I am excited to share my Repurposed Crib Dog Crate. It is December! I can’t believe how fast time flies, and it just keeps getting faster. Either I am having fun or just getting old!
If you follow me at MyLove2Create you may remember when I introduced you to our new puppy Sunny. Well that was back in July and she has grown…A LOT!
Dog crates can be expensive, like almost $200 dollars expensive, at least for the extra large size. Poor Sunny was so cramped in her old crate and with it being Christmas time I couldn’t afford to buy a new one. So my only option was to build it, I knew just what I needed…
A Crib! This crib was solid wood and great quality, perfect. Thank you Craig’s list free section!
The first thing I needed to do was determine my crate size. I looked online at extra large crates to see how big they were, and let me tell you they are HUGE! Seriously. I went for the smallest XL option, because it had to be able to fit through the doorways in my house.
I made it 27 inches wide, 46 1/2 inches long, and 33 inches tall. I cut the crib ends above to 27 inches wide. I cut one crib top off (top left) and then measured where to cut the second (top right).
I got rid of the long side boards as well, they made it too wide to fit through the doors.
Once the ends were cut to size I was able to figure out how to make the sides. I placed a crib rail over the end piece and added boards until I had what I wanted. I was using the cut end to know how tall to make the sides, since they need to be the same height. The top white board (a 1×3) came with the crib, and then I used 1×2’s for the side and bottom. Luckily I had these in my stash.
I promptly went out to make my cuts. I cut down the crib rails and my 1×2’s and 1×3’s to make the sides. I laid it out on the lawn and was so proud of my self until I realized what I had done.
Hello?!! Can you guess what I did wrong? Ok…
I forgot to measure with my crib end and I cut my side 1×2’s too short, see the gap. Ugh! This is why you have to be very careful when you are winging it. I thought I would have to got to the store, but I barely had enough 1×2’s to re cut.
This is what I was supposed to do in the first place, I am using the crib end to make sure my cuts are the right height. Lesson learned. Until I forget and do it again, which I am sure I will. 🙂
Much better.
Next up? Pocket holes!! I know when I am drilling pocket holes it is almost time to build and I get excited. I used my Kreg Jig to drill all the frame pieces. I also added pocket holes on the long pieces for attaching my top and bottom boards.
Then I drilled some in the crib ends and the crib rails. I love my Kreg Jig , it totally makes me happy.
I only drilled pocket holes in the back crib rail. The front rail will be on hinges so it didn’t need them, but it did need to be cut in half. I measured and used my miter saw to do the job.
Using my Kreg Right Angle clamp to help me out, I attached the frames with gorilla wood glue and 1and 1/4 inch pocket hole screws.
I have done this so many times and rarely have my wood split, but this time I had several splits. I am pretty sure these furring strips were the reason, they were scraps and weren’t in the best condition. I had to do some gluing, clamping, and waiting…not fun.
Here I am adding the crib rails. The photo on the left is the back piece, and the right photo is the front with the gate. I added hinges on all four ends, so both sides open.
Next, I attached my sides to the ends, again using the right angle clamps. Not sure how I used to build without these!
I also had some wood splits here too, but in the crib wood, more gluing and clamping. I always check my settings when I drill pocket holes, so I know that isn’t the reason. Hmmm maybe the cold weather? Who knows… thank goodness I could fix it.
My father in law gave me some free plywood that his neighbor was throwing out and I used my biggest piece for the bottom of the crate. I set the crate on top and traced my cut lines.
After I cut it with my circular saw I brought it in to see how it fit. I just popped it on the top. I guess if I didn’t want a bottom for the crate I could have been done…
Since I didn’t have any wood big enough for the top of the crate, I had to improvise. I am sure some of you recognized my barn wood top.
I know, I know, you are probably sick of it! I have used it in several of my contributor posts, My rustic industrial kid chairs, my repurposed cabinet doors into a desk, and my cubby shelf makeover. I can’t help it…I love it! (plus I have it and it was free)
Anyway, I used it for this crate too. I made sure to cut my pieces to the same size as my plywood bottom. I had to cut one piece in half to make it fit (middle photo).
For my gate I needed a way to make it so the doors didn’t swing in or out. I put a piece of wood on the bottom with a screw and washer (left) so I could turn it up to help keep the doors closed. I also put a stopper on the top inside to keep the doors from swinging inside the crate (right).
