Finding the right furniture and home décor that satisfies the renovation you had in mind requires a lot of time, energy, and creativity. Regardless of whether it is fashion or homeware, trends come and go, so finding furniture that withstands the test of time is no easy task. For those in need of some home renovation ideas, you can find inspiration wherever you look – even in pallets.

These flat wooden structures are commonly used for the transportation and display of goods in the likes of supermarkets and storage facilities. However, have you ever thought of a pallet table or sofa? Although this concept may sound rather bizarre, recent Google search data find that ‘pallet furniture’ is becoming an increasingly searched term across the UK, with the term increasing from just 4,400 searches in January 2019, to 74,000 by May 2020.

To help inspire a quirky new edition to your renovation tick list, we discuss what the nation is searching for when it comes to pallets and home décor.

Pallet tables

Whether it be for the central dining room piece or a stand to display your favourite family photos on, the term ‘pallet tables’ has experienced significant increases in monthly search volumes from January 2019, accounting for 880 searches, to 6,600 searches in May 2020. It seems the nation is looking for creative new coffee tables too, with the term ‘pallet coffee tables’ increasing from 1,600 searches in January 2019, to 4,400 searches in May 2020. 

Although you could purchase a pallet table ready-made from a supplier, opting to make your own means you can add a quirky twist that is unique to you.

Firstly, decide what size coffee table you want and purchase three pallets that match the size. Alternatively, saw the pallet you have to be the size and shape.

Since pallets tend to have large spaces between each wooden slat, remove the slats from one of the other pallets using a hammer and chisel and nail them in between the gaps of your main pallet. Make sure to remove all the old nails out of the pallet and secure the slats with new ones. Already, your coffee tabletop has appeared! 

For the legs of the table, use the third pallet you have and saw the slats to meet the length required of the tabletop. For extra strength and balance, use the full thickness of the third pallet, rather than just the individual slats. Then nail them to the tabletop using carriage bolts for extra strength. Finally, smooth the surface down using sanding paper and paint with wood stain.

Once the woodwork is done, decorate the table however you please!

Pallet bed

Although a wooden pallet doesn’t sound like the comfiest surface to sleep on every night, it does make for a stylish and rustic frame for a low-platformed mattress to be placed on. So much so that the term ‘pallet bed frames’ has dramatically increased on Google over the last year, going from being searched 720 times in January 2019, to 1,600 times in August 2020.

As for the term ‘pallet bed’, this is found to be increasingly talked about. This term rose from 5,400 searches in January 2019 to 12,100 searches in August 2020.

With the help of some wood stained pallets, you can craft together a timeless pallet bed frame that adds a retro and rustic aesthetic to your room. Complete the bed frame off by adding a set of golden fairy lights around the borders, intertwined between a white mesh curtain to add a cosy, cottagecore-inspired touch to the frame.

Garden furniture

As for the exteriors of our homes, it appears the nation adore the woodland, cottage-style feel that pallet furniture captures. The term ‘pallet garden furniture’ has found to be an increasingly searched for choice of décor, with the term increasing from 1,300 searches in January 2019, to 14,800 searches in June 2020. For those that are looking for a new addition to your deck area, the term ‘pallet sofa’ has excelled in popularity over the years. The phrase was searched for 880 times in January 2019, rising to 12,100 searches in July 2020.

As the winter months approach, it’s important to ensure the outside features of our home such as a blocked gully are taken care of. But other than that, making use out of our garden’s; cosying up in front of the fire pit in our back gardens with a mug of hot chocolate and a blanket. A pallet sofa provides a stylish touch to your back-garden furniture. To save time on figuring out how to DIY your pallet sofa, you could purchase a one pre-made from a supplier and then add your own décor to it once it arrives. For example, get creative with colours and paint it to match your garden aesthetic. Or, purchase a variety of cushions and throws to add to it.

When it comes to quirky home décor, there is inspiration wherever you look. Since the UK has a newfound adoration for pallet-crafted furniture, learn a new DIY skill this winter and assemble a timeless furniture piece that is unique to your home.