Man Uses Old Wood Pallets To Make An Impressive Backyard Day Bed

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If you've got old wood pallets taking up space in your garage or shed, don't throw them away just yet — wood pallets can be used for more than just hauling and storing supplies. With a little effort, you can give old pallets a new purpose by transforming them into a comfy outdoor daybed for lounging in the backyard. YouTuber Kipkay gives a great example of exactly how to do this using only two pallets.

After first cleaning up the pallets and fixing up some of the slats, he attaches them together, creating a one-piece frame for a simple daybed setup. Then, using rope and a twin-sized Casper mattress, he builds a comfy outdoor lounging spot hung beneath a tree with just the right amount of shade. The project offers a clever way to repurpose wood that might otherwise go to waste, while adding a cozy place to read, nap, or enjoy some fresh air during the summer. It's a simple DIY that proves you don't need expensive patio furniture to make your backyard more inviting. 

For this project, you'll need a hammer, an electric drill, a power saw, three 8-foot 2-by-4 boards, 3-inch coated deck screws, 2-inch drywall screws, a spade bit, and a sanding block to get rid of those rough pallet edges. To finish off the daybed, you'll also need a mattress and two sturdy pieces of rope long enough to hang the bed comfortably from a tree or beam. If you have more than two pallets lying around, there are plenty of other affordable backyard DIYs to try that won't cost much money or take a lot of time.

Start by cleaning up the pallets a bit, which is one of the few precautions you should take when using pallets for your outdoor DIYs. Don't use a pallet that has any warped or damaged boards, and either hammer down or replace old protruding nails. Next, take measurements to ensure you're creating the right size frame for your mattress. Twin and full-size mattresses are the same length (75 inches), but a twin measures 38 inches wide, while a full-size measures 54 inches wide. That said, the standard size of a pallet in the U.S. is 48 by 40 inches, so a twin mattress will need two pallets joined lengthwise.

So if making a twin frame like Kipkay did, place the two pallets together, then use the powered saw to cut the frame down to 81 inches long. Then cut the 2-by-4s to 85 inches long. Slide the 2-by-4s inside the edges and middle of the frame to create reinforcement where the most weight will rest, allowing them to stick out a few inches. Use the drill to insert 3-inch deck screws along the sides and 2-inch drywall screws along the top, securing the 2-by-4s to the pallets. Use your spade bit to drill a rope hole through each end of the side 2-by-4s. Finally, run a sanding block over the frame to get rid of rough spots. Now it's time to hang it up.

Choose a shady spot and a tree with a solid, sturdy branch, and loop the rope through the holes in the 2-by-4s to hang the pallets. Ensure the frame is level, then add your mattress along with a vinyl cover to protect it from the elements, like the Utopia Bedding mattress encasement from Amazon.

Now that the groundwork is laid, you can explore other decorative and setup options. If you really want to spruce up this daybed swing design, consider building a headboard and side armrests to the daybed design using a few extra 2x4s. It's another creative way you can upcycle wood pallets for your yard, and it puts these extra scraps to good use.

You can try using paint to add a bit of color to the wood for a bolder look, too. Consider painting the headboard, armrests, and sides of the frame, seeing as they'll be the most visible components once the mattress and bedding are assembled. Eye-catching tones, such as a bright orange, wine red, or even a white-wash look, can add a pop of personality to your yard, especially if there are a lot of green plants and other trees around.

Take the design further by draping outdoor-rated string lights along the headboard or the rope itself for a warm glow after dark, helping this yard feature feel like a true outdoor living room. Pro tip: To keep the mattress from sliding as the bed sways, attach some outdoor-rated hook-and-loop strips, such as this Velcro Brand Extreme Outdoor Mounting Tape, to the underside of the mattress and the top of the bed frame.