These pallet skis are a clever way to reuse wood and add rustic elegance to your Christmas porch.

By cutting pallet planks into ski-like shapes, painting or staining them, and finishing with seasonal embellishments, you create a decoration that’s simple yet striking.

You can personalize each set with different ribbons and accents, making them unique to your space.

Materials Needed

• 4 pallet boards (each approx. 36–40” long, 4–6” wide)
• Wood saw (hand saw or jigsaw)
• Sandpaper (80 and 120 grit)
• Wood stain or paint (gray, red, or brown)
• Paintbrushes and rags for staining
• Hot glue gun or wood screws
• Decorative greenery picks (pine sprigs, berries, pinecones)
• Wide ribbon (burlap, plaid, or festive colors)
• Large rustic jingle bells (2)
• Optional: polyurethane sealer for outdoor protection

Step-by-step Guide

Step 1: Cut your pallet boards into ski shapes. Angle the tops into a pointed tip to resemble skis, keeping the bottom flat.

Step 2: Sand each board well to smooth out rough spots. Start with coarse grit (80) and finish with finer grit (120).

Step 3: Stain or paint the boards in your desired color. Gray stain gives a weathered farmhouse look, while red or deep brown feels rustic and warm.

Next, wipe off excess stain with a rag and let dry fully.

Step 4: Arrange two boards in an “X” shape to form a pair of skis.

Then secure them with wood screws or hot glue where they cross in the middle. Repeat for the second pair.

Step 5: Attach a cluster of faux greenery, pinecones, and berries to the center using hot glue or floral wire. This gives the skis a festive touch.

Step 6: Tie a wide ribbon into a large bow and secure it over the greenery. Then add a rustic jingle bell to dangle beneath the bow for extra charm.

Step 7: Once dry, lean the skis against your porch wall or fireplace as a decorative statement piece.

Notes:

For outdoor durability, brush on a light coat of polyurethane sealer after staining.

You can also alternate colors (one pair gray, one pair red) to make the display pop.