Upcycle Wood Pallets Into a Cozy Outdoor Dog Bed
Give your furry best friend a comfy outdoor nap spot using (free!) wood shipping pallets.
Materials Needed:
- wooden shipping pallets
- tape measure
- nail puller
- hammer
- 1 1/2" finish screws
- stainless steel finish nails
- chop saw
- carpenter's pencil
- drill
- large outdoor cushion
Dismantle Pallets
Gather a group of used wooden shipping pallets (Image 1). Using a hammer or nail puller, remove each plank of wood from the pallet base (Image 2), then dismantle the base.
Choose Best Pieces
Lay all pieces of wood out on a flat, level surface. Based on your specific shipping pallet and the intended size of your dog bed, choose which pieces are the best fit for the two sides, the rear, the front fascia and the base. Tip: A good-sized dog bed for small and medium dogs is 12 to 16 inches, and 14 to 18 inches for larger dogs.
Measure and Cut Boards
Measure and mark side boards using measuring tape and a carpenter's pencil. Cut them to 24-inch lengths with a circular saw. Measure and mark the rear and bottom boards using measuring tape and a carpenter's pencil, and cut to a 36-inch length with a circular saw. These boards will be the rear panel and bottom planks.
Measure and Cut Structural Pieces
To create structural pieces, measure and mark 1 1/2-inch strips using measuring tape and a carpenter's pencil, and cut with a circular saw (Images 1 and 2). Next, use a circular saw to cut six pieces of wood the same length as the desired overall height.
Attach Structural Pieces
Lay out rear panel boards on a flat, level surface, and attach structural pieces on each end with finish nails or screws using a drill or hammer (Image 1). Lay out side panel boards on a flat, level surface, and attach structural pieces on each end (Image 2).
Attach Side and Rear Panels
Attach side panels to each end of the rear panels with finish nails or screws using a drill or hammer.
Cut and Attach Fascia Board
Measure and mark side boards using measuring tape and a carpenter's pencil, then cut front fascia board to length of the front edge from side to side. Install front fascia to side panels with finish nails or screws using a drill or hammer.
Install Base Planks
Attach planks to the base's underside with finish nails or screws using a drill or hammer. Tip: Make sure the planks sit flush, or the dog bed may appear crooked.
Sand Edges
Use an orbital sander or sanding block to smooth out the rough edges of each panel (Image 1). Add cushions (Image 2).
