You’ll Love This Charming Update On A Pallet Headboard
We love using pallets to make things and fortunately, we have a stockpile in the workshop to play with. And when I say play, I mean it. Using pallets to make things often involves trying to find the right pieces that will fit together nicely. It’s a bit like building a puzzle. Some planks are warped, some are thin, some are fat and others are broken and really badly damaged. But each one tells a story and when you find the right pieces, they can be magically transformed into a HOME shelf. or even a little bathroom cupboard inspired by Unicorn SPiT. So when my bestie asked me to make her a pallet headboard, I was over the moon. Yay, I can build a puzzle again!! But I wanted to up the stakes a little and make it a bit more special. This is my bestie after all 😉
We have another stockpile in our workshop. I call this one “things that need to be repurposed” and in there we have this lonely room divider panel. We picked the room divider up for a steal and used two of the panels to add a feature to our bedroom. The third panel has been waiting quietly for its time to shine.
Isn’t that scrollwork just beautiful?
How To Make a Pallet Headboard With a Room Divider
The panel is a bit tall for a headboard. Unless of course you’re a Princess and have one of those beds that needs a ladder to get into. My bestie prefers taking a flying leap into bed 😉
So the panel needed to be cut down to size using my trusty jigsaw.
That’s better 😀
Time to put the pallet puzzle pieces together
Digging through the pallet stockpile I managed to find pieces that were all the same thickness and reasonably straight. The shape of the panel called for a staggered look in my humble opinion. The hubby, on the other hand, went a bit mad 😉 and suggested I round off the top of the pallets too. Uummmmmm nope, I’ve mastered the jigsaw only to the point where I can cut straight lines and maybe a small unintentional squiggle. A matching curve on either side is a bit beyond my skill level right now.
The cut pallets got a good sanding to get rid of all the yuckiness and to remove any splinters. One of the pieces had a funny stain so that one got replaced. That’s the other thing about pallets. It’s only when you start sanding them that you get to see their real story. And this one’s story looked a bit dark and weird. Once everything was nice and smooth, the pallets were wiped down with a mixture of water, vinegar, and bleach.
Pallets can be thirsty buggers and sometimes, depending on the wood, you can get bleed through. To prevent those dreaded bleed-through spots and to seal the wood, the best thing to use is a shellac-based primer.
I took the lazy easy way out and only used the primer to paint the pallets. Hey, the color-matched the room divider beautifully 😉 All I had to do was dry brush some of our rusty nail muti over the top and edges to make it look worn and add a bit of detail.
Putting the pallet headboard together
To join the pallets and room divider together I used a metal tension bracing strip. I have absolutely no idea why we have this in our garage, but apparently, it’s used to brace roof trusses. Go figure, we’ve never built a roof in our lives but it was there and it works like a charm. Just cut it to the right length and screw it on the back of the pallet headboard.
You can also use this neat skewer trick to join the pallets and room divider together.
The room divider and pallet headboard are hung with french cleats. I learned that neat trick from Marie at Interior Frugalista. She’s a master at making things work.
What do you think, should I have listened to hubby and tried to round the edges? Hint: Please say no 😉 I still have the leftover bit of the room divider to play with. Maybe I can make a bedside table for my bestie? In the meantime, an overturned bucket does the trick.
And that scrollwork in the divider seems to make the whole thing look softer somehow.
If you like the idea of marrying a room divider with some pallets, would you mind pinning this one. Maybe we can start a trend 😉
Have you tried making a pallet headboard? How did you do it?
Oh before I forget, if you don’t want to go to the trouble of finding some of the materials we used, we’ve got you covered. Disclosure: Clicking on the links below, means we may receive a commission from Amazon. But don’t worry it won’t come out of your pocket, and it helps us come up with more crafty ideas to share with you 😉
Wishing you a truly blessed and love-filled week, until next time.
very creative. great ideas you have here. keep the creativity flowing.
Thank you so much Drek. I really appreciate that so much
Love Love Love this! Reminds me of New Orleans! (I live an hour away!) Thanks for the inspiration.
Awesome Donna. I’ve never been to New Orleans although it’s been on my bucket list forever
Great looking bed Michelle, love this look. Of course it is possible that it might, just might look good with the pallets curved but we will never know because I think your bestie is going to love it just the way it is ? I love pallets, i have a stack of them in my basement that we inherited when we bought this house. I want to build a bar for my hubby to put on our deck. Got any ideas ???? Anything would help, lol, I’m not the best diy-er but I try. Tell next time, see you soon !
