Recycling of resources and materials has recently become increasingly important. People are increasingly becoming interested in the possibilities of using only environmentally friendly things, giving new life to many items that have already served their purpose, and in general, in the conditions of the economic crisis, saving and recycling are becoming more and more popular.
Even furniture for the home, and not just for the garden, is now made by many from scrap materials. Lately, you can often see homemade interior items made from pallets when visiting someone .
These are structures used to transport goods. It turns out that it is not so difficult to make a sofa from pallets (pallets) with your own hands, and in terms of its quality it can be even better than what you can buy in a store.
DIY sofa made from pallets
What are pallets? Their features
What is a pallet? Many people already know it, but those who are far from logistics and have not encountered the transportation of various goods may not be aware that there is such a seemingly simple, but interesting and quite capable of being multifunctional design. So, a pallet or pallet is a special type of transport container or packaging, usually made of wood (but there are also metal versions), which is used during the transportation of various goods to protect and create a base for them. Thanks to pallets, storing cargo and moving it using certain technical means is much easier than doing it in conventional ways without the use of pallets.
What are pallets used for?
On a note! Pallets were invented in the USA in the last century. And the name comes from the English word “pallet”, which means a structure for transporting cargo. In Russia, most often such a product is called a pallet.
Types of pallets
The pallet is a very strong and durable structure. It is designed to easily support a load weighing up to one ton. Usually made of wood - pine, yew, larch. These types of wood are quite resistant to breakage and can last a long time. Plus they are good at carpentry work. Pallets are assembled at specialized enterprises in an automated manner, rather than manually.
Standard pallet
In Russia you can purchase two types of pallets - standard ones , produced in our country, as well as Euro pallets . Whatever one may say, the quality of the European design is still higher than that of the domestic one. At a minimum, you can be sure that the wood of such a pallet has undergone all processing, because Europeans are very strict about compliance with environmental and sanitary standards. Also, Euro pallets differ from ours in dimensions.
Euro pallet sizes
Table. Pallet parameters.
| Options | Europallet | Russian-made pallet (standard) |
| Length, cm | 80 | 100 |
| Width, cm | 120 | 120 |
| Height, cm | 12 | 12 |
| Weight, kg | 15 | 20 |
GOST 33757-2016. Flat wooden pallets. Specifications . Downloadable file (click the link to open the PDF in a new window).
GOST 33757-2016
Pallets
Dimensions
Before purchasing bedding, it is advisable to take measurements of the pallets. Sizes can be very varied, for example, a seat cushion 120x80x15 cm weighs about 6 kg, a backrest 60x40x10/20 cm weighs about 2 kg. Pillows are sold both as a set and separately. The thickness of the filler varies from 5 to 50 cm.
With the help of pillows, an atmosphere of comfort and warmth is created. Filled products have different shapes, designs, sizes, and characteristics. Often there are sizes in the proportions 20x70, 35x50, 40x65 cm, but others are also common - in the form of a square, with dimensions of 30x30, 35x35, 40x40 cm.
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.
Stage 1: Materials and Tools
10 euro pallets
“Solid” pallets
List of materials
25 pallets (pallets): 10 euros and 15 others, without gaps (gaps) between adjacent boards
Please note that they turned out to be different sizes. As you can see, Euro pallets are very used, which is why they were so cheap, but for our purpose they were quite suitable for varnishes, paints, antiseptics (here it’s your choice) to protect the wood and give the fasteners an aesthetic appearance
Tool list
- Cordless screwdriver
- Grinding wheel
- Brush or spray gun (spray)
- Level
- Cable
- Gardening tools: shovel, rake, ... (depending on where you will build)
Furniture from pallets in the interior
We can safely say that now pallets are not only transportation elements. There were other uses for them. These designs are used to create a wide variety of furniture for both home and garden. Moreover, working with them is quite simple - you don’t need any special skills, and even a beginner can handle the task of creating a new piece of furniture.
