Easy DIY Pallet Coasters with Inexpensive Supplies That Will Bring the Beach to Your Home
With kids, my coastal drink coasters are always getting lost, broken, or colored on. So at this stage in my life I like the idea of coasters that can’t be shattered.
It’s also a plus if my coasters are inexpensive in case they’re lost, broken, or claimed by my children as a toy for their dolls (if you know, you know!). And if that coaster is beachy looking, even better!
So I especially love these bright and colorful DIY coasters that you can make with items from the dollar store. The supply list and directions are very straight forward.
Plus, you can even make a cute little holder in which to keep the coasters. This will help you always know where your beach coasters are and keep your house more organized.
Read on for what you’ll need and how to make these fun beachy drink coasters.
DIY Coastal Coasters Supply List
- 4 mini pallets*
- 1 mini wood crate*
- 4 different shades of blue acrylic paint
- (In these photos, Tuscan Teal and Bimini Blue by Apple Barrel and Turquoise and Ocean Breeze by Craft Smart were used.)
- Matte mod podge*
- Foam brushes*
- Twine*
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun w/ glue sticks
- 20 decorative blue glass pebbles*
*Supplies found at Dollar Tree
Coastal Coaster DIY Directions
Now it’s time to find out how to make this beach themed drink coaster set.
1. Paint Mini Pallets the Beachy Colors You Want Your Coasters to Be
Use a sponge brush to paint the front, back, sides, and inside of each pallet a different color and set aside to dry for at least two hours.
2. Paint the Mini Crate
Next it’s time to paint the mini crate that will hold your coastal coasters when they’re not being used.
Paint each slat on the crate a different color. To match this example: Paint the front and back top slats Ocean Breeze. Paint the front and back bottom slats Tuscan Teal. Paint the middle front and back slats, the sides, and the inside Turquoise.
Set crate aside and allow to dry for at least two hours.
3. Apply Mod Podge to the Coasters and Holder
Once the pallets and crate are dry, it’s time to get ready for your Modge Podge layer! This will make the pallets water-resistant. In addition, a Modge Podge layer will help the accents added later with hot glue to better adhere to the project.
Get a new sponge brush (or washed and dried sponge brush from before). Apply a thin layer of Modge Podge all over the pallets and the crate.
Allow to dry completely, preferably overnight, at least 10 hours.
4. Add Twine to the Coaster Pallet
Each pallet has four small horizontal open spaces between the slats, and two large horizontal open spaces on the back.
To start, turn the pallet over. Between each large horizontal open space, you’ll see three small vertical pieces of wood, one on each side and one in the middle.
Add a dot of hot glue to the top vertical middle piece and press the twine down into the glue. Hold it there for a few seconds.
Securing with glue on the back vertical pieces as you go, wrap the twine around the front twice.
Cut off the twine, securing in the middle.
Repeat this on the bottom, then repeat on all pallets that will be part of your coaster set.
5. Add Twine to the Crate to DIY the Coaster Holder
Now you’ll add twine to the crate using a similar process, but with different placement.
The crate has two horizontal open spaces between the slats.
Add a dot of glue to the right side edge of the wood between the first open space.
Press twine down and hold for a few seconds.
Wrap around twice, securing with glue on the left and right between the slats as you go.
Repeat with the second open space, cutting off and securing the end.
6. Add the Pebbles to the Crate
Now it’s time for the final DIY step: the glass pebbles!
Get out those glass pebbles and glue them onto the middle slat of the crate. You’ll use your hot glue again and put a dab of glue in the middle of each spot where the stone will go. Then place the pebble onto the glue, flat side down.
For this example, six pebbles fit on the front and back with four pebbles on each side. However, depending on the size of your pebbles, this may differ.
Step 7: Put Your Coasters in the Crate
Now it’s time to put your beachy coasters into the crate and set them out to use for drinks!
Pro Tips for Making Your DIY Drink Coasters
- Having trouble painting the inside of the pallet? Use a small thin brush to reach into the small cracks and crevices.
- Be very careful when using the hot glue gun. Use finger guards or a toothpick or something that can’t melt when it’s time to press the twine into the hot glue.
- Be creative and make these coastal coasters your own! You can use different colors, glue on different styles of stones or sea shells, and add other embellishments that better fit your decor taste.
- For example, the coaster box holder in this craft has blue pebbles around the side that I love for the beach house, but for our home in the suburbs, I’d leave those off and choose colors that are lighter blue with a whitewashed look to give it more of a farmhouse coastal vibe. The creative opportunities for this craft are endless!
Happy Crafting!
