Upcycle an Old Pallet Into a Bistro-Style Menu Board

Add a little sophistication to your next dinner party with this chalkboard menu board upcycled from an old wood pallet.

Write On The Pallet

Using chalk, start at the top, with a welcome to your guests, then follow with each course. If your handwriting isn’t perfect, that’s OK. That’s the beauty of changing up the script as you go.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Photo by: Flynnside Out Productions

Flynnside Out Productions

By: Brian Patrick Flynn

Related To:

Materials Needed

wooden pallet
Kraft paper or dropcloth
medium-grit sandpaper
tackcloth or damp rag
chalkboard paint
paint roller and roller cover
small, disposable paintbrush
chalk

Prep Pallet For Paint

Place the pallet on Kraft paper or a dropcloth to protect your work surface (Image 1). Using medium-grit sandpaper, smooth any rough spots on the face of the pallet boards (Image 2), then remove sanding dust with a tackcloth or damp rag (Image 3).

Place the pallet on top of craft paper or a drop cloth to protect floor surface

Flynnside Out Productions

Using a fine grit sandpaper, smooth out any major rough spots on the flat board surfaces of the pallet, then dust off with a rag.

Flynnside Out Productions

Using a fine grit sandpaper, smooth out any major rough spots on the flat board surfaces of the pallet (Image 2), then dust off with a rag.

Flynnside Out Productions

Prep Pallet For Paint

Place the pallet on top of craft paper or a drop cloth to protect floor surface

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Photo By: Flynnside Out Productions

Prep Pallet For Paint

Using a fine grit sandpaper, smooth out any major rough spots on the flat board surfaces of the pallet, then dust off with a rag.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Photo By: Flynnside Out Productions

Prep Pallet For Paint

Using a fine grit sandpaper, smooth out any major rough spots on the flat board surfaces of the pallet (Image 2), then dust off with a rag.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Photo By: Flynnside Out Productions

Paint Pallet

Using a roller, paint the pallet's boards, in a vertical direction, and let dry (Image 1). Add a second coat, this time rolling in a horizontal direction, and let dry (Image 2). Using a small paintbrush, touch up any areas, like between the boards, you missed when rolling on paint (Image 3). Allow paint to cure overnight or even longer, if possible.

Using a roller, paint the flat boards in a vertical direction and let dry.

Flynnside Out Productions

Using a roller, paint the flat boards in a vertical direction and let dry (Image 4). Repeat this in a horizontal direction and let dry

Flynnside Out Productions

Using a small paint brush, paint the remaining front of pallet. Allow paint to cure for 24 hours, if possible.

Flynnside Out Productions

Paint The Pallet

Using a roller, paint the flat boards in a vertical direction and let dry.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Photo By: Flynnside Out Productions

Paint the Pallet

Using a roller, paint the flat boards in a vertical direction and let dry (Image 4). Repeat this in a horizontal direction and let dry

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Photo By: Flynnside Out Productions

Paint The Pallet

Using a small paint brush, paint the remaining front of pallet. Allow paint to cure for 24 hours, if possible.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Photo By: Flynnside Out Productions

Add Menu Items

Using chalk, start at the top, with a welcome to your guests, then follow with each course (Image 1). If your handwriting isn't perfect, that's okay. That's the beauty of changing up the script as you go (Image 2).