Sofa made of pallets
The advantages of pallets as elements for creating furniture and furniture made from them:
- high strength;
- light weight, and therefore the finished sofa can be easily moved even alone;
- ease of cleaning and care - usually the soft part of a sofa or armchair simply lies on top of a wooden structure and is secured with braid, so washing it and cleaning the wooden elements usually does not arise;
- simplicity of design and the ability to quickly disassemble furniture if necessary;
- simplicity of working with the material and ease of its processing;
- cheap pallets.
Simple sofa made from pallets
On a note! Despite the fact that we are talking about sofas, you can make a wide variety of furniture from pallets and furnish the entire apartment with objects of the same type and style. Pallets are used to make cabinets, tables, chairs and much more.
Furniture made from pallets, depending on the style and method of decoration, can suit absolutely any interior. But most often it is used in those rooms that are decorated in Asian style, loft style, eco-style. This type of furniture also looks good in kitchens and dining rooms, in private homes and country houses. Often, sofas made from pallets are installed on balconies and in recreation areas.
Sofa made of pallets - photo
How to drive away uninvited guests
There is no way to get rid of dust mites once and for all. But, despite the seeming futility of fighting small, ubiquitous villains, it is necessary to start reducing the number of “tenants” as early as possible. Especially if there are small children in the house, whose immune systems are too weak to withstand the dangers of dust mites in the neighborhood. There are several stages in expelling arachnids from your home.
Cleaning
The most important condition that determines the success of the fight against dust mites is regular cleaning.
- Several times a week you need to wipe dust from all surfaces, especially from those on which it accumulates faster (for example, a table under the TV, niches in cabinets, bookshelves, etc.).
- Under no circumstances should dust carpets be allowed to appear under beds and sofas.
- A great way to kill ticks is to use a steam generator. Due to high temperatures, it successfully eliminates parasites.
- Dust mites can't stand cleanliness, so make them happy by washing your floors 2-3 times a week with the addition of special cleaning products, such as Mister Proper.
Wash
Darkness, warmth and humidity in the bed are the perfect combination for dust mites to thrive. We deprive them of comfort - once a week we wash bed linen at a temperature of 60 oC. It is this indicator that gives a 100% guarantee that neither ticks nor their metabolic products will survive. To enhance the effect when washing, you should add an acaricide (a substance to get rid of ticks). You can buy the drug at a hardware store.
Washing clothes at a certain temperature will make life unbearable for dust mites
After washing, it is also recommended to iron children’s underwear.
Useful purchases
An anti-allergenic mattress will be an indispensable purchase, if not to completely get rid of parasites, then at least to reduce their number. The fact is that usually an average of 10,000 to a million mites live in a mattress. This option will significantly reduce their population. A more budget-friendly way is to create a barrier between the body and the mattress in the form of a special mattress cover. In addition, such a cover will prevent moisture released by the body from entering the mattress.
A mattress protector creates a protective barrier between the contents of the mattress and the human body
Ventilation and temperature conditions
This method is the dream of everyone who doesn’t like making their bed in the morning. To avoid increasing the level of humidity in the bed, allow the laundry to air well. This will prevent mites from getting the moisture they need through the air.
The rooms also need to be ventilated regularly. The most suitable temperature for humans and unacceptable for dust mites is a room temperature of 21 °C.
Ventilation will help create an optimal temperature in the room, which dust mites will not like at all.
Chemistry to help
Chemical preparations are effective in the fight against dust mites. When using professional products for treating rooms and surfaces, be sure to read the instructions for use of the specific substance. These drugs can be purchased at veterinary pharmacies.
Table: special anti-dust mite products
| Name | Application | Price | Note |
| Milbiol | Treatment of textile surfaces of furniture and beds. | About 150 rub. | Does not pose a danger to humans and pets. |
| Allergoff | Spraying in places where ticks accumulate. | About 1500 rub. | The effect lasts up to 7 months. The drug is also available in the form of washing liquid. |
| Mite-Nix | Spraying tick habitats. | About 450 rub. | The product is effective for 2 months from the date of application. |
| Easy Air | Processing of upholstered furniture and beds. | About 1700 rub. | An alternative is Akarosan. |
| Allergen Wash | Detergent. | About 2500 rub. | It is used economically. |
| Oreck Allergen Control Carpet Cleaner | For cleaning carpets. | About 450 rub. | The product does not wash off from carpets and rugs. |
What is needed to create such a sofa?
