The saying, “what’s old is new again” has been around for years, but most recently represents a popular trend in interior design – upcycling old items with a new purpose.

Everyone from high-end designers to DIYers is enjoying and incorporating this trend into everyday life. From five-star restaurants to suburban living rooms, people are seeking out weathered pieces of wood, discarded metal and unlikely antiques to create a unique, down to earth, and comfortable design aesthetic in their living spaces.

An unusual hero of this new design trend is the wooden pallet, which can easily be purchased at any hardware store. With some creativity and know-how, these inexpensive items can be re-purposed to create a personalized statement in your home that you’ll love.

Re-imagine your wall.

Today, walls are for paint and pictures, but even if you’ve fallen in love with a certain color for your living room, don’t you think your walls can have more personality?

They absolutely can, and one way people are adding new life to their walls is by paneling them with reclaimed wood. To achieve this look, purchase a number of pallets, cut them into various sizes and arrange them on your wall.

To enhance the natural beauty of the wood and to show off your own personal style, pick a few of your favorite stain colors and apply them to the wood.

If you are looking for bright and bold colors or subtle cottage inspired tones, check out Minwax® Water Based Wood Stains. For traditional, rich wood tones, try Minwax® Wood Finish™.

It’s a deep penetrating stain that offers an array of colors, so you can create a display of contrast and patterns on your walls that can be truly stunning. After staining your wood pallet, don’t forget to protect it with a clear protective finish.

Create a fun and functional piece.

If you’re always looking to free up cabinet or counter space, use a wooden pallet to create a rustic mug holder. For this project, all you need to do is add hooks to a few of the wood slats for the mugs to hang from.

Get creative with this pallet by painting a design or phrase such as “But First, Coffee” on the top wooden slat.

You can add some dimension to wood by staining it with Minwax® Wood Finishing Cloths™. These convenient one-step cloths are pre-moistened with stain and finish allowing for easy application and clean up. They’re available in five beautiful colors from Natural Oak to Dark Mahogany, allowing you to achieve that rustic feel.

Update your headboard.

If you are looking to give your bedroom a makeover, consider building a headboard for your bed out of pallet wood.

The idea here isn’t to make an even, straight-edged piece; rather it’s to embrace a more rustic style.

Start by gathering your wood pallets and applying Minwax® Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner to prepare the bare wood surface for staining. It will help to prevent streaks and blotches by allowing for even stain absorption.

Once the wood has been prepared, apply your favorite stain color. With over 100 colors to choose from, you are sure to find a color that will showcase your personal style.

Using different lengths and widths, arrange the boards so they span the width of your bed. Attach a few long pieces across the back to serve as crossbeams that hold it together. The variation in sizes will create a jagged top and make a big statement.

These are just a few of the many possibilities you can create with pallet wood. From wall décor to nightstands and tables, all you need is some wooden pallets, stain, clear protective finish and a little creativity, and you’ll be able to integrate this design trend into your home.