Pallet Coffee Cup Holder

I’m back with another awesome pallet project! A Pallet Coffee Cup Holder! If you know me, you know I love working with pallets. No farmhouse is complete without plenty of pallet decor. I have been meaning to build something to show off our ragtag collection of coffee mugs and last week I finally got around to it.

[And if you’re looking for more pallet projects, check my tutorial for an amazing Pallet Accent Wall…]

Start with a pallet

The first thing you need is a pallet, of course! There are many places to acquire pallets. A lot of businesses simply throw them away and you can find them behind the store near the dumpsters. Check you local hardware or feed stores to see if they have any. Make sure you ask first though! Some companies charge the stores for those pallets if they are not returned. I usually get my pallets from my local Sparr Feed Supply store, they charge $2 per pallet but I can pick from a variety and they are always good quality.

After you get your pallet, measure the space in your home where this rack will be placed. Then trim the pallet to that size. Use a reciprocating saw to hack off the excess wood. Then give it a good sanding. I usually use 40 grit for pallets because the wood is so rough.

Stain, paint, seal

Now stain or paint the pallet. Even though it’s a tight squeeze, make sure to cover every area including the inside of the pallet. I always use Minwax stain for my projects.

Creativity time! I chose this simple statement for my coffee cup holder, but the possibilities are endless. You can utilize stamps, stencils or just free hand paint onto the pallet. I used plain old acrylic paint for mine.

Now is the time to seal the pallet with a polyurethane. Don’t skip this step! This is important to smooth out that rough pallet surface, keep the stain or paint from wearing out and make it easier to clean. I love Minwax’s Clear Gloss Polyurethane, and it dries completely in about an hour!

Attach the hooks

Now you need something to hang all those cute coffee mugs on. The hooks offer another opportunity to customize this pallet coffee cup holder to your style. You could go vintage, industrial or mix and match! I chose these simple white hooks from Amazon. It came with 20 hooks which was the perfect amount for me.

I offset the hooks on each row and attached them to the pallet about 5 inches apart.

One more note; when mounting to the wall, make sure to screw this bad boy into the studs! Pallets are extremely heavy and must be attached to the studs for safety reasons. Do NOT depend on drywall anchors, they will not be able to hold the weight.

Finished Product

This whole project took about 3 hours to complete, and most of that time was spent waiting for the stain and sealer to dry. This is the perfect project for a DIY beginner and looks amazing above my coffee station!