So, let's figure out what might be needed to work with such material for creating furniture as pallets? In addition to them, you will need to get hold of various tools, as well as buy fabric and soft padding or a mattress to decorate the finished product. Tools and materials for work:
- saw, jigsaw and other sawing tools. It is easier to work with a jigsaw than with a saw;
- Sander;
- sandpaper;
- a nail puller, and sometimes an ax, which will be needed to remove nails;
- drill;
- screwdriver;
- self-tapping screws;
- metal corners;
- paint materials and brushes;
- wood primer.
What tools are needed for the job?
Don’t forget about the means to protect your eyes and hands (gloves, safety glasses); you will also need a pencil, ruler, and tape measure. And in order to make the sofa easy to move, it is best to install legs under it on wheels, which you will also need to buy. However, you can get by with stationary legs. It would also be a good idea to get a construction stapler, which will help you secure the soft part to the sofa in the future.
Pallet preparation
The first thing, of course, you need to buy not only everything listed above, but also the pallets themselves. And they will have to be prepared before starting work, especially if the structures have already been used before. So, first of all, you need to inspect them for damage and protruding nails. Typically, pallets require disassembly, removal of nails and then reassembly, but the boards are attached with self-tapping screws. To simplify the task, some do not disassemble the pallets, but use them in the form in which they are - that is, with nails. Only those that stick out are removed. But it is important to remember that pallets fastened with nails will last less than those assembled using self-tapping screws.
Pallet sanding
Pallets with cracked boards cannot be used - it is better to throw them away. All structures must be intact and neat. Also, dirty pallets should be cleared of debris, even washed and dried well. Of course, this needs to be done outside.
After this, the structures will need grinding and surface treatment with a number of agents that prevent rotting. The easiest way to sand is with a special machine. But when making a small piece of furniture, you can get by with sandpaper. It is also advisable to treat the pallets with a primer even before assembling the structure. This will then allow the paint to adhere better.
Orbital sander
Attention! The shape and size of the sofa must be chosen before work begins. This will allow you to determine the required amount of material, as well as decide how to properly assemble the piece of furniture.
Step-by-step instruction
- We sand the pallets with sandpaper to eliminate unevenness. It is convenient to use a grinder (grinder) with an attachment and wheels for grinding.
- Treat the pallets with wood antiseptic.
- Take four pallets, fasten them in pairs using: nails or screws or metal plates
- Prepare the fifth tray. It needs to be sawed in half - it will be the back.
- Cover the base with paint or wood varnish.
- Nail the legs to the finished sofa frame.
- Fasten two pairs of pallets using fasteners, and add PVA glue to be sure
- Connect the back, which is also already dry after varnishing, using plates.
And from the sawn remains and timber, you can improve your sofa with armrests or shelves nearby. After the entire wooden structure has dried for 24 hours. Start decorating your sofa and finding the right mattress and pillows.
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
Decoration options
A homemade sofa is decorated in the following ways:
- install lighting . Extremely spectacular decor: creates the illusion of floating in the air. Separate lamps or LED strips are attached to the bottom along the perimeter of the sofa. Power is supplied to the light sources, the switch is placed near the sofa so that a seated person can use it;
- arrange shelves for small items in the armrests . You can put a book or magazine, TV remote control, etc. there;
- install drawers. The latter are made of plywood measuring 38x35 cm and 10 cm high. Two such boxes are inserted into each pallet from which the seat is made. A folding handle is screwed onto the front part (lowers under its own weight).
Also, for ease of use, the boxes are equipped with rollers. Instead of drawers, you can simply organize shelves by sewing up the gaps between the boards with plywood.
