen.
Make your bedhead work harder
A bedhead can become an eye-catching feature of a room. You will need a pallet that’s wider than the ones used on the base. All you have to do is lean the pallet up against the wall, but make sure you sand it back first to avoid splintery edges, which might pull the fabric on your linen.
Make your bedhead work harder
Try pallet bunk beds
Pallet beds can also work for kids’ beds. You may need professional help mounting them to the walls and attaching wheels to the bottom bunk, but they’re a really unique and stylish way to have bunk beds.
Pallet beds can also work for kids’ beds. You may need professional help mounting them to the walls and attaching wheels to the bottom bunk, but they’re a really unique and stylish way to have bunk beds.
Style it
Now that you’ve made your own pallet bed, you’ll want to style it. An all-white, pared back scheme fits in with the industrial look, but bright colours and eclectic art makes the look a little more boho if that’s what you prefer. The options are limitless.
TELL US
Have you made a pallet bed, or would you like to give it a go? Tell us about it in the Comments.
MORE
Read more bedroom stories
Now that you’ve made your own pallet bed, you’ll want to style it. An all-white, pared back scheme fits in with the industrial look, but bright colours and eclectic art makes the look a little more boho if that’s what you prefer. The options are limitless.
TELL US
Have you made a pallet bed, or would you like to give it a go? Tell us about it in the Comments.
MORE
Read more bedroom stories
There’s no real need to buy pallets – you can often find people giving them away on forums (like Gumtree and eBay), or you could ask builders at a local construction site. Not only is a freebie always appreciated, but the recycling aspect is great for the environment and for the community too.
Find out the measurements of the pallets before you pick them up – you want to choose pallets that are the same dimensions and ones that will be a bit bigger than your mattress when combined. Make sure the pallets haven’t been exposed to lots of rain or humidity – new pallets are more trustworthy, stronger and less likely to bow. Keep an eye out for slats that are too far apart, and boards that are full of big splinters.