Pallet bed: Stylish DIY solution

Pallets or pallets are consumables that are used to transport heavy loads, including construction materials. Each pallet consists of knocked down boards 80 cm wide, 120 cm long and 12 cm high. Savvy designers and handmade craftsmen have found interesting uses for environmentally friendly and durable Euro pallets. Such packaging material is used to create exclusive furniture.

Bed made of pallets in the interior: types, features and advantages

Beds, walls and tables made of pallets fit perfectly into a minimalist design. This furniture is also suitable for rustic and cottage style. Weather-resistant pallets can be used in the manufacture of outdoor furniture. Owners of themed restaurants are also not averse to acquiring tables and chairs made from pallets.

A bed on a frame made of pallets will be a unique addition to the bedroom interior. You can create it yourself by first studying the furniture assembly procedure. A pallet bed has a rather rough frame, so it is not suitable for installation in a classic interior. Painted or varnished pallets are recommended for making furniture in a modern style.

Types of beds made from Euro pallets:

With a headboard, for the manufacture of which pallets or separate boards are used. In children's beds, small protective bumpers are installed instead of a headboard.
For children, you can build a bunk or regular bed. It is recommended to use the space between the pallets for storing bed linen and children's toys. Over time, the sleeping area can be increased by adding another pallet.
Furniture with lighting is suitable for a studio apartment and bedroom in a modern style. The trays have holes that are ideal for placing LED strips and cords (duralight).
With a mattress box, beds were made, consisting of one row of pallets. At the furniture design stage, you will have to take into account the dimensions of the mattress. On average, two to four pallets are enough to create a box.

In its simplest form, a Euro pallet bed resembles a podium on which a mattress is placed. The presence of a headboard, a box and lighting significantly complicates the process of assembling furniture.

Bed installation method:

On wheels. Suitable for compact beds that are planned to be constantly moved. Furniture casters are selected taking into account future load. It is worth adding from 100 to 150 kg to the total weight of the frame and mattress.
On legs. An excellent choice for users who pay special attention to the cleanliness of the room. The legs are made from boards obtained after disassembling the pallets. The frame rises slightly, creating free space under the bed.
On the floor. The traditional way of placing furniture from a pallet. The podium is installed directly on the floor.

On average, it takes from two to sixteen pallets to make a bed, which you can independently lay in several rows. From pallets you can make a compact semi-size or single bed. The principle of creating a comfortable double bed is based on fastening the frame elements, so you will have to choose pallets of the same size. The design features of such products make it possible to produce furniture for children's rooms.

The disadvantages of furniture made from pallets include a rather rough appearance. Lovers of exquisite beds with carved headboards and detailed decor are unlikely to appreciate the aesthetic properties of such furniture. A pallet bed looks great in a bedroom interior if you first take care of selecting accompanying decorative elements. Particular attention will have to be paid to the style of bed linen.

Advantages of pallet beds:

Cheapness. The demand for pallets has increased significantly, but prices have remained the same. Making a bed from Euro pallets with your own hands will cost several times less than purchasing furniture from a store. You can also use used products to create frames.
High speed and ease of assembly. A bedroom furniture set can be made in a few hours. To work with pallets, no qualifications are required, just the ability to use a hammer and a hacksaw is enough.
Wear resistance. Pallets are designed for transporting heavy building materials (bricks, packaged bulk mixtures, blocks), so the frame made from them can withstand enormous loads.
Ecological cleanliness. Natural wood is used in the production of pallets.
Design flexibility. Pallet frames can be repainted and modified, although wooden furniture looks stunning without additional finishing.

Furniture made from Euro pallets is stable, strong and durable. It fits perfectly into the functional design of the premises. The absence of harmful dyes and toxic materials allows the use of such furniture in an eco-style interior.

Multilayer mattress

Multi-layer mattresses - the so-called "hamburgers" - are especially hardy and durable. They are designed for regular, increased loads. They provide minimal shrinkage even with regular exposure to a weight of 120 kg. At the same time, they are quite anatomical and comfortable. More in demand for public institutions.

Multilayer filling can also imply layer-by-layer alternation of sheet reinforced foam rubber of one of the EL brands with crushed polyurethane foam. This design allows us to obtain interesting, voluminous products that can hold their shape for a long time.