Thanks so much Diena ? Building a bar for your hubby sounds like such a fun project. The only advice I could give is to build the frame for the bar using 2 x 2s or 4 x 4s and then clad the frame with the pallet wood. Most of the pallets we have at home are a bit wonky and not too straight. I wish we stayed closer, so I could jump in the car and come help you.
Love the design
Thanks so much Siya ?
Michelle, I love love this headboard!! You did an amazing job! I’m sure your bestie loves it!!
Thank you Keri, she’s real happy with how it turned out
My boyfriend will love this tutorial because it’s something he had been hoping to try – wood craft~ He will probably try to add a layer of varnish so that termites won’t eat the wood!
Your BF has a point Tiffany. These pallets have been outside for almost a year and we haven’t seen any little holes so I think we’re safe, but you can never be too careful 😉
Love the combination of the 2 styles fancy and plain. The white paint brings them together. I love the headboard.
Thanks so much Claire. I’m real glad that primer matched the color of the divider. It made my life sooo much easier
OMG, the headboard is beautiful. Your bestie is so lucky to have such a talented friend. And I think it is perfect without the rounded top.
Thanks so much Debra but I think I’m the lucky one. She’s stuck by me through thick and thin all these years.
Oh I am just crazy about room dividers. Never actually had one to speak the truth, but whenever I see one it makes me gasp! You transformed it into a masterpiece! I was speechless when I saw it! What a fabulous repurpose!
Thanks so much Maya 😀 I’d love to be able to use room dividers all over the house but we don’t really have the space
Oh my gosh, this is simply stunning! I love that design. It’s perfect for a headboard. Your work always inspires me. The color is perfect too. It really transforms your space.
You always say the nicest thing CarolAnn, thanks so much <3
Great job, working with pallet wood is a difficult job, but you are good in that dear, as you have shown in this DIY project. I know you don’t want to round the edges but I think it is a good idea, LOL. The headboard looks awesome.
I hear you Sadhna. I’ll have to practice a little bit more with the jigsaw though 😀 Thanks for your lovely comment
This is incredible! I am loving the headboard. I am no where near crafty, at all. I suck at crafts to be honest. I love how it all came together.
Tiara you take the most beautiful photos. I would never be able to do that 😉
I am pinning, this needs to be a trend! Love the room divider, it’s so feminine and gorgeous. Paired with the pallet wood it’s a perfect fit. Love the rustic up against the pretty, I wouldn’t change a thing. I really like the curve in the center up against the straight cut of the pallet wood. It’s just right. Don’t change a thing!!!
Whoop, whoop Nikki, thank you. Although I have to admit I’m just binge a big chicken for not doing the curve. One day I’ll conquer the jigsaw like a pro. Maybe my hubby can teach me when he’s got some time 😉
Did you really create this?!? If so, this is absolutely gorgeous and creative. Even though I don’t do shabby chic, I LOVE this. You did a fantastic job. I’m not much of a DIYer but I’ve always wished I could make furniture. You should be proud of yourself…Fantastic job!
LOL Candy, yes it’s all home made from scratch, although I can’t take credit for the beautiful divider in the middle. That’s a bit beyond my skill set 😉
I remember you using the other panels, they are so pretty Michelle. I adore your new headboard, Michelle, it looks as though it’s been in existence for years – stunning!
Ahhh Sarah, I missed you. Thanks so much 😀
I love the scroll work! It turned out really lovely, Michelle!
Teşekkür ederim Handan 😉
OMG!! I love it and it’s white!!! and rusty! I was actually going to buy a header for my bed but now I think I can do it myself
Oh that’s great Josselyn, I’m glad you like it and that you’re going to make one instead of buying. I’d love to see how it turns out
Wow, that looks great Michelle! Love that ornate room divider! Was it part of a 3-section divider type thing? It’s so pretty! Nah, I don’t think you should have had rounded corners necessarily. I mean, it would have been OK if you had, but I like it just fine like you’ve done it.
Thanks so much FLorence. Yes the room divider was made of three parts. The other two have been re-purposed as bedside table features. I fell in love with the scroll work when I saw it in a thrift shop, but we have no space for a room divider n our home
This is so cute! I think it looks great the way it is (no need to round off!). I pinned it. ?
Thanks so much Samantha 😀
The design in the room divider is absolutely gorgeous! I love how the headboard turned out. It looks perfect!
Thank you Tara, that room divider divider is real pretty
Looks amazing, love the rustic feel it gives. The panel you used is stunning.