Then I painted it white.
While the paint was drying I glued and used bar clamps on a couple of my top boards that needed some TLC. Oh the joy of working with reclaimed wood. It is totally worth it. 🙂
Here I am attaching my plywood bottom piece with the pocket holes I had previously drilled. I painted the edges of the plywood but not the middle.
I could have just painted the crate floor with floor and porch paint like I did to my sister’s Closet/Laundry room makeover subfloor Here. But, A friend of mine said they had lined the bottom of her puppy’s crate with peel and stick vinyl to cover the wood. It not only protects the wood, but makes a quick clean up if there was an accident. I knew Sunny wouldn’t have an accident, but wanted to have the nice surface for easy cleaning.
I got these at Home Depot for 99 cents each. There were some that were cheaper, but I wanted the thicker vinyl so I splurged. 🙂 Nine dollars total wasn’t too bad. I simply placed them in the crate on the plywood, super easy!
At the last minute I decided to add casters. I have had a stash of them hiding in my garage for almost 2 years. I found them on the curb in my city’s spring clean up, sa-weet! They just needed a good scrubbing before I attached them to the bottom of my crate.
They look much better! And it is so easy to move the crate where I need it, I am glad I added them. See the Graco symbol? I couldn’t get the dang thing off!
I ended up just nailing the top wood pieces on. I sanded them and sealed them with 3 coats of poly, no need for staining on this old wood. I also nailed support boards on the underside to attach them together like I did on the boards in this project. Can you blame me for loving this wood? Plus for now, this crate will be in my room, so I wanted it to be pretty.
Here are some shots of how we get Sunny in and out. I spent less than fifteen dollars for the hinges and this bolt thing. So I guess my total for this crate was just under $25 dollars. I am actually loving the bottom piece of wood that I just turn, it would have been fine to have one on the top too, that would have saved me 5 or 6 bucks.
And a close up of the nice marble vinyl floor! It is super smooth I am really glad I put it in, even if I can’t lay it totally straight, lol! I filled in the small cracks with spackle, an easy fix. 🙂
Sunny LOVES it! She can stretch out, stand and…
Sit! So much better than that tiny ugly wire crate. (Sorry no before, should have thought of that)
I just have to make a nice pad for her, but an old comforter works for now. Here it is in my room, I was excited to do some decorating for Christmas on the top! The top would also be a great place to put a TV or hutch…oh, and don’t mind the walls, over 4 years since we moved in and I still haven’t painted them. I was planning on doing it after my Master Closet Makeover, which is my favorite project to date, but it kind of wore me out. So I took a break, and never got back to doing my room! Such is life.
So what do you think? We love it, and my kids had fun locking each other inside, this thing is a beast. I guess you have to have a beast crate if you have a beast dog. I personally think it kind of looks like those old circus cars from the old days…lol!
If you like this repurposed furniture project using an old crib, I would love it if you came to visit me at my blog, MyLove2Create! I have lot of fun ideas and tutorials on my Project page. I hope to see you there!
Hugs!
Mindi
sharing here:
see more of Mindi's posts on MRL below:
Repurposed items for kid sized fun
Memorial Day Weekend 2012
Portable Folding DIY Pallet Bar – great for weddings, tailgating and more!
Guest Post DIY Bookshelf by The Design Confidential
Hi Mindi!
This is brilliant and so very creative.
However, for me I think a wooden box will not be convenient for scratchy pets as they will be prone to breakdown.
Thanks.
Hey James, Thank you! You are so right, if your pet is scratchy or chews on things a wooden crate wouldn’t be the best option. My dog Sunny has never had a problem with this, so I guess I am lucky! She sleeps in this same crate still and loves it!
Oh my goodness I’m so excited we still have my kids crib and my husbands crib…. I can’t wait for these to be made!!
Hi! I love this repurpose! Did you use white spray paint on the crib or regular latex paint? Making one right now!
Seriously obsessing over this dog crate. SO creative and chic! It’s like a little doggy palace. thank you for sharing!
