5 ideas with pallets for your terrace and garden

If you want practical, budget-friendly upgrades for your outdoor space, recycled pallets in Mallorca are a versatile solution: affordable, sturdy, and easy to transform. Below you’ll find five quick DIY projects with materials, essential steps, and island-climate maintenance tips so they last for many summers.

Before you start: materials and safety

Choose the right pallet

• Prioritise pallets stamped HT (heat treated). Avoid MB.
• Check they’re straight, without deep cracks or protruding nails.
• Handy reference size: 120 × 80 cm (Euro pallet).

Basic tools & consumables

• Sander or sandpaper (grits 80/120/180)
• Galvanised or stainless (A2/A4) screws
• Metal brackets, exterior wood glue (D3/D4)
• Braked castors (for mobile furniture)
• Exterior wood stain/marine varnish or outdoor oil (teak)
• Brushes/rollers, gloves, eye protection

1) Modular pallet sofa (with cushions)

Time: 2–3 hours per module | Difficulty: low–medium

Materials
2 pallets per seat (base + backrest), screws, brackets, rubber feet to raise base, outdoor cushions.

Steps

1. Sand all surfaces thoroughly.
2. Fix one pallet as the base and a second as the backrest (90°) with sturdy brackets.
3. Raise the base on rubber feet (drainage and floor isolation).
4. Finish with stain or oil and, once dry, add weatherproof cushions.

Mallorca tip: place the sofa in a ventilated spot and reapply stain every 8–12 months due to sun and salt air.

2) Low coffee table on castors

Time: 60–90 minutes | Difficulty: low

Materials
1 pallet, 4 braked castors, glass top or boards, stainless screws.

Steps

1. Sand and tidy the pallet.
2. Fix castors at the corners with long screws.
3. Add a top (tempered glass or screwed boards).
4. Seal with marine varnish or oil.

Mallorca tip: outdoors, avoid dark glass (it heats up more) and use anti-slip pads between pallet and top.

3) Raised planter / mini-veg bed

Time: 2–3 hours | Difficulty: medium

Materials
1–2 pallets, extra boards for sides, geotextile liner or breathable tarp, staples, drainage layer (LECA or gravel).

Steps

1. Build a box from pallet boards (30–40 cm high).
2. Line the inside with geotextile, staple, and leave drainage holes.
3. Add gravel + substrate; plant herbs or veg.
4. Finish with water-based exterior stain.

Mallorca tip: water mornings or late afternoon; install drip irrigation to reduce evaporation from heat and sea breeze.4

4) Outdoor bar / storage console

Time: 3–4 hours | Difficulty: medium

Materials
2–3 pallets, countertop board (marine/compact), brackets, interior shelves.

Steps

1. Join two pallets vertically for the front and sides.
2. Reinforce inside with battens and add shelves.
3. Fix the countertop (leave a small overhang).
4. Seal all edges and surfaces thoroughly.

Mallorca tip: if fully exposed, use a waterproof cover when not in use and check fixings at each season change.

5) Quick deck or walkway

Time: 2–3 hours per module | Difficulty: low

Materials
Aligned pallets, levelling shims, anchors, exterior protector.

Steps

1. Level the ground with compacted sand.
2. Lay pallets in the direction of water run-off and link them together.
3. Raise a few millimetres on spacers to avoid standing water.
4. Apply exterior protector and inspect each season.

Mallorca tip: salt air and night humidity speed up wear; ventilate underneath and avoid water pooling.

Island-climate maintenance

• UV & salt protection: use stain or marine varnish and reapply every 6–12 months.
• Stainless fixings: prefer A2/A4 to prevent corrosion.
• Drainage & elevation: always add feet/spacers so wood never sits in water.
• Seasonal clean: warm water + mild soap; let it dry fully before resealing.
• Covers: if unused in winter, store indoors or use breathable covers.

Where to get recycled pallets in Mallorca

At Reciclajes y Metales Pérez you’ll find recycled pallets and other materials ideal for these projects, plus unique second-hand pieces to complete your outdoor décor.

• Address: Carrer Gremi de Sabaters, 62, Palma (Polígono Son Castelló)

Give wood a second life, save money, and create an outdoor space with real personality.