DIY design guru Tamara Smith—find her on Instagram @mygrandparentschair—designed and built this backyard bar using a couple of freebie pallets (check your local Kijiji) and a little elbow grease. Here’s how you can make one, too.
1. If your skids are 47" high, cut 5" from the top of each skid. (If your skids are 42" high, this is not required.)
2. Attach the full-size skid and one of the half skids together at a 90-degree angle with screws.(You will not need the other half skid.)
3. Cover the gap between the pallets with a 1 x 6 cut to size.
4. Attach the toe plate with screws. (Make this from the wood cut off the top of the 47" pallet; if you’re using 42" pallets, you’ll need to use a 2 x 4 x 8'.)
5. Attach “shelves” using remaining 1 x 6 cut to size to the inside of the skid on the cross pieces.
6. Sand and paint the bar.
7. Cut a 2 x 12 to size for your bar top. Stain the two pieces of bar top, then use two stainless steel mending plates to screw the two pieces together. (You can use either a butt joint or a mitered corner to attach them.)
8. Attach the bar top using the shelf brackets; leave a 7" overhang.
9. Enjoy your new bar!