Perfect for warm summer nights in the garden: a garden bar made from pallets

To create your own garden bar, start by measuring the wood panels and planks to fit your pallet. One wood panel will be screwed to the pallet to create a kind of tabletop. It should be as wide as the pallet (120 cm) or a little wider and around 40 cm deep. Sometimes it's possible to buy planks already cut to size. Alternatively, you can have them cut for you at your local DIY store.

Use slightly narrower panels (W: 25 cm) as shelves in the bar. One is for the lower section of the bar and should extend the entire length of the pallet. Depending on the size of your coolbox, you'll need to split the other to create a storage space for the coolbox and a small wine rack.

To build the side panels of your garden bar, you'll effectively need to lengthen the pallet planks or extend them around the corner. Square timbers will be used to mount the side panels and tabletop. They should be the same height as the pallet: 80 cm.

Mark the measurements you need on the panels, planks and square timber using a tape measure and pencil.

Now it's time to begin sawing. Secure each of the planks with the screw clamps so they don't move during sawing. Then start to saw the wood in the spots you marked earlier. Once again, don't forget to wear protective gear – for the advanced cut, you'll need work gloves, safety goggles and ear defenders.

Secure the wooden panel with screw clamps before you begin to saw. As you won't be sawing from the edge, make a plunge cut, then saw the lid along the marked line.

To countersink the coolbox into your garden bar, you will of course need a suitable opening. Depending on how big the box is, it may be enough to secure a panel of wood to the middle pallet foot. If it's too big for this, you will have to saw an opening. In the end, the coolbox lid should sit flush with the top of your bar – so make sure you take into account the thickness of the wood, the opening and the lid in your measurements. In either case, you'll have to saw the upper pallet foot off.

Once you've sawed the wooden planks to the correct size, you'll need to sand down the sawn edges again. This will help to prevent splinters and leave the surface nice and smooth. It's best to sand the entire pallet twice – once with 80-grit sandpaper and once with 120-grit. For the wooden panels, you can use a rectangular or delta sanding plate. For the pallet, you should use a delta sanding plate, as it will be easier to get into the corners.

Now it's time to decide what colour you want to paint your pallet garden bar. For a cool, clean look, we recommend white. If you'd prefer to give your garden a burst of colour, choose a brighter colour.

Before you get started with the paint spray system, you should lay down a protective sheet and put on protective clothing, including work gloves, a face mask and safety goggles. Then spray an even coat of paint onto the wood. To make sure the wood is fully covered, you can apply a second coat of paint as soon as the first one is dry. You will find the relevant drying times on the label of your spray paint can.

Your DIY garden bar won't be complete without storage space for wine bottles and glasses! To create this, use the two narrower planks, which you'll mount to the bar with the brackets. The upper shelving plank consists of two shorter planks side by side, leaving enough space for the coolbox. The lower plank should be mounted to the lower pallet foot. Using a cordless combi drill and matching screws, first attach the bracket to the plank, and then to the pallet. You may find this easier by tipping the pallet on its end and securing the boards with screw clamps before you screw them together.

Screw the smaller wooden panels (40 x 10 cm) to the upright pallet as side panels. We recommend fixing the planks to the pallet using screw clamps and pre-drilling them using the cordless combi drill. This will make it easier for you to screw the screws into the wood. Then screw the planks securely to the pallet.

Next, position the square timber as needed and fix the side panels to it using screw clamps. This will help you make short work of screwing the planks to the timber.

All that's left now is to attach the tabletop for your garden bar. Place the large wooden panel with the sawn-out opening onto the pallet and screw it down from the top using a cordless combi drill.

It's now time to use the sawn-out piece of wood as a lid for your coolbox. Take the integrated coolbox lid and apply adhesive to the top. Then do the same for the wooden panel and stick the two pieces together. For a better hold, you can also use screw clamps to fix them together for a short time.

Once everything is dry, screw on the door handle and the lid for your coolbox will be finished.

To secure wine bottles or glasses, place foam on the wine rack shelf. This corrugated foam is actually used to lay bitumen roof panels, but we've repurposed it for this project.

Start by measuring how much foam you need for each plank and cut the foam to size using a utility knife. Then apply some adhesive to the underside of the foam and press it against the wood.

Now for the final touch: stocking your pallet garden bar! Fill the bar with drinks and then invite friends and family over.