Soft accessories (mattresses and pillows) for furniture made from pallets

Recycling of resources and materials has recently become increasingly important. People are increasingly becoming interested in the possibilities of using only environmentally friendly things, giving new life to many items that have already served their purpose, and in general, in the conditions of the economic crisis, saving and recycling are becoming more and more popular. Even furniture for the home, and not just for the garden, is now made by many from scrap materials. Lately, you can often see homemade interior items made from pallets when visiting someone.. These are structures used to transport goods. It turns out that it is not so difficult to make a sofa from pallets (pallets) with your own hands, and in terms of its quality it can be even better than what you can buy in a store.

DIY sofa made from pallets

What are pallets? Their features

What is a pallet? Many people already know it, but those who are far from logistics and have not encountered the transportation of various goods may not be aware that there is such a seemingly simple, but interesting and quite capable of being multifunctional design. So, a pallet or pallet is a special type of transport container or packaging, usually made of wood (but there are also metal versions), which is used during the transportation of various goods to protect and create a base for them. Thanks to pallets, storing cargo and moving it using certain technical means is much easier than doing it in conventional ways without the use of pallets.

What are pallets used for?

On a note! Pallets were invented in the USA in the last century. And the name comes from the English word “pallet”, which means a structure for transporting cargo. In Russia, most often such a product is called a pallet.

Types of pallets

The pallet is a very strong and durable structure. It is designed to easily support a load weighing up to one ton. Usually made of wood - pine, yew, larch. These types of wood are quite resistant to breakage and can last a long time. Plus they are good at carpentry work. Pallets are assembled at specialized enterprises in an automated manner, rather than manually.

Standard pallet

In Russia you can purchase two types of pallets - standard ones , produced in our country, as well as Euro pallets . Whatever one may say, the quality of the European design is still higher than that of the domestic one. At a minimum, you can be sure that the wood of such a pallet has undergone all processing, because Europeans are very strict about compliance with environmental and sanitary standards. Also, Euro pallets differ from ours in dimensions.

Euro pallet sizes

Table. Pallet parameters.

Options	Europallet	Russian-made pallet (standard)
Length, cm	80	100
Width, cm	120	120
Height, cm	12	12
Weight, kg	15	20

GOST 33757-2016. Flat wooden pallets. Specifications . Downloadable file (click the link to open the PDF in a new window).

GOST 33757-2016

Pallets

Where to get pallets and which ones to choose?

As you can see from the table, in addition to the quality of the material used, pallets differ only in length and weight, and even then to an insignificant extent. However, when creating furniture, experts still recommend using Euro samples, since they are easier and safer to work with.

To create furniture with your own hands, you need to take not entirely old structures and, of course, intact ones. First of all, you need to pay attention to the condition of the wood itself. So, it should have a pleasant wood color without blue. If the wood has a dark shade, then most likely the pallet was assembled from raw material and is of very low quality. Of course, it will not last long, and it is better to abandon it.

Buying pallets is not a problem

The service life of pallets for their intended purpose, that is, for transporting heavy cargo, is only 1 transportation cycle, but in general they can be used up to 3-5 times. Although, according to the rules, the pallet must be written off and disposed of after transportation. Simply put, they are thrown into a landfill. But in fact, such pallets can be bought at a very low price or even received for free and used to improve the interior.

On a note! Used pallets that have served their useful life can often be picked up, so to speak, “for pickup.” True, this “agreement” can only be achieved with small contractors - in large companies the write-off process is somewhat more complicated.

It is important to choose the right pallets

You can buy completely new pallets in stores, but sometimes this is pointless. And obviously no one wants to overpay extra money. So it’s easier to take already used, but intact and durable ones. They will be able to perform the functions of furniture elements for many, many years to come without losing their strength.

You can buy new pallets, but why pay more?

Also, to create furniture, it is better to take pallets of the same type. For example, the same euro. Diverse ones will differ not only in quality, but also in size. For one piece of furniture you need to use designs of the same type.