Does anyone know someone who would make this for me? Please… Denise Enders
Can we buy these from you
Hi. My mom and I found this and decided to build a medium sized crate for a dog for a fundraiser. We got everything together that we needed and got started measuring and cutting and laughing and talking and….well, we got to putting the 2 ends on the sides. Well, the ends totally did not match up and after fighting with it to figure out how to fix it, we left it for my dad to finish. Though it did not work as well as we had hoped, it was an awesome time for a mom and daughter to have a great time doing something totally new and different. We just passed it off to my dad yesterday, so not sure how it is going at this point. He has until Thanksgiving weekend to finish it up, if he can fix it. Sometimes things work out and sometimes, not so much. 🙂 Thank you for posting this.
I loved reading your story Tisha! It’s something I could my daughter and I doing together. I recently heard a podcast that mentioned “it’s the things that go wrong that make life memorable–the things we can laugh about later”. I’m so happy you found Mindi’s repurposed crib dog crate.
I hope it goes well for your dad.
gail
I’ve been looking for something to use for a movable island for my kitchen. I think this idea would work great! It would add so many cup board ideas.
hi there,
I was wondering if we would be able to exchange emails, im a beginner when it comes to projects like this, I love the idea, I have a few questions I was hoping you could help me out with. Planning on building something similar for my dog with 2 crib pieces and some other materials I have lying around.(not sure if the wood I have will work).. Please help 🙂 Thanks a bunch Jo.
Jo,
You should be able to respond to this comment via email.
gail
Genius! Pure genius! Love it and when I finally get a dog this will be a great way to go for a crate! Thank you for sharing.
This is amazing and inspiring!!
Could not find PRINT icon-help??
If you right click the article on a pc, you can pull up the print menu.
Let me know if you can’t get it.
gail
Love this!!!!! I’m going to see if I can find cheap or free crib… Not in big rush, have 3 1/2 month old Akita pup..
She will just love this and will look much better in our home that Kennel Cab… Thanks for posting directions!!!!!
This is just brilliant. It looks so much better than my dog’s plastic crate!
This is genius! I wonder if there’s something I could use to rig up a similar but smaller solution for my tiny pup…
How big was the crib before you cut it down? I have a Great Dane puppy who just cleared 100 pounds – I am wondering if this would be a good option for when he is full grown. I made beds for our dogs using old outdoor cushions someone was tossing (no mold – just didn’t like them anymore) but I think a crib mattress might be a better option when our boy is full grown! Thanks for the great ideas!!
I love the crib/dog crate idea. I do have a suggestion for you. My dogs love a good, comfy dog bed but most of the ones filled with fluff break down over time and some are not easily washed because of their size. Memory foam and orthopedic beds are very expensive. I’ve been buying crib mattresses (Craigslist) for around $5 each, sometimes less, and I use the crib sheets to cover them. If there’s an accident, the sheets wash and dry easily and you can readily find crib sheets at most garage sales. The mattress is vinyl and easy to clean. I keep one in the bedroom next to our bed and in the morning it’s easy to shove it under the bed and get it out of the way. They are sturdy enough to hold a 100 pound dog and they’re so much better than most dog beds.
Great idea!!! Gonna look into finding used ones!!!
Wow. What an ingenious idea. I love it. I have a big dog also (she’s still a puppy) but she will be outgrowing her large crate soon. I’m going to have to make me one just like yours. Thanks for the detailed instructions. I love the rollers. You can move it from room to room so much easier if you want her close to you. Yours looks like a nice piece of furniture. I just have to find me a free crib.
I love it…that is very creative.
Is Sunny a Vizsla? She’s beautiful – that crate is awesome. I will have to give it a try. Cheers!
Been sharing your photo and instructions with all my doggie connections. Very lovely and creative idea. Thanks for sharing.
Super cool idea!
What a great idea! We got an early Christmas puppy and I was looking for a stylish option for her. I happen to have my daughter’s crib in the attic that I was saving for just the right project. Tho it is a sleigh version so may be a bit tricky. But a growing doberman needs her space. Thanks so much for your wonderful walk thru!
This is gorgeous, and a very creative re-use of an old crib. But I have some safety concerns about the design. First, the curved openings in the corners where the crib ends meet the rails look big enough for a curious dog to stick a paw through them. My luck with inventive dogs always runs bad, and I envision that paw getting caught, causing the dog to panic and injure a leg. Second, some dogs are crate chewers, and could gnaw themselves out of a crate like this in no time. At the moment I can’t think of a way around the chewing issue, other than to know your dog really well before putting them in a crate like this. But the corner opening problem could be fixed by cutting off the curved edges of the ends before assembly, or by not using a crib with that curved accent on the ends. 🙂
As for a pad for inside the crate—will a crib mattress still fit in there? If so, get a used one and cover it with an old comforter. Our dogs used crib mattresses as dog beds for years and loved them!
