DIY Pallet Shelf for Your Rustic or Farmhouse Home

Have you ever seen a stranded pallet by the side of the road? Don’t pass it by – turn it into a unique pallet shelf with this easy tutorial!

Skills Required: Beginner. You’ll need to know how to use basic tools and a saw to cut the shelf. Make sure to have your protective equipment (gloves, eyewear) as well.

One Sunday morning as we were driving away from church, I noticed a couple of nice looking pallets on the side of the road. And if you’re a newbie to the blog, I love me some reclaimed wood.

There’s this area right across the street from our church building where people pile stuff they don’t want. The last time was this amazing table we picked up for our son’s train set. This time, it was pallet heaven.

It took me a good two weeks to decide that I needed a pallet shelf. The possibilities were endless but when I looked at each room, the kitchen was pretty neglected design wise.

As each room evolves, other ones need a bit of help. So with the help of my handy husband, here’s how to create one for yourself! This is a perfect beginner woodworking project. So if you’re just beginning with power tools, try this home decor idea.

DIY Pallet Shelf

Gather These Supplies

• Pallet (duh)
• Pencil
• Jig saw
• Nail gun or hammer and nails
• Sandpaper (optional)
• Drill and screws

The first thing I did was plan how I wanted my DIY pallet shelf to look and where the cuts should be. The photo above shows where you’ll be cutting with the saw.

Use the pencil to mark the wood and where you’ll be cutting.

Next take the saw and cut along those lines. Here’s an overview: Count two rows of pallet boards down and cut across the left and center vertical boards.

On the right side of the center board, cut all the way down, both top boards and bottom boards.

You will have extra boards left over. That’s a very good thing! Choose two of the extra boards and secure them as the shelf bottoms with the nail gun.

Also, most pallets have old nails so make sure to add some new ones for support all over.

This is the area of the wall where we chose to hang the shelf, just so you can get an idea of the “before.”

Hanging up your DIY pallet shelf can be done a number of ways. I encourage you to find a way that works for you. My husband just used the stud finder and drilled it right to the wall.

I was totally fine with that. Before, that wall was okay – but now it’s a piece of art! I decided to leave the wood as is but you can use the sandpaper to clean up the edges or paint it.

We have plans on making this corner a coffee and tea area. I’m even more excited to see it decorated in cute white mugs and maybe a witty sign about caffeine!

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Pallet Shelf

Learn how to make a rustic, DIY pallet shelf in under a few hours! It looks great with farmhouse decor.

Prep Time30 minutes mins

Active Time2 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Total Time3 hours hrs

Type: DIY Projects

Yield: 1 shelf

Cost: $0

Equipment

• Saw
• Nail gun or hammer and nails
• Drill with drill bits
• Stud finder
• Pencil(s)

Materials

• 1 Pallet
• Wood screws
• Sandpaper optional

Instructions

• Lay the pallet directly on your work surface, face down.
• Use the pencil to mark the cut marks. You’ll cut directly to the left or right of the center support piece.
• Take the saw and cut along the lines. Count two rows of pallet boards down and cut across the left and center vertical boards.
• On the right side of the center board, cut all the way down, both top boards and bottom boards.
• You will have extra boards left over. Choose two of the extra boards and secure them as the shelf bottoms with the nail gun.
• Add nails around your shelf for additional support.
• Use a stud finder to drill the shelf directly in the wall.

If you liked this DIY pallet shelf, I’d love for you to check out these other project ideas:

• How to Decorate a Shelf with Scrapbook Paper
• DIY Coffee Table from Pallet Wood
• Ready to Roll Camper Wood Pallet Art
• DIY Industrial Pipe Shelving on a Budget
• DIY Mirror Frame You Can Make On a Budget!
• DIY Hose Holder with Pallet Wood
• Vinyl Plank Table Top Added to Nesting Tables