Tips for choosing material

To create an original sofa from pallets with your own hands, you should start by choosing the material. You can get used containers through advertisements on the thematic portal. There is an alternative option: many enterprises are ready to sell them at a favorable price so as not to spend money on disposal . The following types of products are suitable for use:

1. Europallet (EUR-pallet). This is a pallet measuring 800 × 1200 × 145 mm, equipped with a company stamp (EUR in an oval) and a marking of the country of origin. The upper part is made of five boards, the lower part is made of three.
2. Finnish pallet (finpallet). A type of Euro pallet, the dimensions of which are determined by the characteristics of local trucks. The common standard in Finland is 1000 × 1200 × 145 mm.

Sofas made from Euro pallets will require much less processing effort. Containers manufactured according to European standards are divided into three types, taking into account their condition:

1. Top grade. Practically new container, used 2-3 times. The wood is light, strong, there are no cracks or chips on the surface.
2. First grade. The product has been used many times, but has not been repaired, the surface is not damaged by cracks.
3. Second grade. The wood may have natural darkening, slight damage, or contamination. Minor repairs are allowed.

Non-certified pallets can be used for production. They are no different in size and design from Euro pallets. The difference is the absence of a company stamp.

Europallet

Finnish

Uncertified

Pallets

Furniture from pallets in the interior

We can safely say that now pallets are not only transportation elements. There were other uses for them. These designs are used to create a wide variety of furniture for both home and garden. Moreover, working with them is quite simple - you don’t need any special skills, and even a beginner can handle the task of creating a new piece of furniture.

Sofa made of pallets

The advantages of pallets as elements for creating furniture and furniture made from them:

• high strength;
• light weight, and therefore the finished sofa can be easily moved even alone;
• ease of cleaning and care - usually the soft part of a sofa or armchair simply lies on top of a wooden structure and is secured with braid, so washing it and cleaning the wooden elements usually does not arise;
• simplicity of design and the ability to quickly disassemble furniture if necessary;
• simplicity of working with the material and ease of its processing;
• cheap pallets.

Simple sofa made from pallets

On a note! Despite the fact that we are talking about sofas, you can make a wide variety of furniture from pallets and furnish the entire apartment with objects of the same type and style. Pallets are used to make cabinets, tables, chairs and much more.

Furniture made from pallets, depending on the style and method of decoration, can suit absolutely any interior. But most often it is used in those rooms that are decorated in Asian style, loft style, eco-style. This type of furniture also looks good in kitchens and dining rooms, in private homes and country houses. Often, sofas made from pallets are installed on balconies and in recreation areas.

Sofa made of pallets - photo

Making sofas from pallets

Sofas made from pallets should not only be beautiful, but also comfortable, so you need to pick up soft pillows or mattresses in the store. In addition, it is worth making sure that the base is in harmony with the soft details in color and texture.

For example, if the frame of the sofa is painted only with varnish, it is better to use pillows made of fabric that imitates burlap, white seats or checkered ones in a country style.

Pillows of different colors or bright prints will go well with a plain white or black sofa base.

It is also worth considering the features of the room for which the sofa is made. For example, for a dacha and country house it is better to choose dark pillows. This way you can wash them less often.

What is needed to create such a sofa?

So, let's figure out what might be needed to work with such material for creating furniture as pallets? In addition to them, you will need to get hold of various tools, as well as buy fabric and soft padding or a mattress to decorate the finished product. Tools and materials for work:

• saw, jigsaw and other sawing tools. It is easier to work with a jigsaw than with a saw;
• Sander;
• sandpaper;
• a nail puller, and sometimes an ax, which will be needed to remove nails;
• drill;
• screwdriver;
• self-tapping screws;
• metal corners;
• paint materials and brushes;
• wood primer.

What tools are needed for the job?

Prices for popular models of jigsaws

Jigsaw

Don’t forget about the means to protect your eyes and hands (gloves, safety glasses); you will also need a pencil, ruler, and tape measure. And in order to make the sofa easy to move, it is best to install legs under it on wheels, which you will also need to buy. However, you can get by with stationary legs. It would also be a good idea to get a construction stapler, which will help you secure the soft part to the sofa in the future.

