Pallet House Shaped Headboard for a Shared Boys Bedroom

Check out the video for the full tutorial.

Tools and Materials:

• 2-3 wood pallets (broken down)
• Wood screws
• Wood stain
• Miter saw
• Skill saw
• Jig saw
• L brackets
• Level

Cut the Wood for the Frame

I started by cutting four pieces of wood, two at 24 ½” and two at 23”. These pieces would form the frame of the “house”. On the 23” pieces I cut one 45 degree angle on one of the ends. On the 24 ½” pieces I cut two opposite 45 degree angles on each side of the board.

I used a speed square to help me mark the proper angle, and then cut it with a miter saw. At the same time I cut a bundle of pallet wood down to 40” in length.

Screw Together

I screwed the pieces for the frame together with 2” wood screws. It’s easier if you first drill pilot holes and then screw the pieces together.

Add the Pallet Board Slats

Next I screwed the pallet board slats onto the frame. I made sure that there was an overhang of about 1 ½”.

I screwed them into place with the back facing me, so I put the rough side of the boards facing up. This headboard will be near pillows and blankets, so I don’t want any of the rough side of the wood snagging them or tearing a hole.

I continued adding the slats, using a scrap piece of 2”x4” to help me evenly space them as I went. I tried to alternate colors and shades of wood because I wanted a more rustic look.

As I went I didn’t worry about cutting down the pieces as the roof of the house got more narrow, I would deal with that later.

Tip:

Sand all of these pieces beforehand, it will make it easier to work with them when you assemble the headboard.

Cut Off the Excess Wood

Once I had built the house I went to my dad’s house to use his skill saw. Conveniently, the guard for the saw was 1 ½” in width, so I just used the frame of the house as a guide.

Build a Shelf

I also wanted to add a shelf to the headboard for extra storage and decor. I took a scrap piece of 1”x6” wood that I had lying around to make this. I cut a notch in the end of the board so that it would sit snugly against the frame of the house. I also made sure that there would be enough at the ends for a 1 ½” overhang, as I had done with the rest of the pallet wood.

Stain

I used Minwax Golden Pecan stain to stain the whole piece. I wanted a thick coat, so I brushed it on evenly but did not wipe it off with a rag. I love the color this created!

Hang

As these headboards were going into my kids’ room, I wanted to make sure that they were as secure as possible. Using a stud finder I found the studs in the wall and hung them there. My son helped me hold the headboard level and I screwed them directly into the studs.

Attach the Shelf

I put the shelf I had made at the height I wanted and checked to make sure it was level.

Then I used a few L brackets to attach the shelf to the frame. I added two L brackets on each side of the headboard.

And that’s it! A recycled farmhouse pallet headboard to create an extra homey feel in your little one’s bedroom! This project was so quick and easy that I made two, one for each of my boys! I love how they look on either side of the room. Have you tried my project? Let me know in the comments below