Isn’t it just gorgeous, thanks so much Alison
Wow what a beautiful headboard! I don’t think that it would matter whether the edges are straight or curved. It would be beautiful either way. Love it! ❤
You’re right Linda, it would look lovely curved too. Thanks so much my friend ❤
Oh my goodness this DIY turned out so super cute!!!! I love it so much!!! I wish I could be that creative… 🙂
Thanks so much Shell, I really appreciate it
Oh my gosh! So absolutely creative and so gorgeous!! I wish I was that creative! I think I have these creative visions and I get so excited about them. But once they are together they are crap! Lol!
Ahhh Kori, don’t give up. It used to happen to me all the time and there are still times when the things happening inside my head end up looking like crap
How beautiful this bed looks! I would love to have creativity like you. Thanks for sharing
Thanks so much Reese
Wow, I absolutely love this! It’s such a creative way to make a headboard from pallets. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Courtney, glad you liked it
Michelle the first time I saw those room dividers it was love love love. And what you did with them in your bedroom left me speechless. So it comes as no surprise that this project should also turn into a beauty. I have to agree with Shaun about the curved tops but if you were not feeling comfortable with that particular skill set then it’s best you didn’t attempt it. It looks beautiful either way.
They are gorgeous, it was a super lucky find. I’m going to make a plan in December to practice lots with the jigsaw, but for now straight edges and unintentional squiggles will have to do 😉 Thank so much Mary
There is something so special about DIY pieces. And this came out so artistic and unique – You are a genius.
Thank you Tanvi, I really appreciate that
wow .. lovely.. i dont know how peeps get such a kind of splendid ideas.. 🙂
it is so unique,trendy and also worthful..❤️
Dhanyavaad Kriti, I really appreciate that ❤️
Mal oor dit mix! Gaan def probeer❤️
Yay, ek’s so bly om dit te hoor Maaitjie. Ek sal kom help 😉
Mind blown, Michelle. I saw the center piece and wondered what on earth it was 🙂 What a great use of that room divider and mixed with the pallet wood is just gorgeous!
😀 Thank you Angie, I’m really happy with how it turned out
Oh my gosh this is so cute! And it looks so much more spendy and expensive that it actually was (such a mega-bonus in my book)! Great project.
Thanks so much Amber 😀
I think if you had rounded the pallets, the headboard wouldn’t have the same “oomph” as it does now. I like the softness of the intricate design next the workman-like planks. It’s really visually appealing. So much so, that I pinned the photo of it 🙂
🙂 I love the way you think PJ 😀 Thanks for pinning
Looks stunning! I have been drooling over the room divers for way too long.
It’s such a pretty room divider and I real glad we could repurpose it in so many different ways
Beautiful. This would be perfect as a room divided for my daughters room. Three girls, one room. My oldest feels like she has no space because the youngest 2 have taken over. We have been on the search for a while now on dividers, but everything is so big, and so light the youngest just knock them over. I like the variances in the heights and could easily attach it to a wall so she has her space. add basket on the other side for the youngest or even a gutter and put books into. Wow….Now I’m rambling. Love this though
Ramble on Cia, I love it 😀 It would work great as a room divider too. It’s definitely heavier and more stable. Probably because it shorter and the pallets give it that extra weight.
O hell, this is so freaken cute, I love it. I think you did good leaving the corners and not rounded them. It gives dimension to the headboard. And just imagine getting all the corner to look similar, no that is way to much stress for such and awesome project. Well done. Mastering the jigsaw is still on my “things to learn list”
😉 I know right!!!? And who wants to stress when they’re busy creating. Thanks Jeannine 😉
This is so beautiful! I am tempted to try it out. I really love it, especially the divider
Thank you Linda. The room divider really does make all the difference
Love the touch of elegance and rustic…turned out beautiful Michelle!! ?
Thank you so much Michelle ?
I love anything that involves pallet! But this, this is another level! You did a fantastic job with the headboard, that lonely panel came in just perfectly. I am pinning this for myself for later because your explanation on how to take care of the pallet is great as well!
Ahhh, you made my heart smile so big right now. Thank you Bea
Oh I love this Michelle, I always wanted a rustic pallet headboard and how you added the panel in the middle, just brilliant and it gives it such a beautiful detail! I absolutely love that the pallets are not rounded and are as rustic as they are! So beautiful, what a lucky bestie you have!
Ahhhh Katrin thank you. We’ve been besties since school which is a very looooong time ago 😀
Wow, what a great job you did! I couldn’t work out how it was going to come together but it looks awesome! I think a lot of people would pay ALOT to have such a unique and cute headboard! I also like that you DIDN’T round it off!
Yay, my hero 😉 Thanks so much for standing up for me Ithfifi and for your lovely comment