Additional services

At the request of the customer, the manufacturer can wrap the mattress with fiber (to add volume), use furniture or water-repellent fabric for covering, make a carriage tie and secure it with buttons, make an edging along the edge, and add a backrest to the mattress. The height of the mattress can vary from 5 to 50 cm!

The range of colors is quite varied. The color palette starts with neutrals and ends with bright, rich tones and even unusual prints.

How to make a bed from pallets with your own hands: assembly steps

Making a drawing

At the design stage, the design features and dimensions of the bed are determined. It is necessary to clarify some key aspects that will affect the design parameters and operating features. It is recommended to carefully study each of the available types of frames, calculate the future budget and take measurements of the room.

In the process of drawing up sketches, the following are taken into account:

Bed size. The dimensions of the bed directly depend on the needs of the user and the parameters of the room. Using a two-layer structure will create a massive and high bed, while a single-layer frame is used as the basis for placing a niche under the mattress.
Furniture shape. The frame made from Euro pallets has a rectangular or square shape, but if desired, you can create corner and bunk beds.
Placement diagram (on the floor, wheels or legs).
Size and properties of the mattress. Not only the dimensions, but also the comfort of the sleeping place depend on these parameters. The mattress can be placed directly on a pallet or placed in a special box.
Headboard type. If desired, this structural element can be abandoned, but the appearance of the bed may suffer from such a decision. The headboard is attached to the wall or frame. The second method is simpler, but the wall mount is original.

Furniture makers use special software to create sketches. A pallet bed is a popular solution for interior design, so there are many ready-made assembly schemes. Before proceeding with further steps, you need to carefully check the sketch. All dimensions should be written out on a separate sheet. First you will have to make a list of materials and tools that you will have to use in the future.

Choosing pallets for the bed

After drawing up a sketch and specifying the dimensions of future furniture, you can begin choosing pallets. It is allowed to use new and used wooden platforms to make the frame. If the second option is chosen, you will have to carefully check the integrity of the product.

Ready-made pallets are sold by specialized companies, whose employees manufacture goods to individual sizes according to customer requirements. A standard Euro pallet does not exceed 120 cm in length and is limited in width to 80 cm. Thus, it takes from 6 to 12 pallets to create a high double bed with a headboard.

List of tools and materials

To make a simple bed from Euro pallets yourself, a relatively small list of tools will be useful. Most of them can be found at home, but the rest will have to be purchased at a hardware store.

The following tools and working materials will be required:

Pallets in sufficient quantities (dimensions are determined according to the drawing).
Tape measure and pencil for measurements.
Self-tapping screws or nails for securing frame elements.
Power tools for woodworking (electric jigsaw, sander).
Hand tools (hammer, screwdriver, hacksaw).
Drill or screwdriver.
Sandpaper.
Primer for wood.
Varnish or paint.
Brush and roller.

Paint and varnish materials deserve special mention. If you plan to simply varnish the pallets, you can skip the paint. Otherwise, it is recommended to choose a special wood paint that is used in the manufacture of furniture.

Preparing the material

Preparatory work should be done step by step, as it includes several interrelated stages. It is recommended to remove any cracks, protruding knots and nails. The wood must be dry and clean. If old pallets are used, they should be thoroughly cleaned. Regular detergents can be used, but the product will have to be dried before starting work. Buyers should be wary of a chemical smell or uneven color. It is better to avoid purchasing pallets with such defects.

The process of sanding, painting and priming occurs during the preparatory stage. The surface is leveled with a grinding machine and sandpaper. During the processing process, dust appears, which can be removed with a damp cloth. After cleaning and leveling the surface, you can begin painting or applying varnish. You should use two or even three layers of paint and varnish materials, the base for which will be a special primer for wood.

Stages of assembling a bed from pallets

After preparing the pallets, you can begin the assembly stage. To create functional and attractive furniture you will have to work hard. There are several assembly options, among which it is recommended to choose the optimal one for a particular room. Beginners should start with the simplest installation method.