Pallet preparation

The first thing, of course, you need to buy not only everything listed above, but also the pallets themselves. And they will have to be prepared before starting work, especially if the structures have already been used before. So, first of all, you need to inspect them for damage and protruding nails. Typically, pallets require disassembly, removal of nails and then reassembly, but the boards are attached with self-tapping screws. To simplify the task, some do not disassemble the pallets, but use them in the form in which they are - that is, with nails. Only those that stick out are removed. But it is important to remember that pallets fastened with nails will last less than those assembled using self-tapping screws.

Pallet sanding

Prices for popular models of sanders

Sanders

Pallets with cracked boards cannot be used - it is better to throw them away. All structures must be intact and neat. Also, dirty pallets should be cleared of debris, even washed and dried well. Of course, this needs to be done outside.

After this, the structures will need grinding and surface treatment with a number of agents that prevent rotting. The easiest way to sand is with a special machine. But when making a small piece of furniture, you can get by with sandpaper. It is also advisable to treat the pallets with a primer even before assembling the structure. This will then allow the paint to adhere better.

Orbital sander

Attention! The shape and size of the sofa must be chosen before work begins. This will allow you to determine the required amount of material, as well as decide how to properly assemble the piece of furniture.

The process of making a sofa with pillows

Step 1. First of all, you need to disassemble the pallets and remove all the nails from them.

Pallet dismantling

All nails must be removed

Step 2. Next, in accordance with the future width of the sofa on the pallets that will be used as a seat, you need to make markings.

Marking

Step 3. The top boards, as well as all elements of the pallets that will come into contact with human skin, must be thoroughly sanded using a sanding machine. It is best to sand all the boards without saving time.

The boards are carefully sanded

Step 4. Next, all the polished elements of the pallets need to be assembled again into a single structure, but the assembly must be done using self-tapping screws.

Assembling the pallet after sanding

Prices for cordless drill/driver

Cordless drill/driver

Assembly is carried out using self-tapping screws

Step 5. Also, those pallets that will form the lower part of the sofa of the required height (about 2-3 pieces stacked on top of each other) must be connected to each other using the same screws.

Pallet connection for the bottom of the sofa

Step 6. Next, you need to assemble the back from separate sanded boards and one side of the pallet. In order for it to be inclined, you need to make 2-3 supports, secure them to the base, and attach the back part of the pallet to them at an angle. Also, the backrest can be completely assembled from individual boards.

Assembling the back of the sofa

In our case, the back is inclined

Another photo of the process

Step 7. Now the structure must be primed, dried, and then coated with paint of the desired color. The paint will lie smoother and better if it is applied using special equipment.

Painting the resulting structure

Convenient to use the spray gun

Prices for paint sprayers

Spray gun

Step 8. After this, you can screw the wheel legs in the corners onto the lower pallet under the base of the sofa.

Wheeled feet are screwed into the corners

Step 9. Next, the painted and dried surface of the boards can be sanded again.

Re-sanding of surfaces

The structure is sanded

Step 10. Next, you need to make stuffing for the pillows from a soft but dense material. You can take a small mattress and simply lay it on the sofa, but in this case the pillows are also made by hand.

The pillows will be made by hand

Making a pillow for a future sofa

The pillow is almost ready

Step 11. Now, according to the size of the pillows, you need to make a pattern of covers for them and sew them. It is better to take a material that is dense and durable. On the underside of the covers you will need to sew small straps with a strip of Velcro tape, which will be needed to secure the pillow on the sofa.

Pattern of covers

Sewing covers

Ready-made case with Velcro

Step 12. When the covers are ready, the soft material needs to be tucked into them. It would be ideal if there were zippers sewn into the side of the cover, which would allow the covers to be removed and washed if necessary.

The case is filled with soft padding

The case has a zipper sewn into it, which is very convenient.

Step 13. Now the pillows can be laid on the sofa by inserting straps into the gaps between the boards.

Pillows are stacked on the sofa

Step 14. From the inside of the sofa, you need to attach the second strip of Velcro tape to the board using a construction stapler. Next, all that remains is to attach the strap to this strip. This is how you need to secure all the pillows. The back cushions are attached in the same way.

