DIY Pallet Coffee Table

Our solution to making an affordable coffee table? Wood pallets! Get all the details on this DIY Pallet Coffee Table.

diy pallet side coffee table

Is it just us or is there something wrong with the fact that you can buy a sofa for the equivalent price as some coffee tables?

Maybe it’s our student and newlywed budget talking, but we think that’s a little insane. It’s a table… that most people accidentally decorate with water rings and spilled milk.

Our solution to this? Wood pallets! It’s a great way to recycle wood for a DIY coffee table idea

Conveniently enough, there is guy that lives in our apartment complex that uses pallets for transporting grass. And he so happens to sell wood pallets at a whopping $3 a pop.

A lot of times you can also source wood pallets for free. So if you have multiple ones, there are so many creative DIY pallet projects for your home.

To no surprise, our friend Erin and I have been scheming up ideas for all of the (almost) free furniture we can make ever since.

First up, a beautiful coffee table that won’t cost as much as our wedding ring…

diy pallet side coffee table

Materials and Tools Needed to Make a DIY Wood Pallet Coffee Table

Wood pallet — To source free wood pallets, check with large businesses that handle large shipments. Try asking the managers at Target, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes, or your grocery store. You may also have luck on Craigslist or your local Buy Nothing group.

Make sure you are also only sourcing wood pallets branded with an HT symbol, which signifies that the wood has been treated with heat and not chemicals.

Fine and coarse sandpaper

Stairwell posts or wooden legs of your choice — Cut to the desired height. We opted for wood legs for a rustic coffee table. But if you want a more modern or industrial style look, opt for metal legs.

Wood stain in color(s) of your choice — We used American Walnut and Weathered Grey.

Drill and bit

Casters wheels — Optional if you want a mobile coffee table.

Wood glue

Hammer and long nails

Polyurethane spray for wood — To seal and protect your wood.

DIY pallet coffee side dining table

How to Make a DIY Coffee Table with Pallets

Prep your wood:

1 — First, sand your pallet with coarse sandpaper, and then, move onto the fine sandpaper.

This process is to ensure that your pallet board is smooth and without splinters.

We made sure to round the edges in case someone bumped into them. But we also left the rest of the wood somewhat rough so that it wouldn’t look too perfect.

If you have an electric sander, this will make the prep work go a lot faster. When it comes to sanding wood, we recommend working outside where there is lots of ventilation and space.

2 — Next, experiment with with wood stains to get the look you’re going for.

We started with an American Walnut (above photo) and ended up using a Weathered Grey over top of it to make it look more worn (end result).

We also ended up painting the legs white instead of leaving them stained because it meshed better with the rest of our current mostly white furniture. Plus, we love the contrast on the white painted legs.

DIY pallet coffee side dining table

Insert your table legs:

3 — Use a dab of wood glue on the bottom of the legs where they meet the pallet, and hammer the long nails into each side for extra security.

DIY pallet coffee side dining table

4 — Once everything is dry, using a drill bit that is big enough to allow your caster to twist into place, drill a hole in the bottom of the legs.

Then, twist the casters into place.

Seal your wood:

5 — Lastly, to give the wooden pallet protection against the spilled milk, spray a few coats of polyurethane over the wood, and you’re finished!

 

diy pallet coffee side table

More Easy Living Room DIYs

We kept this coffee table design very simple and easy. So no saw is required (unless you want to cut down your legs).

We also did not place a glass top. Instead, we placed used a large tray for the small tabletop knick knacks.

For more quick weekend projects like our DIY pallet coffee table idea to spruce up your living room, check out a few of our favorites below —

  • Simple Scrap Wood Projects for Your Home — Get some inspiration and ideas from these 37 amazing and simple scrap wood projects that are perfect for your next DIY.
  • Creative DIY Pillow Ideas — Tired of the same old pillow options? Check out these 20 creative DIY pillow ideas for some inspiration!
  • DIY Canvas Art — Customize your walls with your favorite photos using printable canvas paper for this DIY Canvas Art Print tutorial for your wall!
  • Homemade Reed Diffuser — This easy 5-minute DIY reed diffuser is the perfect budget-friendly way to keep your house smelling naturally fresh!
diy pallet coffee table by sugar & cloth

DIY Pallet Coffee Table with Wheels

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5 from 6 votes
An affordable DIY Pallet Coffee Table that reuses wood for a creative living room decor.
Prep Time2 hours 30 minutes
Dry Time4 hours
Total Time2 hours 30 minutes
Course DIY
Category Coffee Table

Equipment

  • Coarse sandpaper
  • Fine sandpaper
  • Drill and bit
  • Hammer and long nails

Materials

  • 1 wood pallet
  • 1-2 wood stain
  • 4 table leg
  • 4 caster wheel
  • Polyurethane spray

Instructions

  • Sand your pallet with coarse sandpaper. Then, move onto the fine sandpaper.
    We made sure to round the edges in case someone bumped into them. But we also left the rest of the wood somewhat rough so that it wouldn't look too perfect.
  • Stain your wood pallet and table legs.
    We stained our wood in American Walnut with a layer of Weathered Grey stain. We also ended up painting the legs white instead of leaving them stained.
  • For the table legs: Use a dab of wood glue on the bottom of each leg where they meet the pallet. Hammer the long nails into each side for extra security. Allow to dry.
  • Optional for the caster wheels: Using a drill bit that is big enough to allow your caster wheel to twist into place, drill a hole in the bottom of each leg. Then, twist the caster into place.
  • Spray a few coats of polyurethane over the wood. Allow to dry between each coat.
Cost: $115
KEYWORD: diy pallet coffee table

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12 thoughts on “DIY Pallet Coffee Table”

  1. Pingback: 18 Stylish DIY Coffee Tables Suitable for Any Space - BLOGIYU
    • Thanks, Benny! I considered glass, too, but then I decided on using the lacquered trays instead. Let us know how yours turns out!

      Reply
  2. That’s way cool- I always love the ideas for using pallets in decorating, I just can’t figure out how to actually get a hold of pallets… Any ideas?5 stars

    Reply
    • If you check behind major retail stores (i.e.- target, lowes, world market, any furniture store), there is always a ton they are throwing away!

      Reply

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