21 Budget-Friendly Wood Pallet DIYs To Add Extra Storage Around The House

With their rustic charm and low cost (sometimes, you can even find pallets for free!), it's easy to see why wood pallet DIYs are so appealing. You can repurpose wood pallets to make furniture or décor to refresh your bedroom on a budget, spruce up your bathroom with some pallet projects, or DIY upgrades for your backyard, all for minimal expense. Novices need not worry; there are also plenty of incredibly simple pallet wood products that even beginners can do. Another thing you can accomplish with wooden pallets? Add much-needed storage to your home. We've rounded up a list of budget-friendly and beginner-friendly wood pallet DIYs to inject extra storage all around the house, indoors and out.

To begin, make sure your wood pallet is safe to use before pressing go on any DIY projects. We have a full guide on precautions to take when using wood pallets for DIYs, which is a good place to start. The main factor to keep in mind is if and how the pallet was treated, which is displayed using a two-letter code stamped onto the pallet. A pallet missing a code is probably a national pallet that is unlikely to be treated and is safe to use. International pallets are treated and will have a two-letter code stamped onto them to specify how. Avoid pallets with the letters "MB" — these pallets are treated with methyl bromide, a toxic pesticide. Pallets marked "HT" (heat treated) and "KD" (kiln dried) are safe to use. Once you've determined your pallet is safe to repurpose, here are some storage-boosting wood pallet DIYs for your home.

The easiest wood pallet project to add extra storage is to turn pallet planks into a shelf. All you need to do is disassemble the pallet and attach shelf wall brackets to one of the pieces. You can sand and stain or paint the wood if you'd like. It's really as simple as that! Now, depending on the pallet, you might need to attach two planks together to get a suitable shelf size (some pallet planks are too narrow alone). To do so, nail or screw two pieces of wood perpendicularly across the shelf to hold the planks together.

If you want a shelf with a little more style, this project might be right up your alley. It uses pallet planks, in their natural state, to create a rustic backdrop. A few standard shelf brackets support the shelves themselves. This is a project you can customize as well, making it larger or smaller, and deciding how many shelves you want. As this video shows, it's possible to create all the cuts for these simple projects using a hand saw. A miter box, like the Stanley Miter Box for $7.97 from The Home Depot can help you make straight cuts.

This is another DIY shelf idea that creates absolutely charming shelving with a rustic look. It maintains some of the original shape of the pallet. Instead of disassembling the entire pallet, you chop off a section and then add a bottom plank. If breaking down the pallet is your least favorite step, this saves you some effort. Since this shelf has a plank along the front, it's great if you want a ledge with a guardrail. The finished project has a slim silhouette that's perfect for decoratively storing cookbooks, candles, or potted plants.

As this video from @blacktimberbuilds shows, it's not all that difficult to build a corner shelf. You just need some wood to mount directly to the wall to work as the frame. Why buy new wood when you already have pallet wood on hand? Sand down and mount the pallet wood to the wall where you want your shelves. Make sure each frame is lined up perfectly and straight (a level will help with the latter task). Then, cut pieces of plywood to appropriate sizes and shapes to fit in the corner.

If you're a renter (or if you just don't want to put holes in the walls), the above projects probably don't appeal to you. Instead, you can make pallet wood storage boxes, which are perfectly renter-friendly and can be used anywhere in the home. This project is also customizable, so you can adjust the box size. They're super easy to make too. Use pallet planks to create a frame, then line the bottom with more planks. Alternatively, you can also use a piece of plywood to create a bottom without any gaps.

This is a distinctive shelf idea for storing books. To build this shelf you need to drill or nail two boards together into a V shape. Each "V" becomes a shelf on which you can stack two to six books, depending on the spacing between shelves. You can make as many "V" shelves as you'd like, as long as they fit onto your base plank. Again, if your pallet planks are too narrow, you can double them up. Use screws or nails to hold them together (not just wood glue) to make sure they're sturdy enough to hold books.

Beyond easy and so useful, this DIY is perfect if you need storage for your long-handled tools. If the tools are long enough, you don't even need to cut off a section of the pallet. It's also not completely necessary to add a base plank; the tool handles can just rest on the floor. This is one of many creative ways to upcycle wood pallets for your garden. While this video shows the finished project as a garden tool holder, you can use this DIY indoors for long-handled cleaning supplies as well, like brooms and mops.

We love the quaint feel of this DIY wood pallet mug holder. It's an excellent project if you want to maintain the classic look of a pallet, rather than taking it apart for its planks. Decorative hooks add a dose of personality to this project. You can stay rustic, with farmhouse cast iron coat hooks from Amazon ($18.95 for five). Or you can lean into a more vintage aesthetic with something like these ornate vintage wall hooks, also from Amazon ($21.99 for four). If your décor leans modern, there's plenty of options too of course, like these brass bath hooks from the Magnolia line at Target ($4.99 each). 

Washing baskets cluttering your laundry room? Build a stand using pallet wood. This is a bit more of an involved project, but still possible to make with simple tools (you can use hand tools instead of the electric ones shown in this video — it will just take longer). You'll measure the project to fit your laundry baskets, which also means you can add slots for more or fewer baskets. You can also use this unit as a hamper; it provides ample space for you to sort dirty laundry into each bin, with a reasonably compact footprint.