To create a double bed measuring 240x240 cm you need:

Choose from six to twelve pallets (depending on the desired height of the bed).
Clean, sand and treat the wood. Nails and chains must be removed.
Cover the future frame with varnish or paint.
Place the pallets on a flat surface, three at a time in two rows.
Fasten the pallets with self-tapping screws or nails vertically and horizontally (if two layers are used).
Put down the mattress.

How to make a bed from pallets is decided by the master himself, but the order of the listed stages does not change. If we are talking about a rather complex structure in the form of a pedestal on which the box under the mattress is installed, the place for its placement is cut out with a jigsaw. The created niche takes the shape of the letter “P”. It is attached to a podium made of pallets, after which all that remains is to insert the mattress.

Making a headboard from wooden pallets

If the bed needs to be supplemented with a headboard, it is enough to install the pallets at its base. Special installation instructions are used here. To remove the boards for the future headboard, you will have to disassemble the pallets. The resulting base for the backrest is processed with sandpaper, coated with primer and paint/varnish. The prepared boards are securely attached to the wall or bed base. They can be placed in a vertical or horizontal position. The height of the headboard will depend on the placement scheme.

Options for decorating a bed made from pallets

Beds of unusual shape and size will be a real piece of art. To make such furniture you have to show considerable talent in the field of woodworking. You can’t do without imagination here either, because designers offer extremely bold solutions. For example, a bed can be suspended from the ceiling using strong ropes or chains. Two-tier furniture is made for children's rooms. The second floor here can be slightly extended, placing it at a short distance from the first. This design resembles a spiral staircase.

The best decoration for the bed will be lighting, the installation of which will take from 20 to 60 minutes. LED devices suitable for furniture decoration are sold in any electronics store. They have a remote control and plug into a regular outlet.

The simplest method of increasing the functionality of furniture is to install drawers and place shelves in the space between pallets. The sides can be used to store books and various decorative items; the podium is sometimes made slightly wider than the mattress box. In this case, a hard surface will be available near the bed, on which you can place various objects (souvenirs, household appliances). Decorative pillows and blankets will help emphasize the chosen interior style.

The process of making a sofa with pillows

Step 1. First of all, you need to disassemble the pallets and remove all the nails from them.

Pallet dismantling

All nails must be removed

Step 2. Next, in accordance with the future width of the sofa on the pallets that will be used as a seat, you need to make markings.

Marking

Step 3. The top boards, as well as all elements of the pallets that will come into contact with human skin, must be thoroughly sanded using a sanding machine. It is best to sand all the boards without saving time.

The boards are carefully sanded

Step 4. Next, all the polished elements of the pallets need to be assembled again into a single structure, but the assembly must be done using self-tapping screws.

Assembling the pallet after sanding

Assembly is carried out using self-tapping screws

Step 5. Also, those pallets that will form the lower part of the sofa of the required height (about 2-3 pieces stacked on top of each other) must be connected to each other using the same screws.

Pallet connection for the bottom of the sofa

Step 6. Next, you need to assemble the back from separate sanded boards and one side of the pallet. In order for it to be inclined, you need to make 2-3 supports, secure them to the base, and attach the back part of the pallet to them at an angle. Also, the backrest can be completely assembled from individual boards.

Assembling the back of the sofa

In our case, the back is inclined

Another photo of the process

Step 7. Now the structure must be primed, dried, and then coated with paint of the desired color. The paint will lie smoother and better if it is applied using special equipment.

Painting the resulting structure

Convenient to use the spray gun

Step 8. After this, you can screw the wheel legs in the corners onto the lower pallet under the base of the sofa.

Wheeled feet are screwed into the corners

Step 9. Next, the painted and dried surface of the boards can be sanded again.

Re-sanding of surfaces

The structure is sanded

Step 10. Next, you need to make stuffing for the pillows from a soft but dense material. You can take a small mattress and simply lay it on the sofa, but in this case the pillows are also made by hand.

The pillows will be made by hand

Making a pillow for a future sofa

The pillow is almost ready

Step 11. Now, according to the size of the pillows, you need to make a pattern of covers for them and sew them. It is better to take a material that is dense and durable. On the underside of the covers you will need to sew small straps with a strip of Velcro tape, which will be needed to secure the pillow on the sofa.

