Pallet day bed

A couple of recycled pallets, an old door, and some blankets and cushions make the perfect day bed.

YOU WILL NEED:

Wood pallets (ask around at garden centres and hardware stores)
Bosch orbital sander – great for flat surfaces and intensive sanding
Drill-Driver and assorted drill and screwdriver bits
80- and 180-grit sanding pads
4 large lockable casters with screws or bolts
Medium density foam for the top

HERE’S HOW:

Many companies have deliveries done on pallets and are normally more than happy to sell off a few. Look for ones that are in good shape and only need to be sanded, or have an odd board replaced.

1. Give the pallets a good sanding, first with 80-grit and then 180-grit. Pay particular attention to the edges as you need to remove any split wood and splinters.

DIY Tip:

You will find a wide selection of timber planks at your local Hardware Store, to replace damaged planks, use a hammer to rip off the damaged ones, remove old nails and cut new planks to replace. Hammer these in place with wire nails.

2. Drill holes for the castor wheel screws or bolts and attach these to the base at all four corners. You will need to use locking castors or the bed will end up sliding all over the room! Top off the pallets with a piece of foam wrapped or covered in fabric and then finish off with a couple of throw pillows.

SAFETY FIRST:

It has been brought to my attention that, overseas they treat pallets with highly toxic preservatives. When picking up pallets it is preferable to use those that have been in use for quite some time, where toxins have degraded.