Howdy Friends! Today’s project is easy and not that mind blowing but I’ve had it standing in the garage for almost 3 years now and I finally painted it! Woo hoo! Now that we are being socially distant, there’s so many things I’m able to get accomplished. Like having a painting day and a get crap done day. LOL! Let me show you what I did and my ideas for a repurposed baby bed rail.
Ideas For A Repurposed Baby Bed Rail
I found the side rail to an old baby bed on our trip to Georgia years ago. Honestly, I don’t think that’s what it is. That’s just what the lady said it was. The large gap at the bottom isn’t going to corral a baby. Unless you were the size of my third child. She was bigger than a sack of potatoes at over 10 pounds. I felt she was toddler sized when she arrived. Which by the way was March 17th, 21 years ago. She’s our lucky charm. Sorry for the lengthy side note. You know us mamma’s like talking about our babies.
Anyway, I liked the piece plus it was only $10 bucks. I knew I’d use it somehow. At first I thought it would be a cute overhead hanging plant or flower holder. Like a pot rack but with Mason jars and wire. When I realized I was too vertically challenged to water the flowers without taking a shower, I ixnayed that real quick.
A nice and wide Blanket Ladder
The first obvious choice was a blanket ladder. This is my favorite idea because we have a lot of quilts and when I get it down to Navasota, I’ll fill it up quickly. The more popular ladders are so narrow that it’s hard to get a folded quilt hung on it without it looking overly fat. And adding only one quilt to a ladder with 6 rungs is a waste so a repurposed baby bed rail works perfectly.
Remember when I showed the Spring decorating ideas from my Pinterest board and it had the idea below? So cute!
An indoor or outdoor decorative piece
Using it as a new backyard (or indoor) accessory is also a great idea. If we had smell-o-vision, you’d LOVE this. The fresh lavender (affiliate link) is heavenly. The only thing not so great about lavender is how easily it loses its seeds. Are they seeds? Not sure but tying the bunches on the rails left me with a ton of them. I kept them all. Who knows, if we have to stay home and socially distant several more weeks, I might take up the art of making soap. Wouldn’t lavender soap be wonderful?!
I told you they weren’t’ that mind blowing but I love my ideas for a repurposed baby bed rail. But I don’t think 2 is enough! Below are a few more great ideas for repurposed rails I found on Pinterest. Just click on the links to see the full posts.
Cindy
When we moved in October we cleaned out the attic and found my boys crib! They are 37 and 35! I didn’t want to donate because I knew it wasnt up to safety standards. Thanks for the inspo- definitely need to do something with it! Lol
Author
I would have never thought about the safety standards being different but you are so right! I’d forgotten about that. I know you’ll do something fantastic with it! Thanks for the visit Tammy!
Hi Cindy,
I’m getting many projects painted during this time too. Being creative and painting is for me. Yes, we still have to clean but there’s only so much cleaning a girl can take during this time.
I need some fun. Live this and that is one problem with dried lavender. One false move and seeds go everywhere.
Not sure if this is a baby tail for the same reason but you sure made it pretty.
Cindy
Author
I have racked my brain trying to figure out what it is. When the lady said it was a baby bed rail, I almost burst out laughing and said it was the biggest baby bed I’d ever seen. But I refrained. I didn’t want her to hike up the price. LOL.
Every cute. I love my vintage ladder which I hang quilts but I understand about it being narrow. I wish I’d kept my kids’ crib. Gold mine of DIY possibilities. If I’d only known then.
Author
Thank you Carol. I wish I’d kept ours too. It was a Jenny Lind and all 3 kids used it. We passed it on for another to use. I hope they kept it and are doing something wonderful with it. I think about things I wish I’d kept on a weekly basis. If only my favorite passed time wasn’t purging crap. I need to slow down and think about things before donating it! But then there’s the question of where to store it. I don’t like that. :0
What a great idea for a crib rail! Love it. We’ve got a crib that has passed down from my husband’s family to our children but now they don’t want to use it as a crib anymore because of the changes in the laws – width between the rails, etc. This is a great way to preserve it and still get some use and decor from it! Thanks so much for inspiring me!
Author
You are so welcome Barbara! I love hearing that you still have it. If you do something fabulous (or not so fab) with it, send me a photo! I’d love to see it.
So many cute ideas, i wish i did have one, i have looked for one and am determined. I gave mine to a friend many years ago who needed one, she’s probably using it cleverly,lol!!!
Author
Thanks Marlene. 🙂 Let’s hope your friend is cherishing the gift and has put it to good use!
These are such clever ideas friend! Thanks so much for sharing!
happy day!
karianne
Author
Thank you KariAnne. Hope you are having a marvelous week with your family!
This is perfect for flower drying, Cindy! I have an old metal crib from my grandparents that I want to do something with…this wou idea would be so pretty on the chipping white metal! Thanks for sharing!
Author
My pleasure Linda! So glad you were inspired. Have fun making something out of the old metal crib!
Love this idea! I would much rather repurpose than buy something new – partly out of love for the older pieces and partly out of habit from my poor, young adult days! I too am ‘vertically challenged’ – 5′ if I really stretch. So, I too sometimes have to rethink my ideas. And my husband is over 6′, he does come in really handy when I need long arms!
Author
LOL Linda! 😂 I’m glad my hubs has long arms too. I could do without the short jokes but it’s better than dragging out the ladder anytime I need something. Glad you like the post. We are the same when it comes to loving to repurpose. Stay safe!
I haven’t done it yet but I have an idea of hanging it horizontally to a ceiling. You can attach and display your favorite collection of things depending on your theme such as flowers, seashells, etc. For parties – ribbons, balloons, treats for a game, light and soft toys for babies, etc. The list goes on and on.
Author
That’s a fantastic idea Maria! Thanks for sharing! Hope you can get that done soon. Send a photo when you do!
Great uses for this discarded crib rail (of sorts)! Love the lavender, too! 😉
Author
Thanks bunches Julie.
Hi Cindy, I just started following your blog. I love your pictures and your humorous side stories. Great idea for displaying an antique quilt I have stashed. As a side note, using the lavender buds or seeds in soap is a great idea. I bet it would be great in a little muslin sachet, too. Happy Easter!
Author
Those are fantastic ideas Jackie, thanks! I’m excited to hear you are a new subscriber too! That makes my day. Hope you have a wonderful Easter! 🙂
I’m getting a crib rail tomorrow from a neighbor and want to make a quilt rack in my basement. Did you use anything on the feet or top of the ladder to protect the wall or keep it from sliding on the floor?
Author
How nice and how fun! Walmart carries rubber leg caps in different colors and sizes – https://www.walmart.com/search/?query=rubber%20leg%20caps
Hope that helps. Enjoy Pia!