5 Things to Do with… Baby Cribs
Baby outgrown the crib? Before you relegate it to the attic or the dump, check out these five ingenious ways to upcycle baby cribs and give them new life beyond the nursery.
If your child has outgrown her baby crib, you may have found it’s a tough piece of furniture to dispose of. Even thrift stores don’t accept older cribs, because in 2011 federal safety regulations changed, making it illegal to sell models now considered substandard. Rather than storing your crib or throwing it away, why not try committing it to a new purpose? For inspiration, scroll down to see five favorite repurposed crib ideas, none of which requires advanced skills or tools.
1. CREATE A CRAFT CENTER
Photo: alittlelearningfortwo.blogspot.ca
Here, a repurposed crib becomes a kid’s crafts center, and it takes only a few steps. After removing the mattress and one side of the crib, insert a panel of chalkboard paint-coated particle board. Completing the setup are a couple of toddler-size chairs, plus a few hooks and containers for art supply storage.
2. MAKE A MAGAZINE RACK
Photo: thesaltypineapple.com
Here’s another way to get years of further use out of your child’s baby crib—and as DIY projects go, it doesn’t get much easier. Remove one side of the crib and lean it against a wall (in your bedroom, den, or library) so that the rails are horizontal. Add magazines and voilà, you have an upcycled crib magazine rack.
3. PUT UP A PLATE RACK
Photo: somedaycrafts.blogspot.ca
Spindled cribs make for pretty plate racks. Now is your chance to use up the scrap lumber that’s been lying around the workshop. First, build a box in the dimensions of the crib panel you’ve detached, then attach the panel to the box with glue and nails. Install shelves, apply paint, and as a final step, add your plates!
4. WHY NOT A WAGON?
Photo: creatingbycami.blogspot.ca
Ingeniously, Cami from tidbits came up with the concept for this fun and functional kid mover, the perfect accompaniment for walks to the playground. Two panels from the repurposed crib were used to build the four wagon sides, and a deck of pine boards forms the bottom, which is outfitted with a quartet of rubber tires.
5. ASSEMBLE A SIDE TABLE
Photo: achadosdedecoracao.blogspot.ca
A repurposed crib can serve as a side table suitable for any room. Whether you opt for a glass top or a table surface painted to match the color of the crib, start by removing one side of the crib. Lay that side horizontally into the crib to form a useful storage shelf, and then add the tabletop you have selected.
