How To Make Your Own Pallet Couch

Whether your décor taste leans more rustic, farmhouse, industrial, or boho-chic, odds are you've got a couple of pallet couches saved on your Pinterest board. They're versatile, stylish, and often a great zero-waste addition to your décor both indoors and out. However, the more popular they've gotten, the more expensive they've become. Not only that, but store-bought pallet couches lose a lot of their authentic charm.

This is why making your own is best economically, environmentally, and aesthetically. Don't let the thought of building your own couch become an overly-intimidating mental roadblock — this project is incredibly easy and doesn't require much at all. In fact, all you should really need are pallets, a way to cut them to size, like a power or hand saw, and a way to fasten them together. The best part of pallet furniture is how affordable it's meant to be. Visit your local garden center, farm, or hardware store to see if there are any pallets they're willing to give away or sell for cheap, check online marketplaces, and so on for the best deals.

To begin, you'll need to gather your materials. The pallets are, of course, the most important part. You'll want six pallets altogether — four for the base, which will be stacked two by two, and two for the back or backrest. Don't worry about them all being the same size; this will be addressed later. If they match, great! If not, you can either go for a rustic mismatched look or get materials for sanding, as well as either wood stain or paint.

Next, you'll need a tool to cut the pallets with. A power saw will be most effective, but if you don't have one, a handsaw can also do the trick. If you have neither, call your local hardware or home improvement store and see if they have a wood-cutting service. Finally, you'll need something to connect the pallets. If you want a super simple method, you can just use a heavy-duty rope. However, a much more secure method would be with a drill and some screws.

Once you have all your materials gathered, the assembly process is quite simple. First, you'll want to cut each pallet down to the same size. Next, if you're going to change the appearance of the pallets themselves, begin by sanding them down for an even surface. If you're staining them, then simply follow the instructions on the wood stain. If you're painting, begin by priming, and if you're putting your couch outside, don't forget to seal the paint with a waterproof top coat.

Now it's time to assemble the actual couch. Begin by setting two of them flat on the ground next to each other. Then, stack two more on top of these pallets — this is your base. For the back frame, stand the last two pallets up next to each other. You can then connect the pallets with screws or ropes. If you want, you could assemble the couch first, then cut, sand, and paint/stain them, but you won't be able to get into all the nooks and crannies as easily. Finally, add cushions and pillows to the pallet couch, arrange it in your room, and enjoy!