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how to make a pallet bed

June 4, 2012

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

It’s that time again. The first Monday of the month where we share an easy peasy, super simple, somewhat silly to post about project.

And today, my friends, we are going step-by-step into my rooftop pallet bed making process.
how to make a pallet bed

But honestly, because that process is soooo simple. We’re going to start with the jute rug.

how to make a pallet bedWe’ve had this rug for about 8 years and she has long ago reached her peak and is waaaayyyyy past her prime. I must warn you, this before photo is not for the weary.
how to make a pallet bed

(Yes, I had left the rug outside to self clean in the rain and intense sun … long enough for a weed to grow through it.)

Let’s digress here for a minute so I can give my one and only biggest tip of all times. This will hopefully help everyone who has been kind enough to express concern about nature getting the best of my rooftop bedroom.

Biggest Tip Evah!!!  Don’t decorate outside with anything you are not willing to lose in a battle with mother nature.

Simple. Right?!?!

Ok, back to our 8 year old, has seen better days, experienced an unfortunate series of events involving our dogs and vomit, jute rug. This cat is clearly on her 10th life. But, with a little spray primer, she’s the perfect base for our new rooftop pallet bed.
how to make a pallet bed

That’s right, I just used spray primer, not even real paint. I knew it was cheaper than my spray paint options figured that’d give the best coverage on the discolored spots I created in an attempt to clean previously mentioned dog vomit. And, it worked. Score!

It actually took about 4 cans, more than I had expected for some reason. And, I only went around the perimeter. Why paint what’s just going to get covered anyway, right?!?

For some frame of reference, the rug is 8′ x 10′ and I painted about 20 inches on 3 sides. Ummmm, sooooo, you do the math. 🙂
how to make a pallet bed

Once the painting was complete and the husband helped me schlep her up to the roof, the real easy hard work was ready to begin.

Here is how to make a pallet bed in 3 easy steps.

1. Ask a friend who is in the process of building a house and has a nice pile of construction debris if you can have some pallets.

2. Lay pallets in a square formation over your newly painted old ragged ass rug.

how to make a pallet bedWe actually waited through a few rain storms to make sure our placement was in the driest spot possible. But, please refer back to the Biggest Tip Evah!!! before proceeding.

3. Place mattress on pallets. Ta Da!!!

how to make a pallet bed

And, if you really want to get all fancy pants you can do a very poor thorough job of painting the exposed parts of the pallets.
how to make a pallet bed

So … basically, this was a very long winded way to say lay a few pallets on the ground and … if you like it put a mattress on it. 😉

And, to see more pics of my new favorite room, our rooftop bedroom you can go here.

And, to learn how to make those little jar candles go here.

Aaaand, to see how to do an image transfer like the one on the ‘our beach house’ sign go right here. 🙂

Now, head over and see what these gals have been up to on the cinchy front. 🙂

its_a_cinch     anthropologie_paint_drip_mason_jar its_a_cinch_diy_sun_jar its_a_cinch_tea_tin

And, just one more thing, I want to say a big Thank You! to Construction Management Degree for including this here blog in their list of the Top 100 DIY Sites. I’m proud to be sporting their button in the right sidebar, and you can click on it to check out the amazing company we are keeping on the list. 🙂

« foto friday 13 {the hardware store}
7 outdoor upcycling ideas »

Comments

  1. Anne says

    June 4, 2012 at

    Congrats Karah! That’s fantastic!! Way to go 🙂

  2. Linda @ it all started with paint says

    June 4, 2012 at

    Karah, just love it. Now I just need to get me some pallets and a rooftop on a Caribbean Island and I’m all set!

    So happy to be “It’s a Cinching” with you …

    🙂

    Linda

  3. thistle says

    June 4, 2012 at

    Karah,

    This is such an easy project! And I’m with Linda….I just need the rooftop in the Carribean Island to go with it 🙂

    I love it!

    🙂 me

  4. cassie says

    June 4, 2012 at

    i’m on my way over with a 6 pack!

  5. Kelly @ Eclectically Vintage says

    June 4, 2012 at

    Love that lonely little weed growing thru the rug! Glad you took the advice on the spray primer and Just Do It!

    My kind of gal – just do what you can see. If anyone starts lifting the mattress and checking the paint job on those pallets or rug, don’t invite them back!

    And the Best Tip Evah really is – figure you’ll get a few years out of some of that stuff and you won’t feel bad about any deterioration.
    Kelly

  6. Maury @ Life on Mars says

    June 4, 2012 at

    Awesome! I love the spray painted rug (you know me and spray paint). The color just makes it look like the color of weathered driftwood. Perfect!

  7. Marilyn says

    June 4, 2012 at

    Karah, I LOVE this! Easy and great laid back feel for your outdoor space. LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!!

  8. Kelly @ Corner of Main says

    June 4, 2012 at

    That was pretty easy, but it really looks great!

  9. Amy@BuffaloRoam says

    June 4, 2012 at

    I need a vacation, and I’ve decided your outdoor bedroom is our destination.

    Do you take reservations?

  10. Holly @ Life as a Thrifter says

    June 4, 2012 at

    A-MA-ZING!!!

  11. Whitney @ Drab to Fab Design says

    June 4, 2012 at

    The more of this project I see, the more I love it. What a freakin view!!

  12. Cindy says

    June 4, 2012 at

    Hi Karah,
    Your pallet bed looks great! I think this would be fabulous in a boy’s room too. I love the look of it.
    Cindy

  13. RHome410 @ Friday is Pizza, Monday is Soup says

    June 4, 2012 at

    So cool… I hope that fits in a couple of ways!

  14. Laurel Stephens says

    June 8, 2012 at

    I enjoyed reading about every moment of this bed’s creation and I featured it today on Friday Finds.

  15. Cranberry Morning says

    June 9, 2012 at

    I didn’t see the part about ‘Carribean Island’ until after I’d pinned the amazingly cool pallet bed! Even in NW Wisconsin, it’s hot in the summertime and this would be great to have in the backyard, under an awning! Thanks. Love the dog in the photos too. Arf.

  16. Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says

    June 11, 2012 at

    So cool! And what a gorgeous view! I’m totally swooning over that bed!

  17. Jennifer @ Dimples and Tangles says

    June 12, 2012 at

    Oh my, what a beautiful space, I would never leave that bed!

  18. Carolyn Sullivan says

    June 22, 2012 at

    I love it. How did you do the ‘headboard’? it looks like mor pallets. I think it would nice and rustic in a house too. but the carabean island…. that’s too cool.

  19. Diane says

    June 23, 2012 at

    ¡Hola from Isla Mujeres!
    I’ve got the Caribbean island part covered, and the rooftop with the water view. Now to score dog vomited on rug, pallets and a mattress……….
    Very sweet job. Loving your blog!

  20. Jessica@ fourgenerationsoneroof says

    February 24, 2013 at

    I just came across this post and I would love one of these! Nice job 🙂

    • Karah says

      February 24, 2013 at

      It really was heavenly!!!

Trackbacks

  1. MOM CAVE July 30 2012 — Bonbon Break says:
    July 30, 2012 at

    […] ~~::Continue Reading::~~ […]

  2. month in minutes {june 2012} the space between says:
    September 14, 2012 at

    […] Maybe the reason this is so late is that I haven’t gotten out of this baby since we made her? I wish I could blame it on the new pallet bed we made in 3 easy steps. […]

  3. diy leaf wreath the space between says:
    January 29, 2013 at

    […] if you’d like to see my previous ‘it’s a cinch’ projects you can go here, here, here and […]

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