Check out our latest magazine... Read Online

How to Make a Garden Sofa Out of Pallets

The trend for upcycling raw materials into garden furniture is coming to a back garden near you.

It’s the time of year when we all begin to consider ways we might be able to spruce up our gardens in time for the summer.

Of course, while plants, flowers,produce and more is a necessity for giving our outside space that natural, living, thriving edge, there’s an entire other aspect that will contribute towards the comfort and convenience of your garden, irrespective of its size. And while upsizing an old pallet into
the ultimate outdoors DIY sofa may not scream opulence, the trend for creating fantastic homemade furniture for outdoors is one that’s really gathered pace in recent years.

THE DIY SOFA
What you’ll need:
• Three (or more) plain wooden pallets
• An electric drill with screws • A small roller and tray
• A paintbrush
• Scatter cushions
• Garden furniture chalk paint

How to make your pallet sofa:
1. Using your foam roller, layer your pallets in whichever glorious hue you have selected, using a paintbrush for those tricky to reach areas. Paint one side first, let it dry, then do the other.

2. You’ll need to stack at least two pallets to get your sofa to a suitable height – you may want to make your sofa higher using more pallets, or even double the length... it’s all up to you! – before fixing them together with your electric drill and screws.

3. Add another pallet to the back of the bench to make your sofa back. Affix with screws.

4. That’s the hard part done! Now decorate your masterpiece in whichever way you choose with cushions, garlands and throws. Then relax... you’ve earned it!

Advantages of using pallets for furniture
1. Cost-saving
By using your creativity, you can capitalise on a raw material – wooden pallets – that most people give away for free.

2. Environmentally friendly
With furniture made from pallets, it’s as environmentally friendly on its way out as it is in its creation as an arty piece of reclaimed wood.

3. A design for garden life
By creating your own furniture rather than buying it, you are able to put your imprint on the look, so complete customisation is merely a few planks of wood away!

4. Mature with age
After two or three years, outdoor furniture can show the effects of being weather-beaten, yet with pallets the resplendent ruggedness only adds to the effect.

More from Home and Gardens

  • Blooming Times: Winter Sparklers

    From designer florists to petrol station forecourts, cyclamen are everywhere at this time of year. They are uniquely different to other flowers – yet have become so ubiquitous, we’re in danger of forgetting how extraordinary they are, says Flo Whitaker

  • Blooming Times: Winter Wonders

    Flowering in the coldest months may seem counter- intuitive, but from a plant’s perspective, there is a distinct advantage – a lack of competition. Flo Whitaker picks six of the best winter- scented shrubs

  • Blooming Times: The Answer Lies in the Soil

    Soil is the gardener’s greatest asset. Understand it, look after it – and many of your horticultural problems will resolve themselves, writes Flo Whitaker

  • How to Cover Up Shabby Garden Walls and Fences

    If your garden fences or walls are looking a bit shabby it might be time to find a cover up solution. Read on for Sara Whatley’s transformation ideas.

  • Homes Extra: Shed Space

    Are you thinking of a new shed, greenhouse or garden room? Sara Whatley gives you some food for thought on all three

  • Gardening: Choose a Clematis for Every Month of the Year

    The clematis family offers flowers in a wide array of colours and shapes, and there are varieties for nearly every month of the year, says Flo Whitaker

  • Blooming Times: Top of the Pots

    How are your patio pots? Show-stopping, or lacklustre? Time to try some different planting combinations, suggests Flo Whitaker

  • Kids Zone: Get the Kids Growing

    Read on for some green fingered ideas to get the kids involved in the garden from Sara Whatley

  • Blooming Times: Wisteria Hysteria

    With its exquisitely fragrant, show-stopping blooms, wisteria is the queen of spring climbers – yet it can be frustratingly sulky and thuggish. Flo Whitaker offers a quick troubleshooting guide to floral success

  • Blooming Times: Dahlia Mania

    Inexpensive, hardworking plants with blooms in a vast array of colours and shapes - no flower is perfect, but dahlias come pretty close, says Flo Whitaker

  • How to Create 3D Walls in Your Home

    Create walls that look incredible and feel amazing too with the use of 3D wall panels. Sara Whatley looks at this feature wall phenomenon.

  • Blooming Times: Spring Fever

    February is often labelled the cruellest month in the horticultural calendar. However, Flo Whitaker suggests there is still plenty of opportunity for growth

  • Blooming Times: What's in a Name?

    Botanical Latin may seem daunting, but it’s designed to be helpful and informative, says Flo Whitaker

  • Top 10 Garden Birds to Spot on the Isle of Wight

    Alice Johnson from the RSPB describes some of the species of birds you might see during the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch this January.

  • The Best Christmas Gifts for Gardeners

    Thinking about a Christmas present for a gardening friend? Or perhaps you’re anticipating a gardening gift voucher and fancy treating yourself? Flo Whitaker suggests some essential hand tools that won’t break the bank.

  • Gardening: The Benefits of Hedges

    Gardeners are a flower-obsessed lot, greedily seeking out the latest, brightest blooms. That’s all very well, but ephemeral flowers need a stage to perform on. Plant a hedge - they add structure, benefit wildlife and look good all year round.

  • How to Create a Happy Home Workspace

    Getting the right home office set up can be key to productivity and happiness. Sara Whatley shares her workspace ideas.

  • Now's the Time to Plant Alliums for a Spectacular Display Next Year

    Easy-going and beloved by bees – now’s the perfect time to plant allium bulbs for a spectacular display next year. Flo Whitaker picks some of her favourites...

  • Gardening Facts or Fictions?!

    The horticultural world abounds with bad advice and old wife’s tales, but some pronouncements are scientifically sound, says Flo Whitaker, as she asks, “True, or false?”

  • Fill The Gaps in Your Garden With Stunning Shrubs

    If your garden’s looking parched and bare, why not invest in a few shrubs to fill the gaps. Flo Whitaker picks six of the best for late summer colour.

Get Social