Summer is finally here! And to celebrate its long-awaited arrival, we’re showcasing some amazing garden pallet projects that you can try in your own garden. Whether you’re looking to create a fun and exciting play area for the kids, a unique space to entertain guests and dine alfresco, or you’re looking for planting or storage space inspiration, we’ve put together our favourite summer pallet projects, all of which will transform your outdoor space without breaking the bank!

Safety notice: we do not recommend making any of these items from used or discarded pallets unless you know their history; ideally use new, heat-treated pallets to ensure that the wood is as safe/sturdy as possible. All pallet wood is rough wood and will need sanding down before you make a start.

Pallet Playgrounds

The opportunities really are endless when it comes to pallet playground designs – there are so many incredible creations out there. In fact, we struggled to narrow these suggestions down to our five favourites!

But here goes… if you’re looking for something relatively simple and easy to make then the pallet sandpit or pallet car are great options. These can be adapted or personalised however you like – you could paint the sides of the sandpit with road markings and add your children’s favourite digger toys to the sandpit to make it look like their very own construction site! Other great alternatives include building a sandpit with bench seating (some of these creations even fold down to create a sandpit lid). The pallet car is such a fun and unique invention, which can again be personalised to suit your family. If you’d really like to challenge your carpentry skills, why not take a look at this intricate, life-like pallet car design? There are some imaginative play pallet petrol stations that you could build to accompany your car too! Of course a car doesn’t have to be the only vehicle of choice; you could try a pallet tractor, bus, train or even a boat instead.

Traditional play equipment such as slides, swings and various types of climbing equipment can also be made from pallet wood. The best thing about building your own equipment is that you can tailor it to your specific space and to suit your children’s favourite activities. Will you add a rock climbing wall, tyre swing or climbing ropes? There are so many ways to create the perfect one-of-a-kind pallet playground!

Wendy houses and mud kitchens are also hugely popular and they can easily be created using pallet wood. Here are some general step-by-step instructions on how to create your own pallet playhouse or mud kitchen, but there are literally endless layouts and designs that you can adapt to suit. You could make a Wendy house with a porch or slide incorporated into it, paint it with your children’s favourite characters, or design it with a specific theme in mind such as an ice cream parlour or sweet shop!

The greatest thing about building any of these pallet playground creations is that they are a brilliant family project – get the kids involved in the design process or let them paint and decorate the project in their favourite colours. No matter what project you pick, it’s pretty much guaranteed to provide hours of sensory play, excitement and laughter. For further inspiration on pallet play projects, take a look at our pallet garden games blog.

And whilst the kids are making the most of their new pallet playground, you can be relaxing in style on your new pallet seating…

Pallet Seating

Whether you’re looking for cosy sofa seating to snuggle round the crackling fire pit, a large picnic table for hosting those Saturday afternoon barbecues, or a relaxing swing seat or circular tree bench where you can sneak off with the latest novel, the above examples give a great insight into the huge variety of seating that can be made from – you guessed it – pallets! Each one will give your outdoor space an authentic, original feel and best of all, you can design your pallet seating to suit your garden, meaning you can really maximise the space.

Whilst we’re on the topic of outdoor seating – have you ever thought about building your own outdoor pallet cinema? It’s so much easier and cheaper than you think! Our pallet cinema blog provides tonnes of inspiration on how you can build your very own pallet cinema experience. Oh, and not forgetting the pièce de résistance… this incredible pallet popcorn stand!

Pretty Pallets for Plants & Wildlife

The green fingered DIYers amongst you are sure to enjoy building these pretty planters, bird houses and wildlife hotels that can all be made using a few pallets. Again these have the flexibility of being as straightforward or as complex as you want to make it – depending on your DIY skills.

Some of the more simple projects include full-pallet planters or pallet herb gardens (like in the example above) where an entire pallet is used; you can find some useful instructions here. If you feel confident using various power tools, why not shape your planter into a unique design, such as a train or farmyard animals like in the examples above? They’re sure to make a stunning statement piece for any garden! And the trusty pallet’s use doesn’t end there either because they are renowned for making great compost bins! They’re so simple and easy to make, and provide a tidy space for your garden waste. 

Not only are these pallet planters and wildlife hotels great fun to make but they’re also hugely rewarding. You’ll be able to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labour, watching your beautiful flowers bloom and admiring local wildlife visiting your garden.

Pallet Bars

We previously mentioned pallet bars in one of our earlier blogs about transforming your garden into a luxury resort, and we love this idea so much that we thought it was worthy of another mention. Garden bars really took off during the pandemic and have remained in popularity since then, and it’s easy to see why.

Entertain in style by creating your very own luxurious pallet bar, which you can tailor to fit your desired space, colour scheme, theme etc. Here is a general tutorial to help get you started, but there are so many ways you can adapt your pallet bar to suit your garden space or preferences. Once you’ve completed your masterpiece, decorate it with bunting, fairy lights, a pallet sign and pallet bar stools (these are great ways to use up leftover wood) to finish it off perfectly. To make sure your drinks are always perfectly chilled, check out this amazing pallet drinks cooler, equipped with ice buckets, which would make the ultimate addition to your home bar. Cheers!

Pallet Storage

Garden pallet projects can be practical as well as eye-catching! These pallet storage ideas offer great inspiration on ways that you can keep your garden organised and tidy in a unique and stylish manner. Personalise your storage to suit your needs; whether you’re looking for somewhere to store gardening equipment, the children’s bikes or their outdoor toys.

These storage ideas generally tend to be quite simple to put together but the results are impressive. Landscape Magazine offers an easy-to-follow guide on how to create a simple bike storage rack, which is not only effective but looks amazing too, and Kate Beavis offers instructions on how you can replicate the beautiful potting bench shown in the example images above.

Pallet Paddling Pool

We’ve saved the best ‘til last! Are you ready for something pretty spectacular? Drum roll, please…

Yes, that’s right – a paddling pool made from pallets! How amazing is that? Transform your garden space into a luxury oasis by building your very own pallet pool. Pair this with your new pallet bar and who needs a holiday abroad? You’ve got the perfect location for a fun-filled summer staycation right in your own garden!

Safety First

When sourcing the pallets for any of your chosen pallet projects, it’s important that you ensure you’re using pallets safe for use. Never be tempted to use discarded pallets as their history is unknown and they could be contaminated with potential chemicals. The best way to ensure that your pallets are safe is by using a reputable pallet supplier.

Universal Pallets offers a wide range of quality pallets that are safe for use and can be bought online. If you’re unsure what type of pallet you need, don’t hesitate to get in touch; our expert team will gladly point you in the right direction. Please also make sure you thoroughly sand your projects to avoid the risk of splinters, and treat them appropriately. Find out more about painting and staining your pallet project.

All that’s left for us to say is… enjoy, get creative and make summer ‘22 your best one yet! We can’t wait to see where your imagination takes you!