Ultimate upcycling: Choose your pallet project

So, you've got a pile of de-nailed pallet wood and no idea what to build? Here are a few items that might tickle your fancy.

Indoor furniture

Low couches are pretty easy if you can get some cushions/seats made. Simply stack a couple pallets on top of each other, secure with a drill and screws, arrange another vertically to create the back and secure again. If you're a more experienced DIY-er, you could start with pallet wood, sand it down with a power sander, assemble according to your own design and paint or varnish when complete. For any lengths cut to measure, you will probably want a table saw, circular saw or mitre saw.

You can put in as much or as little effort as you like, and still get great results. Low couches and tables made with pallets can create a very modern and minimalist look for your home. A glass top across some stacked pallets makes for a great coffee table - or go the whole hog and add draws and legs.

Outdoor furniture

Entire outdoor furniture sets can be created using pallet wood, including tables, benches and chairs. Sun loungers, one of the most popular projects, can be made to great effect with very little effort, and the pallet slats lend themselves to being painted in various colours. Make sure you sand down anything you'll be sitting on in swimwear with a power sander to avoid nasty splinters. A belt sander is great for getting the wood really smooth, especially if your job will be painted or varnished. Smaller sanders can be used for detail sanding and getting into tight nooks.

Garden pieces

Raised flower beds, veggie gardens and planter boxes all call for a substantial amount of timber - and if you can use free pallets, why not? When building anything that is going to contain damp soil, try and make sure to line the wood with plastic and provide for sufficient drainage. An interesting pallet project that is not for the faint-hearted is a vertical garden. These miniature garden oases are fantastic for small plants like herbs and veggies, or if you have a very limited outdoor space.