Want to try your hand at using wood pallets?

While some people use whatever furniture they can get as long as it serves its purpose, others  strive to  exercise their creativity and furnish  their homes with personalised items. However, in many instances the materials for making such items are costly, which is puts many people off.

But wood pallets promise to change that, what with the versatility they offer in home and commercial projects.

The use of these pallets is becoming  increasingly popular, as evidenced by the rapid increase in  the number of traders selling them at the popular Gikomba market in Nairobi. As you approach the flea market from the central business district,  you see stacks of pallets by the road.

'BOOMING BUSINESS'

 The traders, determined to make a sale, call to passers-by with a promise to go the extra mile to customise the pallets to suit their preferences.

“It’s a booming business”, Patrick Maina, 30, a pallet seller in Gikomba, offers, as he makes a sweeping over a stack of pallets. 

“If a buyer comes along, they will be transformed into something else. Maybe a TV stand, a table, who knows?”

But this has not always been the case. For a long time wood pallets have been used as containers for shipping  or storing products. Indeed, few saw any value in them, so they were thrown or cast aside. But now a new use has been found for them.

While some people go for them because they are affordable compared with ready-made furniture, others opt for them because they are versatile, recyclable and can easily be assembled and dismantled.

These are the reasons that prompted Noleen Wambui  of La Palette décor, a family business based in Nanyuki, to venture into the dealing in  wood pallets.

She says: “In 2014, I stumbled upon an outdoor lounge made of wood pallets on the Internet. I loved the idea. It was unique and made from recycled wood. That image lingered in my mind for long and it prompted me to research more on wood pallets.

When I had all the information at hand, I embarked on do-it-yourself projects. My first project was making a bed for our son and sofas for our home.

They turned out so well and the compliments I received from our visitors led to the launch of  La Palette Décor the same year.

According to M Maina, the pallets come in different sizes, with  the Euro, which measures 47.2× 31.5×5.7 inches being the most popular for furniture such as tables and TV units. The prices range from Sh350 to Sh 3,000, per piece depending on its strength.

FAIRLY MODEST

With the price fairly modest, you might be tempted to think that wood pallets are sought out by people on a tight budget but Ms Wambui says that her clientèle base is diverse, and she has clients from all walks of life.

“Our clients are people who appreciate having a rustic look in their homes as well as creative and vintage designs. While some seek simple products such as wood signs, others come to us seeking commercial products or customised kitchen plans,” she says.

Another seller who has found fulfilment in wood pallets is Sospeter Gichuhi-, who founded Pallet World Kenya in January last year.

He says  the versatility the pallets offer attracted him to the business, which is flourishing. “There are many different  things that one can make from wood pallets and some items,  such as stools and  towel-holders, require only about six  to 10 pieces of wood.”

However, he points out that customers seeking wood pallets should be very careful when  buying them because some are treated with harmful chemicals, making them  unsuitable for indoor use.

“The pallets made in Kenya are not treated because there is no law regulating the trade. But the pallets that we use to make furniture are mostly from European countries and  have a clearly visible “HT” stamp, which means heat treated. This is the most common form of treatment but there are other forms of treatment. By heat-treating the pallets, bugs are eliminated, preventing them from spreading from one country to another.”

He notes that the most important thing is to look for the stamp and cautions DIY enthusiasts against buying wood pallets whose origins they cannot establish since they might  expose one to harmful toxins, especially when inhaled.

EQUALLY IMPORTANT

Equally important, he says, is choosing the correct pallet, since  it could mean the success or failure of the project.

“Bearing in mind that wood pallets come in different sizes, shapes and strengths, it is critical to buy pallets with the project in mind. For instance, pallets that are used to make towel holders might not be suitable for supporting the leg of a bed.”

Meanwhile, Mr Maina points out that, while they source pallets from Europe, China and Congo, the ones from China are the Cheapest, and those from Europe the most expensive.

With the increase in  the cost of modern furniture and the frustration of getting low-quality furniture at high costs, many Kenyans have resorted to DIY projects, drawing inspiration from sites such as Pinterest and DIY blogs.

Ms Wambui points out that you don’t need to be a professional carpenter to make something out of repurposed wood.

“When I got into the wood pallets business, I had come from the hospitality industry. It wasn’t easy at first, but now I can comfortably commit myself even to complex designs,” she offers.

Some of the items that you can make using wood pallets are beds, coffee tables, sofas, swing chairs, bookshelves and TV stands.

At a time when environmental sustainability is a major concern, Mr Gichuhi believes that use of wood pallets is the way the go.

 “The process of recycling wood pallets entails sorting, re-furbishing, dismantling and revamping any damaged wooden structure. It is important that Kenyans embrace using pallets as it helps reduce deforestation, soil erosion and diverts wood waste from the landfills,” he says.

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Make your own pallet bed

Tools and materials required:

Sandpaper

Sander

Hammer

Wood pallets in good condition

Paint

Paintbrush

Old lamp

Step 1: Designing

The first step to making a glowing pallet bed is designing the type of pallet bed that you need. This is greatly influenced by the type of mattress you have. It is a good idea to draw the design on a piece of paper know what it will look like.

Step 2: Preparing the pallets

After getting the appropriate pallets  and ensuring they are safe  for indoor use, use the sandpaper to smooth them to prevent them from snagging the sheets. This will also make them easier to paint.. At this stage, if there are nails that are raised, knock them back in with the hammer.

Step 3: Painting

Paint the pallet whichever colour you like. You can decide to use one colour or a combination of colours to brighten it up.  Bearing in mind that wood pallets are made from dry wood, they tend to soak up considerable amounts of paint, which means that you have to keep painting until you get the desired colour. Wait until the pallet is completely dry.

Step 4: Assembling

Nail the pallets together according to the  design. Depending on the size of the bed, you might need to use at least two or more wood pallets. Once you have laid out the pallets to your satisfaction, you can place the mattress on top, or go to the last step, which is adding lighting.

Step 5: Lighting

Mount a light bulb inside an old lamp and place it underneath the bed. Alternatively, you can use LED lights to illuminate  the underside of the bed.  However, make sure it does not generate a lot of heat.

(Source: Wood Pallets Kenya)