Fixing the second strip of Velcro tape

This is what a finished sofa made from pallets looks like

Video - DIY sofa made from pallets

Step-by-step instructions for making furniture

Tools and materials

To work with your own hands, you will need a small list of tools:

• Saw. You can take either manual or electric.
• Electric drill.
• Sander.
• Hammer.
• Screwdriver. Needed for self-tapping screws (you can prepare a screwdriver).
• Marking and measuring tool.

To fasten the pallets together, you need to purchase:

• self-tapping screws;
• bolts;
• or nails.

Advice

Metal corners will help give maximum rigidity to corner joints. At the end of assembly, the sofa will need to be coated with wood paint or furniture varnish.

Preparatory stage

Before starting work, you should read the detailed manufacturing instructions and watch several videos on this topic.

For an average-sized sofa you will need about 6-7 pallets. A corner sofa made from Euro pallets will require a little more workpieces.

1. Pallets prepared for work are laid out on a flat surface, placed on the front part. Here it is better to immediately start fastening the parts together with wooden slats, corners, and bars.
2. The remaining products are sawn in half, preparing them for the backs and armrests.
3. All parts are treated with a moisture-resistant compound, which ensures the safety of the surface and extends its service life.
4. Legs made of wooden blocks are attached to some parts that will touch the floor. If you plan to constantly move the furniture around the apartment, you need to additionally screw the wheels to the base to make moving easier.

Drawing up a drawing and assembly diagram

You can schematically depict any version of the sofa. The measured sides should be visible on the drawings:

• right side length;
• left;
• width and horizontal.

The drawings should schematically represent all parts of the assembly. You need to outline the position of the sofa in space, outline its shape.

You can take ready-made diagrams from the Internet and adjust them to the desired design.

Important

It is important that all slopes, angles, and parallels are marked in centimeters in the drawing. It should be clear from the diagram what sequence of actions will be performed.

Process

The following describes step by step how to make each piece of furniture from pallets.

How to make a frame?

The frame is made in two ways. Can be used:

1. one-piece tray (it is attached to the end of the seat);
2. half, which is installed on top of the seat.

Each method has both its advantages and disadvantages:

• The first provides greater reliability, since it has a large contact area with the base and does not involve the use of another material. In the first case, the sofa looks more voluminous and is wide enough to be used as a comfortable seat.
• The second way is to save material and ultimately take up less space. These designs are not very reliable: they can only be used if the sofa is not used regularly for its intended purpose.

The frame is firmly attached with self-tapping screws to ensure reliability and durability. In this case, it is important to use additional reinforcement of parts with angles. The front part is attached with self-tapping screws and then covered with plywood. You can nail several planks to this place, which will also protect the frame from pressure on the entire structure.

Soft seat

The best material for pillows is foam rubber (which foam rubber should I choose for a sofa?). The thickness of the filler is at least 20 cm. To maintain the softness of the seat as long as possible in any form of use of the entire structure, you need to lay a thin layer of felt or batting on top of the foam rubber.

For the seat you need to cut out several blanks. Will need:

• rack;
• top and bottom bars;
• side bars;
• front and rear seat bars.

For production, take a board measuring at least 50 mm. The seat panel and backrest are made a little later, since the seat acts as the main holding frame.

Action steps:

1. Holes are drilled in the side bars and the stand. The seat mounts will pass through them.
2. Overlays are attached to the side bars, and then the end surface is cleaned. The countersinking process occurs by counterbore, the attachment heads are obtained in the form of end teeth. They are made under washer, nuts or thrust rings.
3. The racks have grooves approximately 38 mm wide.
4. At the end of the front crossbar, folds with a width of 76 mm are made. The end of the top and back rails must be at least 38mm.
5. The stops are attached so that the tongues are at a depth of 6 mm. To do this, use a router.

How to design armrests?

The armrests should be made after the legs. Therefore, for the latter, block parts are cut off, ties and front panels are formed.

The blanks are connected to each other in such a way that the sides and bottom sides of the parts are located close to each other. They are manually compressed so that they eventually come into contact with each other. Then the workpieces are tightened with ties using a clamp so that countersink holes can be made without any problems.

