DIY Decorative Wooden Gate

DIY Wooden Baby Gate

Baby Fox is officially on the move - and the stairs are her first target, always. We needed something to keep her off the second floor, but I wanted to be resourceful and creative and make something functional and attractive. We've got this!

We used leftover wood that we got from a pallet that we got when our coffee table came - it actually was perfect - great size and nice material. Additionally, we really only used a measuring tape, table saw and stain. And a pencil, which we lost for a bit - but we found it and carried on!

I sketched out my design for Dino for what I was thinking and then he planned out the measurements. Team work!

The funny thing is that we’re not real ‘DIYers’ - we don’t technically build things. I’m pretty creative, but Dino doesn’t know how to make things. Love him, but yah, not the builder in the fam. Or so we thought! He nailed this today!

We took part of the wood to make the actual door and then we used leftover pieces that we already cut off to add the trim edges. We cut the corners of the trim at a 45 degree angle to add some character. We finished the perimeter and then we had a trim piece to use as a little top finishing piece. I decided that instead of just a criss cross, I wanted to make it more complicated and do many cuts. Typical Ashley. So we did diagonal cuts that made it look like shiplap, because well, again, it's me.

Instead of starting on one end and having it end unevenly, we started with the two angles and then found the center. Then we built the wood slats off of the center, so they all fit together.

Then onto my favorite part, the staining! We sanded it down to prep it for staining and I used the Minwax in 'Ebony'. I used this on our hood at the old house and loved it. It’s not too dark, but adds a pop. And then to apply I used gloves (can’t forget the gloves) and then the corner of an old tshirt. Just use the shirt to evenly rub it on.

I am really proud of Dino for putting this together! And it was a fun little project to do as a unit - and I really love it. It blends with the home and doesn’t look like a traditional baby gate.

You’re free to roam, Baby Foxi!