Pattern of covers

Sewing covers

Ready-made case with Velcro

Step 12. When the covers are ready, the soft material needs to be tucked into them. It would be ideal if there were zippers sewn into the side of the cover, which would allow the covers to be removed and washed if necessary.

The case is filled with soft padding

The case has a zipper sewn into it, which is very convenient.

Step 13. Now the pillows can be laid on the sofa by inserting straps into the gaps between the boards.

Pillows are stacked on the sofa

Step 14. From the inside of the sofa, you need to attach the second strip of Velcro tape to the board using a construction stapler. Next, all that remains is to attach the strap to this strip. This is how you need to secure all the pillows. The back cushions are attached in the same way.

Fixing the second strip of Velcro tape

This is what a finished sofa made from pallets looks like

Video - DIY sofa made from pallets

Rules for choosing a mattress for a homemade bed made from pallets

The mattress for a homemade bed is selected taking into account the structural features of the frame. The dimensions of the bed may be slightly smaller than the size of the pedestal made from pallets. Anyone can create a bed from pallets with their own hands, but you will have to choose a mattress for it from the available range. You should focus on personal needs and recommendations of specialists.

Criteria for choosing a mattress:

User age. Young people under the age of 25 should use a hard springless mattress made from coconut fiber. Such a sleeping place will be useful for children and adolescents whose spine is still developing. For people over 25 years old, a mattress with an independent spring block is suitable.
Spring stiffness. The indicator is designated by the letter “F”. A digital gradation from 1 to 3 (soft, medium hard and hard) is also used. Double mattresses can use two spring blocks with different degrees of hardness. They will come in handy for couples with a large weight difference. Hardness also depends on the type of top layer of filler (coconut coir, latex, polyurethane foam).
User weight. The version with soft springs is suitable for users weighing up to 60 kg; the medium-hard mattress is designed for a load of 60-100 kg. Reinforced products are used for users weighing over 110 kg.

Furniture makers in their master classes often recommend first purchasing a mattress, the characteristics of which can be relied upon when drawing up a drawing of a future bed. It is advisable to use an orthopedic mattress upholstered in natural fabrics. The cost of such a product will be several times higher than the cost of manufacturing the frame, but the comfort of the sleeping place depends on the quality of the mattress.

Decorative items and interior elements made using the handmade technique are considered an exclusive design solution. The bed is made from high-quality pallets made according to European standards and is extremely durable. It is suitable for transportation and re-installation. This budget furniture will look perfect both in the interior of a small country house and in the bedroom of a luxury apartment.

Where to get pallets and which ones to choose?

As you can see from the table, in addition to the quality of the material used, pallets differ only in length and weight, and even then to an insignificant extent. However, when creating furniture, experts still recommend using Euro samples, since they are easier and safer to work with.

To create furniture with your own hands, you need to take not entirely old structures and, of course, intact ones. First of all, you need to pay attention to the condition of the wood itself. So, it should have a pleasant wood color without blue. If the wood has a dark shade, then most likely the pallet was assembled from raw material and is of very low quality. Of course, it will not last long, and it is better to abandon it.

Buying pallets is not a problem

The service life of pallets for their intended purpose, that is, for transporting heavy cargo, is only 1 transportation cycle, but in general they can be used up to 3-5 times. Although, according to the rules, the pallet must be written off and disposed of after transportation. Simply put, they are thrown into a landfill. But in fact, such pallets can be bought at a very low price or even received for free and used to improve the interior.

On a note! Used pallets that have served their useful life can often be picked up, so to speak, “for pickup.” True, this “agreement” can only be achieved with small contractors - in large companies the write-off process is somewhat more complicated.

It is important to choose the right pallets

You can buy completely new pallets in stores, but sometimes this is pointless. And obviously no one wants to overpay extra money. So it’s easier to take already used, but intact and durable ones. They will be able to perform the functions of furniture elements for many, many years to come without losing their strength.

You can buy new pallets, but why pay more?

Also, to create furniture, it is better to take pallets of the same type. For example, the same euro. Diverse ones will differ not only in quality, but also in size. For one piece of furniture you need to use designs of the same type.