Are you tired of traditional Christmas trees? Do you want to try something more creative? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, then we’ve got the ideal solution for you! This Christmas, why don’t you try creating a tree out of wooden pallets?
Wood pallet Christmas trees look great and they do not take up as much space as a traditional tree would. You can put this decoration indoors or even outside the house. It will look interesting wherever you place it. Creating one on your own is surprisingly easy too! We’ve prepared the simple steps for making a wood pallet Christmas tree. Keep on reading if you want to discover how!
Collect the Materials Needed
For this project you will need:
- Old wooden pallets
- Stiff wire brush
- Hammer
- Gloves
- Saw
- A drill with screwdriver or a carpenter’s square screwdriver
- Craft screws
- Latex or enamel paint
- Paint brush
- Water (if you’re using latex paint); Thinner (if you’re using enamel paint)
- Drop cloth or newspaper
When choosing the wood pallet you would use for this project, it would be advisable to select pieces with distinct characteristics, including roughness and knots. Use the stiff wire brush to scrape off the rough, dirty surface. Before beginning the project, make sure you brush away the debris.
Cut the Pieces Accordingly
For the centre of the tree, you have to choose one long pallet board and make sure that it is in good condition. After that, you have to cut the other boards in ascending sizes. You will use these boards as branches for your tree. Make sure that when you lay down each board horizontally, the sides are cut in slants. You will also need four boards for the base, two of which are at least three inches longer than the other two.
Lay Down the Pieces
The next thing you have to do is lay down the pieces so that you know where to attach each wood pallet. Place the branches on the floor from shortest to longest. Make sure you leave about two inches of space between each board. After that, place the centre board on top of the branches, but remember to leave about 8-9” at the bottom which will function as the tree’s trunk.
Connect the Branches to the Trunk
Attach the branches to the centre trunk using the craft screws. Make sure you secure the branch by using two screws.
Build the Base
Take one of the longer base boards and attach it to the front of the tree trunk. The base board’s edge should be flush with the trunk’s side. Using two craft screws, attach the front of the base board onto the trunk. Do this with the back, but the excess should be on the front board’s opposite direction.
Press the end of the shorter base board and flush it against the rear base board. The rear side of the shorter base board should be against the front base board’s end and the side of the trunk. Again, use two craft screws to attach this through the side base board, onto the trunk and the front base board’s end. Repeat this process for the other side base board on the rear side.
Prepare the Paint
If you’re planning to place the pallet Christmas tree outdoors, you should only use enamel paint. Keep in mind that latex paint is water-based so it will wash off with rain. On the other hand, if you’re planning to display it indoors, white latex paint would give a matte and shabby chic look for your tree. For this article, we will focus more on that white washed, rustic chic look for your pallet Christmas tree. Mix two parts paint with one part water in a container for a thinner consistency.
Apply the Paint
For this look, we’re not going to entirely coat the pallet tree with paint. So, when you dip the brush into the paint mixture, you have to clean off most of it by the side of the container. We’d want to white wash the pallet and yet retain its unique, wooden features. Lightly brush over the tree and allow some of the wood to show through the paint. Paint only the branches and the centre board to which they are attached to. However, do not coat the trunk and the base.
Decorate your Tree
If you wish, you can seal the tree so that the paint won’t easily chip off. You can also decorate it with Christmas balls and lights if you desire. However, do not over-decorate the tree so that you can still retain its minimalist, chic look.
Searching for Wooden Pallets
There are grocery stores that sell old wooden pallets. You can also find them in local junk places and fills. However, if you need one, you can always give Aussie Crates a call and ask us how we can help you. Since we specialise in custom building wooden pallets, we always have extras in our warehouse. Do not hesitate to contact us today and let us help you achieve your goals for your wood pallet Christmas tree.
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