Best Used Pallet Creations of 2015
01 Jun 2015
Upcycling, whereby people use materials to create something new and unique, is becoming ever more popular. This phenomenon means that used pallets are frequently given a new lease of life instead of being discarded. But even more pleasingly, this means that ordinary people are becoming ever more inspired to think about recycling of used materials in a more creative way. This year so far, some amazing pieces have been constructed from old pallets, ranging from small pieces of furniture through to entire buildings.
Shed of the Year
Teacher Luke Wesley has managed to reach the finals of the Shed of the Year Competition. Luke, who is also a chainsaw artist, has spent the last 3 years working on his amazing project. He collected over 100 used wooden pallets from all over Bedfordshire and dismantled them to transform them into a unique workshop. The structure is covered in a breathable membrane and Luke is rightly proud that this is the only purchased material. His new pallet shed is looking great!
Tokyo Office Space
A 50 square metre office in Tokyo has been renovated, lined and furnished almost exclusively using dismantled wooden pallets. The 130 pallets of varying sizes have been utilised in the flooring and ceiling in addition to the outside of the building. The result is a stunning environment which is both modern and minimalistic in appearance. The tenants of the building had a non-secure lease and in Japan, there is an obligation to restore the interior to its previous condition upon vacating. This led the tenants to their innovative, low cost solution. In fact, the entire project (including fixtures and fittings) came in at just 2,300 US dollars.
Bedroom Makeover
Laura Borckardt managed to find some closure after her partner passed away by turning his old office into a unique and inspiring bedroom space. She hired a handyman to carry out the physical labour and gave careful consideration as to how the many donated pallets could be utilised to their best potential. The pallets were dismantled and whitewashed before being hung on the walls, to stunning effect. Bedroom furniture was even constructed from used materials. Laura had a further innovative idea for decoration, namely to put stripes on the wall behind the bed using Spar Varnish. This was something of a gamble, because had it not worked, the walls would have required sanding and repainting. Happily, the final result was just what Laura had been hoping for. In fact, she was so pleased with the results that she has commissioned the same handyman to work on some pallet creations for other areas of her home.
The examples above show how thinking outside the box can result in some truly inspiring ways in which to create some amazing new objects and environments from pallets which may otherwise have been destined for disposal.