I have a baby gate for corralling Louie (left) but with a very strange floor plan in my home, I need more options when Lucy (right) comes to visit. When Lucy is fed, she gobbles her food up really fast, whereas Louie is more of a nibbler. It’s difficult to find a time to let Louie eat. So, as they say, necessity is the mother of invention.
While Jamie, Andy and Lucy were here for Thanksgiving, Jamie and I went shopping. We saw this at Ross. I immediately knew I needed to make one and I knew just how I would do it.
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This is a crib I picked up at a thrift store a few months ago.
I removed the hardware from the crib rails and used my compound miter saw to cut the crib sides apart. I also cut a little off of each end so the spindles would be more evenly spaced when I put them together. (I used a miter saw, but you could do the same thing with a jig saw, or even a hand saw)
I ended up with four pieces. I painted them with a base coat of DIY chalk paint (as a primer).
I then gave it a nice protective coat of semi-gloss paint with my Finish Max on the very last day that I was able to work outside. Winter has set in, and my paint booth days are over for awhile.
I had to finish this project inside. I drilled pilot holes for the strap hinges.
These hinges worked great for this DIY doggie gate.
See? I of course put one at the top of the rails and the bottom.
This doggie gate is going to come in very handy, and it’s much easier to pass through than those that lock in place. I am very aware that this might not be the solution for every dog. Lucy and Louie are both well behaved and will not force the issue of trying to breach the little enclosure.
Initially I was going to attach all four pieces with hinges, but because of my strange floor plan, I decided to leave the two pieces separate of the other two identical pieces. I have doorways on either side of the fireplace that lead from the living room into the kitchen. With the snow we had over the weekend, I was able to easily block Louie out of the living room when he came in with those little snowballs all over his feet.
I set all four pieces up in the living room so I could take pictures. Louie would only cooperate and let me take his picture if I offered him treats. He should be holding a sign “will work for food”.
The only way I got this picture was to bait him with a milk bone.
With the strap hinges, the doggie gate easily folds for storage.
This is what it would look like if I had connected all four pieces together with hinges. This doggie gate is very versatile. The possibilities of sizes are endless, especially if you’re like me and have a stash of these side rails. 
I think this even has outdoor uses. Is there a particular place you don’t want your pooch to go?
Do you think this would work for kids too? Perhaps it could keep your crawler away from your fireplace, wood stove or Christmas tree? For a toddler, it would need to be secured somehow.
EDITED to ADD:
I now use these gates with Lulu Mae!
Will you be making one?
gail
Check out my other repurposed crib projects
sharing here: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
I use a fireplace screen in my hall to block my little dog in or out of where I want him. It is tri fold.
That’s an awesome idea Karol! Thanks for sharing.
gail
Would you please consider putting a warning on all creative projects using crib rails that you post after checking out this website- this organization was started by my friend after her baby died from getting his head caught between old crib rails.
http://keepingbabiessafe.org/
I repurposed crib rails as baby gates for both the top and bottom of my stairs. I used lift off hinges so they can be completely removed should I need them out of the way. The white finish matches the existing railings and bannisters. We are very pleased with the results. I have also used crib rails as trellis in the garden. If I come across any more I might use them to make a play enclosure for the baby. It might take 6 panels for it to be large enough. Again, I’d use lift off hinges to make it collapseable.
Your barrier would be good to keep pups out of the Christmas tree too!
Note of caution: the sale of many cribs have been banned for use as cribs due to the danger to children getting stuck in the rails. Just because it’s on the floor and meant for dogs, does not mean it would be safe for toddlers.
Amen
You are brilliant. I’ll be passing this along to my daughter for her West Highland Terror (and no, that’s not a typo.) 🙂
I could see this working for small toddlers… (if secured, like you mentioned) I also see it working for the pups too. (no my daughters dogs…she has miniature chihuahua dogs. They can squeeze through anything. But my dog buster, this could be a good idea for my Christmas tree if I ever decide to put one up. 😉
Patricia
Great use of crib rails, I would never have thought of that. Louie doesn’t look like he wants to be left behind there though! My little Chihuahua would just about fit through the spaces, and probably get stuck trying!
Nice job…..I need to make something like that just to pen the KING up so he will not be so demanding on me. I bet he would bark his head off though.
Fantastic! I can think of several applications for this. Louie is so cute!
It’s a great idea…and I have a set of these for my dogs but it’s out in the barn. Great minds think alike! Inside I have used a headboard as a gate to separate the dogs when I’m gone. 🙂