Upcycler Transforms Old Wood Pallets Into An Outdoor Oasis

Some backyard furniture practically begs you to cancel your plans — like an outdoor daybed, for example. It's one of those pieces that feels like quiet luxury, offering somewhere to stretch out with a book before accidentally turning an afternoon into a two-hour nap. Buying one with a decorative canopy, though, can put quite the dent in your backyard budget. But with a few reclaimed wooden pallets and a little hard work, you could create a space of comfort and ease in your own backyard (leaving more room in the budget for nice cushions).

Looking to reuse old pallets to add rustic privacy to your home? DIYer Yoduhv Essentials on YouTube pairs a stacked-pallet daybed with lattice privacy panels to create a tucked-away lounging spot. It works great on a spacious patio, a courtyard, or inside a screened-in porch, giving you a little slice of paradise in your own home. The lattice screens provide the perfect place for creeping plants to climb, or you could add fabric to create a whimsical canopy that sways in the wind.

For this DIY, round up some wooden pallets, exterior screws, heavy-duty corner braces, and cushions for the lounging surface. You'll need outdoor lattice privacy panels, lumber to build a frame, and trim to finish off the cut edges. The creator uses PVC lattice panels, but wood might be a less expensive alternative that you can stain later. A drill, jigsaw, measuring tape, and sander are the basic tools needed for this project.

If you don't have any pallets on hand, you can get some for free at many hardware or grocery stores. Ask the manager if they have any they are throwing away; many will let you take them at no cost. If you're working with a small space daybed idea, choose your cushions first so you can plan the base size and enclosure, and measure them to ensure that the cushions will fit the bed. Sand everything down to avoid any unwanted splinters, and stack the pallets to your preferred seat height. Two is usually enough but you can adjust them to make the height you want. Screw the pallets together through their solid supports and attach an upright pallet at the back with corner brackets. The DIYer adds wheels to the bottom to make it easy to move, but that's totally optional. 

If you plan on staining the piece, definitely opt for wood lattice privacy panels over PVC. To follow the creator's approach, mark matching rounded openings on the front panels to create an oval entrance, then cut them with a jigsaw. Smooth the edges and cover them with compatible flexible trim so you don't snag anything on the entrance as you come and go into your oasis. Build a sturdy supporting framework from 2-by-4s and then attach the decorative lattice privacy panels around the sides and overhead with screws. Then, screw everything into the pallet base, and you're ready to chill.

If you used wood for the lattice privacy panels, you can stain or paint the lattice whatever color suits your outdoor space. Add a removable shade to provide more coverage than the lattice and add some string lights for a soft, romantic touch. Climbing plants like clematis or ivy can be planted in pots and staged around the base of the bed so they can grow up the lattice for a charming, storybook feel — and even more privacy.