This video from @SilverlineToolsTV shows how to make a simple shoe rack. Ultimately, the finished project is a basic shelf, so you can use it for much more than just storing shoes. It's broken down into simple steps, starting with making the two matching frame pieces. You can add or take away planks on the frames to make more or fewer shelves. Then, place pallet planks across the frames to create the shelves. This video keeps some space between the slats, which is common for shoe racks, but you can install the planks without any gaps if you want a more traditional shelf.

This is one of the easiest projects on this list, and is perfect if you have a couple of leftover planks from another pallet upcycle. Use a plank as the base for wall hooks. This idea is decorative, adds storage, and is sturdier than mounting hooks directly into drywall. Attach the hooks to the wood plank, and then install the plank to the studs for best results. Though it's a simple project, there's wiggle room to be creative here. You can stain or paint the wood and choose from a variety of hook designs.

This DIY is an alternative to the previous (very) minimalist wall rack. It involves a few more steps, but the finished result is a rustic project that you can show off to friends. It's perfect for an entryway since it also has a shelf on top that you can use for accessories and other entryway bits and bobs. It's still an easy project you can personalize by choosing your ideal size, finish, and hooks. This video shows an alternative to staining if you want to get a distressed, darkened look. Instead, you can (carefully) use a blowtorch to blacken the surface, as shown.

While a firewood rack sounds like a big project, this one is pretty easy to build: It doesn't require you to dismantle the pallets, so it's great if you don't like that tedious task. Keeping the pallets whole also preserves their rustic look. Here are full written instructions on how to build this affordable DIY firewood holder from pallet wood. The firewood rack doesn't have a roof (it would get in the way of stacking firewood), so it's best placed under covered areas. This project is designed to be easily movable, so you can also relocate the rack depending on the season. 

There's many a DIY that can help you store spices for a clutter-free kitchen, but we love how this project is another that maintains the distinctive pallet look. Since it uses a section of pallet (rather than taking apart the planks completely), it also means one less step for you. This video from @SikanaEnglish also shows how possible it is to complete this project using hand tools; it's a bit tougher, but there's no need for fancy saws and sanders. To add even more storage space, mount some hooks along one of the middle planks.

This wall-mounted shoe rack project creates a slim shoe storage rack that provides you with a spot to slide in a few pairs of shoes. It doesn't protrude much from the wall, so it's suitable for tight entryways. This video shows shaving down pallet wood into uniform boards, as well as how to cut rounded corners with a jigsaw, but these tools and steps are optional. You can create a similar, but more rustic-style shelf by cutting off one side of a pallet with a handsaw, using boards from the unused part to fill any gaps. 

If you have exposed wall studs in your garage, it's super easy to make this DIY slatted storage wall using pallet planks. Besides using up spare wood, the finished project has a more charming and rustic look than premade slat walls. To make the hooks, @homesteadonomics uses a bench vise, metal rod, a short length of PVC tubing, and some muscle. This is a great way to make custom hooks, but if you don't want to bend metal rods to shape, you can use balcony hooks (these adjustable ones are $12.60 on Amazon). Grab the balcony hooks first, so you can build the slatted wall to fit them.

This project is an even easier option if you want to make a wall-mounted tool holder in your garage. It's a little less versatile and doesn't look quite as quaint (if you opt for a plywood back), but it's a very simple build. You can use a sheet of plywood for the base, or join a few lengths of pallet wood. Then, use smaller pallet wood pieces to make the holders for the tools. Before making and attaching your holders, be sure to lay out your tools so you know where you want them to go.

Exposed floor joists don't always look the best but they can be super useful. This idea is great in a basement or garage. Use pallet planks attached across two joists to make a shelf area where you can slide items across for storage. Since pallet planks are usually narrow, use a few to make an overhead storage spot. Just ensure you have enough space at one end so you can easily slip items in and out.

Have some leftover pallet pieces that you're not sure what to do with? If you have too few planks to make a proper build, this is the perfect project. Take a length of pallet wood, stain or paint it, and then attach hooks to the bottom. Mini cup hooks or ceiling hooks will do the trick, like these small ceiling screw hooks for $7.59 from Amazon. While this video shows the project as a jewelry holder, you can use it to hang up a variety of lightweight items. Place it in your entryway as a rack for your house keys.

This video from @projectpermacultura shows another way to build a simple shelf out of pallet wood. They use the finished project as a plant shelf, but you can use it for general storage too. With sides on each shelf, it does a good job of keeping precious plants in place. The shelf will free up floor or counter space that used to be taken up by plants. You can use it outdoors too if you apply a weather-resistant finish, like an exterior-grade paint, outdoor stain, or a sealant.

Last, but certainly not least, this is a final simple shelf build that pretty much anyone can make. As this video shows, it's very possible to build with just a handsaw and an electric screwdriver. It's essentially a triangular A-frame with shelves attached, that you can use indoors or outside (just be sure to seal it for outdoor conditions). Still have some pallet pieces left over? Here are some small wood pallet projects for your home and garden.