Advice

A countersink hole is made for the head of a countersunk screw. To do this, it is best to insert a screw with a head of the required diameter into the drill chuck.

If chips form during drill operation, then this must be taken into account and the surface must be protected from dust and splinters. Dirt can be especially active when drilling holes in plywood.

Holes are used for convenient connection of ties and legs. The lower end, or more precisely, the area around its base, should be milled with a 3 mm chamfer. Only after this the resulting element is sanded. If you need to give the workpiece the required color, you can treat it with stain. The armrest should extend beyond the edges at the front and back. The inner panels must be flush with each other.

Design options, photos

Options for self-made furniture:

1. Sofa bench. At the same time, make a comfortable backrest so that it is good to lean on it.
2. High ottoman. A convenient pattern for relaxation and rest, suitable for decorating children's bedrooms.
3. Step bench. Looks beautiful for decorating a garden, vegetable garden, suitable for a summer kitchen.
4. Foldable sofa bed. Suitable for decorating bedrooms and lounges.
5. Fixed sofa bed with headboard and armrest. Can be installed in a modern interior. Suitable for country houses.
6. Corner sofa. Looks great in small rooms where you need to save space.

Complementing the interior with other items is sometimes required or even necessary. It is better to do this with elements made of the same material as the sofa. You can do:

• table;
• shelves;
• armchairs.

To decorate the sofa seat, you can use decorative pillows and toys. All this will create a complete picture. The following are photos of design options:

How to make a folding model?

First you need to connect the frame structural elements so that they are complete:

• seat;
• back;
• side parts;
• and a storage box.

The box is done first:

1. To do this, take two boards 190 and 80 cm long. The width is at least 20 cm, and the thickness is 2.5 cm. You will also need 4 bars with a section of 5x5 cm and a length of 20 cm.
2. The design is complemented by slats installed across. Board dimensions: length - 80 cm, width - 5 cm, thickness - 2 cm.
3. The bottom is covered with a fiberboard sheet measuring 190x80 cm.

For seat and back frames:

1. Prepare a beam with a cross-section of 40–60 cm. You need to make a rectangle of 189x65 cm from it.
2. The parts are fastened with self-tapping screws or nails, making holes of the required size with a puncher.

Attention

Slats are used as support for the mattress.

The armrests are made from a 2.5 cm thick chipboard sheet. The side walls of the sofa are prepared. A frame is created using the same dimensions, and the sawn wall is attached. Using a drill, holes are drilled on the sides of the box. Drill diameter - at least 10 mm.

The sofa parts are connected after the frames are completely assembled. The fittings are attached so that there is a gap of 1 cm between the seat and the backrest. When folded, the seat should not extend beyond the level of the armrests.

The edge of the seat is equipped with a soft cushion, to which a strip of foam rubber 2 cm thick and 20 cm wide is attached. An additional sheet of foam rubber 4 cm thick is laid on top. The edge must be folded down under the seat.

Corner

The corner sofa made from pallets is very comfortable and has enough space to seat all the guests. Depending on the situation, it can be transformed.

Procedure:

1. Each module at the base contains a frame made of chipboard or MDF, bars. The parts are fastened to each other with screws or corners. At the junction you need to drill holes for screwing in self-tapping screws. This will protect the material from damage, for example, prevent delamination. It is advisable to cover the bottom with a sheet of plywood or fiberboard.
2. The constructed box is closed with chipboard on top in several ways. The plate is completely fixed or hinges are used. Modules are chosen at your discretion. These can be hinged lids or tightly closed bases.
3. Working with the back is the next step. Its ends are attached to the front part, and fiberboard is mounted at the back and covered with cotton fabric. The work is carried out using a furniture stapler.
4. The back is covered with foam rubber or a filler of a different quality. The ends are fastened with a stapler. The outer side parts of the sofa are formed according to the same principle. The cover will be on top. All these manipulations are done with all parts of the sofa.

Advice

Before assembling, prepare all the parts of the sofa, sand them with a grinder or sandpaper, and also treat them with a special product to protect them from mold and insects.