At some point it will be time to replace the baby bed with a child's bed. After spending so long looking for the perfect model, it would of course be a shame to simply throw the piece of jewelry away. And you don't have to. In fact, there are some creative pieces of furniture that you can build out of the bed simply by using the materials you have. This means you can get a new piece of furniture for your home for free (or with just a few extra expenses) that is also completely unique. We would like to show you what you can create by simply converting the baby bed using some building instructions and ideas. You're sure to find something practical for you!
Convert baby bed into a loft bed
Hardly any child doesn't dream of a loft bed. There is something adventurous about them that fascinates children. And as practical as they are, especially for smaller children's rooms, they are usually not particularly cheap. It's a good thing that you still have the bed of your now big toddler, which you can't do anything with. Because this is ideal for a loft bed that can be built in just a few steps. If you want to convert the baby bed, the first thing you have to do is dismantle the mattress frame. You then attach this to a higher position. Height-adjustable baby beds will probably even have pre-drilled holes at the desired height. If not, just drill new ones.
Next, saw off part of the long side walls to create an opening for climbing up. You can then use the sawn-off part to build the missing side edge. You build the ladder from two boards, the lower ends of which are cut off at an angle and the upper ends are cut as shown. The rungs or steps in turn consist of the removed bars. You can use a hand router to cut the incisions for the rungs, which you then fix with glue. If necessary, you can additionally secure them with screws or nails. Now place the ladder on the bed so that the incision surrounds the mattress frame. Screw the ladder tight. You should also reinforce the new edge of the cut grid if you convert the baby bed into a child's bed, because this part is subject to a lot of wear and tear. You can use a metal angle for this purpose. Complete!
In principle, any baby bed is suitable for converting into a child's bed and it doesn't necessarily have to be built up. You can keep the original height and just cut an opening like in a loft bed so that the child can easily climb into bed. If you convert the baby bed in this way, you don't need a ladder and the remaining bars still protect the child from rolling out of bed while sleeping. You can just as easily remove the entire long side. Or you can convert a baby bed into a child's bed by creating a loft bed and installing a second mattress on the floor that can be used for guests and as a sofa.
Bench seating ideas
Benches are very popular when it comes to creating something new from the old baby bed. Whether for the garden, the hallway, the children's room or another room, a comfortable bench is certainly welcome everywhere. And with a wooden bed with bars, you get a beautiful country-style piece. Here are a fewDIY ideas:
Convert a baby bed into a bench for the children's room
Just as you have to remove the mattress frame and reassemble it, you also have to do the same for a bench when you convert the baby bed. However, one of the two long grid sides can be removed beforehand. The one opposite serves as a backrest instead. Before you reinstall the frame, check whether the slats on which the mattress frame rests are wide enough to hold the new seat stable. Otherwise, you can replace them with new strips, as was done in the example.
When you choose the new height, make sure that your child can sit comfortably on it later. It is also an advantage if the seat is high enough so that boxes for storing toys can fit underneath. If you convert the baby bed to create a bench, you can either put together the seat from several wooden boards (see example) that you cut accordingly. If you don't have the opportunity to cut the boards yourself, ask at the hardware store. Many hardware stores also offer such services. The other variant is to use a whole wooden panel. The bench can then be equipped with seat cushions and cushions as desired. You can also simply use the baby mattress as cushion.
When screwing the individual parts tight, new holes are created that may look unsightly and be annoying. In this case, you can fill the holes with wood filler and repaint after the filler dries. In this case, you should first sandpaper the entire bed so that the new paint can adhere well everywhere. Alternatively, self-adhesive cover caps in the appropriate color can be used, which can be used like stickers.
Corner bench
This corner bench is particularly nice because it fits and can be built even in small rooms. In a hallway, for example, it can be used to comfortably put on shoes. For this type of bench, use the two short sides. Place the two pieces together at right angles to get an idea of the future bench. As you can now see, the corner is formed by the two bed legs. But that is unnecessary. For this reason, you can remove one of the two legs and screw the side with the side part removed to the leg of the other part. This gives the bench three legs. The sketch shows what is meant again.
Once you have finished these two parts, you will of course also need a frame or a frame on which you can place a plate and then the seat cushion. To do this, connect the front ends of the two side panels with a beam or decorative board. Inside (along this beam/board and further along the two side parts, screw strips that form the frame on which the seat plate is placed. You can cut the seat plate to size by measuring the internal dimensions of the bench. Use the same dimensions You can also cut a cushion out of foam, which you can then cover with fabric. Now you can sand the wood and repaint it in this way Make any changes and create a model according to your taste.
Bars for a shelf for sewing or craft supplies or make-up
ThisShelf is practical, space saving and decorative at the same time and you can get it in simple steps by using some of the baby bed parts. You don't even necessarily need a screwdriver. A hammer and nails are sufficient. Also get any paint you want to repaint the shelf with. You need the two long side parts of the baby bed including the bars, as well as the bars on the other sides. Remove all side pieces from each other. Now place the long parts together to check that the bars of the two parts are always at the same height. If not, some parts will have to be shortened until everything fits. That depends entirely on the bed. Then remove the bars and sand everything with sandpaper. Then wipe off the wood dust with a dry cloth and you can start painting. Multiple layers will be necessary.
Once the paint has dried, the shelf can be assembled. To do this, put the bars back into the holes provided, place the two individual bars on the floor and one of the side parts on top. Adjust everything well so that they are parallel to each other and do not protrude anywhere. The beams ensure that the shelf and the shelves become wider by creating a distance between the two side panels with bars. Now nail the side panel to the beam. Then turn the whole thing over, place the other side part on top and nail that in place too. Where the nails are visible, you can use fabric ribbons or other decorative things to hide them. You can fix these with hot glue. So, if you are remodeling the baby's bed and hammering the nails, choose areas that you can cover up afterwards
More ideas
Of course, these instructions are only a small part of the many possibilities that an old baby bed can offer. Shelves can be designed in a variety of ways and have different functions. The bars are also great as a laundry or bicycle rack. You can even get a desk for the children's room where the children can paint and do crafts. Even in the garden, the old bed can prove to be very useful. There, the grids are suitable, for example, for trellises on which climbing plants can climb, while the entire frame can be used for a raised bed. If you would like a few more interesting ideas, take a look at the following gallery and find the perfect inspiration for your needs. Ultimately, most projects are easy to implement, even for beginners.
