Daily Archives: June 25, 2013

Spotted: Upcycled Ottoman from a Wood Pallet share

We love a good pallet project around here, and this tufted, upcycled ottoman is rocking our socks!

Allyson at Domestic Superhero made this ottoman from a reclaimed wood pallet. It's kind of a beast of a project, but the results are so stunning, it's totally worth it.

There's a bit of debate about whether wood pallets are safe for crafting. The short version of the debate is that pallets are sometimes made from treated wood, and some tests have found bacteria like e. coli on wooden pallets. The treated wood is really more of an issue if you're using the pallet wood for something like growing food or building a tabletop that you'll be directly in contact with.

As for the bacteria issue, that almost seems to come down to comfort level. We come into contact with bacteria every day, and you have to decide if you're cool bringing a pallet into your home that may or may not be harboring bacteria. People craft with pallets all the time, and I'm yet to run across a story about someone getting sick from doing so.

If you want to make your own tufted pallet ottoman, here's your supply list:

• reclaimed wood pallet
• circular saw (if you need to cut yours down like she did)
• sand paper
• plywood cut to the dimensions of your pallet
• hammer and nails
• pressboard cut to the size of your pallet
• foam batting that's the size of your pallet's top plus enough foam to cover the 4 smaller sides
• enough fabric to wrap the pallet completely (don't forget to account for the heights of both your pallet and the batting when you're measuring!)
• tufting buttons, upholstery needle, and thin cord
• spray adhesive
• drill
• enough batting to wrap the pallet completely (don't forget to account for the heights of both your pallet and the batting when you're measuring!)
• staple gun
• wooden legs, mounting brackets, and paint or stain
• piece of muslin and hot glue to cover the bottom of the pallet (optional)

Whew! That's a doozy of a list, but this is a dramatic transformation! Once you've got your supplies together, click here for the full tutorial!