A Bit of DIY: Pallet Shelves

I do love a bit of DIY. There's something so fulfilling about creating your own unique, original furniture. So, when I needed some more shelves for all my bedroom knick-knacks, my thoughts turned to pallets!

I often see piles of pallets next to the loading bay at our local mall. So yesterday I went down there and asked if I could procure a few pieces. Thankfully, the security guard was very obliging, and as we crammed four of them into the back of my car, I could already envisage how my creation was going to evolve.

Back at home, I was pleased to see that the pallets were stamped with 'HT', meaning that they were heat treated to keep them bug free (rather than treated with chemicals), which meant they were safe to use. I took them to my bedroom, along with a hammer and some nails, and lined them up. It turned out that only two of them were suitable for my needs because they were nearly identical in size and design.

I took one of the pallets and wrenched off all the cross boards, except the top, middle and bottom ones. I then placed the two pallets back to back, with the cross boards facing outwards, and nailed them together. I put the first nails in while the pallets were upright, to ensure that the shelves would be in a position that made them level and steady, then I put them face down to hammer the rest of the nails in, so that the floor provided strength and support.

Once I was certain that the two pallets were securely fixed together, I turned them upright again. I took the boards that I had wrenched off the front pallet and laid them across the support blocks inside the bottom, middle and top of the unit. These created perfect 'shelves", so I hammered them into place and voila! The shelving unit of my dreams had quickly and easily become a reality!

I'm utterly thrilled with it for so many reasons; it's a satisfying manifestation of my own ideas and effort, it's one of a kind, it's recycled and, best of all, it cost me absolutely nothing!

I was so excited, I immediately loaded it up with some books and decorative bits and pieces that desperately needed a home, but I know my work's not yet done. I need to sand it down properly and seal it in some way, to stop it from degrading. However, I want to be very mindful of not altering the light, natural colour or losing the rustic look that I love.

My husband likes it so much he's asked me to make one for his side of the bed too, and my children all want one as well. So you know how I'm going to be spending the next few weekends...!