Mom Turns Cheap Wood Pallets Into A Dreamy Outdoor Kitchen

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They say one man's trash is another man's treasure. Old coffee containers can be a secret weapon for bringing charm to your yard, for instance, and unwanted coffee mugs can be converted into cute bird feeders. A British mom has taken to social media to showcase how she upcycled discarded wooden pallets into a beautiful outdoor kitchen, and it's a design idea anyone can duplicate with patience, ingenuity — and, of course, plenty of pallets.

@bydesignermum

Outdoor kitchen on a budget. #diyproject #outdoorkitchen #gardenideas

♬ original sound – bestspedup

The TikToker used around eight pallets in her alfresco kitchen design, which you can get in various ways. You can outright purchase them (new and recycled) from specific pallet retailers, but also from Amazon and forums like Facebook Marketplace and sites like Craigslist. It's also often easy to get them free, including from lumber yards and big box stores that receive shipments of goods on pallets every day. They can be utilized whole as well as dismantled into individual sections and boards. Our TikToker repurposed her pallets into construction materials to build a counter base, shelving, backsplash, and even an overhead pergola, creating a dreamy outdoor culinary space that is at once rustic-looking and pretty.

Using reclaimed materials makes the project extremely budget-friendly, and it's a concept this designing mom took even further by incorporating an old desk into her creation along with the pallets. Building around a used furniture piece in this way is a great shortcut to reduce needed construction. With some creative thrifting, it's easy to find such inspo pieces to form an anchor for your pallet project. She additionally utilized excess materials from previous projects to save on costs, including leftover tiles to create her countertop surface. Taking stock of what you already have on hand is another great way to generate design inspo and keep the budget low.

Pallets are not only budget-friendly DIY materials but also offer great design versatility for an outdoor kitchen, lending a rustic look or a clean, streamlined aesthetic, depending on how you finish them. If you opt for rustic, bear in mind the wood still needs to be properly prepped, including sanding and sealing it. You should also beware that not all pallets are safe for upcycling. If they're marked with "MB," for instance, that means they've been treated with the pesticide methyl bromide and shouldn't be used for DIY or even brought indoors. Opt for heat-treated pallets that are clean and have not obviously been used to haul items containing contaminants you wouldn't want coming into contact with food, like chemicals or raw meat.

Pallet construction can be incorporated into virtually every area of your outdoor kitchen. Whole, intact pallets make great tabletops, backsplash walls, and even easy DIY vertical gardens, which can be both a functional and attractive feature in your outdoor kitchen area. You can also follow the TikToker's lead and shade the space with a pallet pergola, patio cover, or other type of overhead construction.

Dismantled pallet sections and boards have almost limitless uses. The TikTok designer created cupboard doors and wood cladding for her counter base with these pieces, and pallet lumber can also be used for the countertop itself. You can set a sink right into a pallet counter, just as you would any culinary surface. You can further use pallet boards to construct an island, seating, a bar cart, and so much more. With all the money saved from using reclaimed wood, you may even be able to splurge on a high-end grill, which can also be integrated right into your pallet countertop.