Thank you so much Kathy! I can see your concern with the opening, and you are right it would be an easy fix. Luckily Sunny has had no problem with it. 🙂 To address the chewing, I was concerned about that while I was building. I had a plan in my mind if Sunny thought she should try and “Eat” her crate, luckily she hasn’t even tried. I know some dogs would, and so you have to be aware that this crate will not work for all dogs. I had planned to add hardware cloth on the inside of the rails if she attempted chewing, but I didn’t have to worry about it, thank goodness. I made some laundry bin drawers with hardware cloth and you can see those here: http://www.mylove2create.com/2014/02/final-touches-master-closet-makeover.html It would be the same concept, except bigger. It might solve the chewing problem for some dogs, but probably not all. 🙂 That is a great idea with a crib mattress, I could cut one down to fit!
Do you make and sell the dog crib, I just love it, and do you ups it to customer. If so could you please give me a price to make it and send it to Dracut Mass Thank you Corene Teneriello
I cannot even deal with your creativity…unreal! This is really so amazing and the best part is how it looks like a piece a furniture!
How much to make one for me? I am in Colorado and I am a goat rancher. I often end up with baby goats in my kitchen being bottle fed, This would be so much better and easier than a standard dog crate and much better than a box.
Another great Mindi creation! You are so creative and also so productive!
Fabulous! What a savings, oh but what a lot of work! I am to lazy to take on something of this magnitude.
You did good again. Merry Christmas!
Sorry Gail, I did not read the first line of this post and was confused. Please pass this comment on to Mindi. Her crate creation is beautiful.
Gail, this crate is high end furniture quality. This could easily sell for $300 – $400 in some places. It works great for your needs and it is beautiful besides. My only concern is the castors are not the locking kind and I wonder if it wiggles around if Sunny stands up and moves around in the crate? Do you have a way to chalk it so it won’t roll away with her in it? (not that it would roll too far, but maybe locking it would give her a bit more stability). A great job especially for building it on the fly and without a plan.
You are right to be concerned about the wheels not locking. If I ever use it on a hard surface I will for sure replace them with locking casters, the dogs safety is most important. In fact, the crate does not need wheels at all, I just knew I would need a way to move it when my husband wasn’t around. I have the crate in my room on the carpet and the wheels do not move. I was worried about it at first, but have noticed that it has not been a problem at all, even when she stands up and moves in her crate. Maybe it is because they are older casters and don’t roll very well, lol! Thank you so much for your concern and kind words! 🙂
Hi there!
I love it! much classier than those metal cages! What about adding a doggie door to one of the short ends? Then you can leave those big doors closed and Sunny could come and go as she pleases…just a suggestion.
Clap! Clap! Clap! You have such an amazing imagination! Maybe someone will dump a load of cribs on you and ask you to make a circus train for their front yard…. which would be so cool.
Aaaahhhh! I’m screaming… this is so great!
My daughter has an English Mastiff…she isn’t full grown yet, I wonder if she’d fit in there?
this is great for a big dog…I bet my Buster would fit (my mixed pup)
FANTASTIC…!!!!!!!!!!!
What a lucky puppy Sunny is! Your creation is awesome!!! I need something like that for our little Doxies. Thanks for sharing your genius idea with us.
Christmas blessings, Edie Marie
I don’t always call my husband over to see the creativity of others, but yup – he was summoned, and I pinned it.
Mindi! This crib was the perfect piece to use for a dog crate! Oh my gosh, I absolutely love how you transformed the crib into a dog crate. That is the reason you are part of the MRL team!
FREE? the best part. I’ve never seen a crib like this. Those ends could be so many things.
Did you know Kreg has a smaller jig? It uses a smaller bit and screws. I think it would have worked great on those furring strips.
Gail
Love this! !!!
Sunny’s crate is beautiful! I agree, the wire cages aren’t appealing. Your crate is a very pretty and functional piece of furniture.
All I can say to this is WOW! Love it!
Gail you never cease to amaze me! Beautiful!! Love it and the dog too!