Clever and Unique 10-Minute Pallet Wood Picture Frame DIY

Super easy pallet wood picture frame DIY!

If you’ve ever taken apart a wooden pallet or salvaged some barn wood this project is for you!

You probably have some smaller pieces of wood lying around and you aren’t quite sure what to do with them but you aren’t going to part with them, right?

I mean, this wood is so pretty and so versatile but not quite big enough for a large DIY pallet project and that’s what makes it perfect for something smaller and less intricate.

That’s where this DIY pallet wood picture frame comes in.

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Small, easy-to-make (you only need 10 minutes!), and a great way to use up any extra reclaimed wood.

Another plus, no mitering or miter saw needed.

If you have an old pallet and aren’t sure how to take it apart, you can find my handy tutorial on disassembling a wood pallet here.

How to Prep Pallet Wood for Indoor Use

Unless you’re buying a new pallet it’s important to properly prepare the wood for indoor use before starting any pallet project.

Prep is simple and involves scrubbing the wood well with bleach or soapy water.

After the cleaning process is complete, rinse the pallet (or pallet boards) with a power washer or a hose.

Leave the wood out in the sun until completely dry. The UV rays of the sun have disinfecting properties and this gives an extra boost of “clean” to the wood.

 

How to Make a DIY Pallet Wood Picture Frame in 10-Minutes

Now, let’s get down to the nitty gritty!

Supplies:

4 pieces of pallet wood. I used 2 shorter pieces and two pieces that were a bit longer. If you want the frame to be square, use 4 pieces all of the same length.

8 screws. You’ll want to use screws that will go entirely through one layer of the wood but not all the way through to the second layer. You’ll see why as you read the directions below.

Drill – this is the drill I have an use all the time

Screwdriver 

Carpenter Square or another device to mark where your pallets will be joined

Picture Hanger, i.e. sawtooth hanger (You’ll only need a picture hanger if you’ll be using the finished wooden frame for wall decor and I recommend these sawtooth hangers – no nailing needed and great reviews on Amazon!)

Start with the 4 wood pieces marking an even distance on the backside of the two shorter pieces and then drilling holes to go through the bottom piece but NOT all the way through the top piece.

The top pieces are the area that will be visible once the frame is completed.

Add screws through the drilled holes to hold the pallet wood picture frame together.

You don’t need to worry about all of the cuts being perfectly even because with the step of attaching the wood to the back and allowing a bit of an overlap any discrepancies can be easily hidden.

If you’ll be hanging this on a wall add a picture hanger or sawtooth hanger to the center of the top piece on the backside of the picture frame.

Pallet Wood Picture Frame Display Inspiration

Once my frame was all together I used it as a backdrop for a Gilded Ball Mason Jar Vase that I made a few years ago.

This rustic picture frame is a perfect handmade gift and is extremely versatile for most home décor.

If you have more pallet board wood on hand and would like some simple pallet ideas you could also make this darling pallet sign or even this super useful farmhouse style pallet wood memo board.