Tools

  • Hammer
    Hammer
  • Mallet
    Mallet
  • Pencil
    Pencil
  • Safety Goggles
    Safety Goggles
  • Screw Drivers
    Screw Drivers
  • Screws
    Screws
  • Tape Measure
    Tape Measure

Other Supplies

  • ● Mitre Saw
  • ● Circular Saw
  • ● Screw Gun
  • ● Nail Gun
  • ● One pallet
  • ● Four – National Hardware 2 1/2″ Corner Braces (Galvanized)
  • ● One - 25" x 18" piece of scrap plywood
  • ● Eight - 1 5/8" deck screws
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Step 1

Find a Pallet

Find a pallet that is fairly clean and in good shape. Take it apart with a mallet, using care to not split the wood. Tap out the nails carefully and sand the rough edges.

 

Rustic Pallet Shelf

Step 2

Cut


Cut two 2 x 4's from the pallet to be 23" in length and two 2 x 4's to be 18" in length.

 

Rustic Pallet Shelf

Step 3

Assemble


Assemble the frame with the four 2 x 4's to create a rectangular shape.

 

Rustic Pallet Shelf

Step 4

Screw


Screw together the frame with 1 5/8" screws using your screw gun.

 

Rustic Pallet Shelf

Step 5

Add Corner Braces


Add one of the National Hardware 2 1/2″ Corner Braces to each corner on the inside of the frame to brace it.

 

Rustic Pallet Shelf
Rustic Pallet Shelf
Rustic Pallet Shelf

Step 6

Measure


Measure the interior dimensions for the front face frame. 

Rustic Pallet Shelf

Step 7

Cut


Cut two of the pallet slats at a 45-degree angle on both sides with the miter saw. The interior dimension will be 29 1/4" long. Next cut two of the slats at the same 45-degree angle to measure 22 1/4" on the interior dimension.

 

Rustic Pallet Shelf

Step 8

Assemble


Assemble and attach the outside frame to the box frame using a nail gun.

 

Rustic Pallet Shelf
Rustic Pallet Shelf

Step 9

Cut

Cut two pieces to measure 15 1/2" long for the shelves.
Rustic Pallet Shelf
Rustic Pallet Shelf

Step 10

Cut and Attach


Lay out and space out the shelves to be 8", 7" and 6 3/4" apart from each other. Cut brackets to hold the shelves in place and attach with the nail gun.
Rustic Pallet Shelf
Rustic Pallet Shelf


Step 11

Hide Corner Braces


After the shelf brackets are nailed in place, you may want to hide the corner braces for a more attractive look. If so, then cut two pieces to measure 14 1/2" and nail them into the top and bottom inside the frame as shown.
Rustic Pallet Shelf

Step 12

Add Back to Shelf


If you decide to add a back to the shelf, measure and cut a piece of scrap wood to fit and nail it in place

Your shelf is finished and ready to be hung and styled!

Rustic Pallet Shelf
Rustic Pallet Shelf

Rustic Pallet Shelf
Rustic Pallet Shelf

Hardware

Janet Coon
Janet Coon is the face behind the popular design and DIY blog Shabbyfufu, now in it's 15th year of production!

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