I realize I’m not a “Do It Yourself” type blogger, but that’s only because I don’t do anything myself. I’m not crafty, but I saw the photo above of a used baby crib turned DIY Desk from a blog called A little Learning for Two and I decided I had to do it.
We have two cribs that are on the recall list because they have sliding sides. We can’t legally re-sell them and they’ve been sitting in our home for over four years now.
The fact that we’ve had cribs sitting, fully assembled in our home for four years should tell you something about my motivation when it comes to home improvement. It’s bad.
With a bit of coercing I was able to get my husband to help make this project happen. I cleaned out Laina’s closet, removed her closet doors, moved a crib into her room, took the sliding side off, and just LOOK!:
I’ll give myself another four years to paint that slab of wood acting as a desk top, but for a total of 20ish dollars my girl has a desk in her room. Not bad!!
Stasha says
Double cool points. Love this and very impressed with you DIY skills.I wrote skillz for fun and all but autocorrect dissagress with my cool twist on the comment.
Jill says
I LOVE this! I have two drop slide cribs myself…. I this is a great idea! I like the idea of keeping the baby gear growing with the kid! My 3 year old has one with drawers on the side. I think I’ll paint a wood slab to act as a land base for those awful, I mean, awesome Thomas trains! Then he can store them in the currently empty drawers! Sweet!!! Thanks for passing this along! And congrats, good job!!! ;)
Gigi says
Very clever!
Obviously, I’ve been out of the baby arena for a while – but they recalled the drop side cribs? Then how do you get the baby out without using a step stool to reach in and pull them over the railing?
Karen and Gerard says
Great idea! I love desks, always have. We have six in our house and we use them all. I wouldn’t bother painting it if I were you, the wood looks nice!
Kathy says
Wow that is a brilliant idea! I love it!
tracy@sellabitmum says
That is a great idea! Love how they turned out! xo
Foursons says
Wow, nice job! I wouldn’t paint the desk part. Let the kids do it, or make a photo collage and put a piece of glass over the top. And now that I’ve told you how to decorate your daughter’s room….
Ruth says
LOVE it! I’ve seen this someone else and I wanted to try it to. My son just grew out of his crib and I don’t want $400 to go to waste. Looks great!!
Marie says
Brilliant!
Daddy Scratches says
That is the *exact same* model of crib that we used for both of our kids … and my wife so badly didn’t want to part with it, but we couldn’t think of a single practical, non-sentimental reason to lug it all the way from Massachusetts to Pennsylvania when we moved last year … so we gave it away.
And NOW you post this? Well thaaaaaaaaaaank yooooouuuuuu. I look forward to your mighty-powerful fire-extinguisher blog post … which I’m sure will go up the day after my house burns down.
Monster Mom says
Baaahahaha, your comment is too funny! And true!
Rachel {at} Mommy Needs a Vacation says
Brilliant! I saw when you tweeted this out. I have a crib sitting in my garage and NOW…I am thinking of saving it for Sadie & doing this. So clever!
S Club Mama says
hey, I would have given anything growing up to have a desk!
colleen says
great idea….too bad we burned two of the recalled cribs!
Jen says
That is really awesome and looks pretty easy. I have three cribs in my basement that I could use for this. I think that kids are going to get some new desks.
Ok, maybe just one new desk b/c let’s face it I am not that crafty.
Not Winning Mom of the Year says
Holy Moly – this is awesome!
Jocelyn says
That is a great idea! I don’t do anything myself either, much to my husband’s chagrin. If it involves much more than a hammer and nail, I’m out. And power tools? HA! Forget it. But this looks like something maybe even I could try. I’ll definitely have to keep this one in mind for when we’re done with cribs. Thanks!
jo@blog-diggidy says
that’s awesome!! looks fabulous!! it’s a great “recycling” idea!! :)
jo@blog-diggidy says
oh, hey, btw….i created a “fan page” for my blog on facebook, come by and check it out….it’s the same title as my blog!! ;) thnx!!
Lydia says
I just whacked myself on the forehead as soon as I saw your post. I took my youngest’s crib out of their room last week….to make room for a desk. Lol. Think I may have to get it back out of the garage and try this now. Great idea!
Alexandra says
You know what?
You’ve had A LOT of cool things on this site, but this: just about the coolest.
Kate says
Snap! That’s awesome! I love that idea! It looks awesome too!
Morgan Smith says
I am sooooo doing this when Breckin is out of his crib! His is a drop-side, the same I used for his older brother for 2 years without a problem whatsoever. We did get the hardware kit from the manufacturer to make it non-dropside after the recall, but I have yet to install it! (Breckin is 14 months old now) Anywho, I think this is a great idea for a playroom which is what Breckin’s room will become (also a gym!) once he moves to a bed (bunkbeds with his older bro)! It’s so cute and little-kid like!
Jenn says
Genius!!!!
Deb says
Now that is the most clever idea I have seen in a long time. Simply adorable! My cribs are all chewed up (railings)unfortunately since I birthed beavers instead of babies. I would so do this, if mine were still in good shape.
Suzanne McClendon says
What a clever idea! Thanks for sharing and congrats to your little lady for having such a cool desk. :)
Jennifer says
I think this is a great idea. Too bad I sold my crib. Of course if I had kept it I have no idea where I would have the room to do this.
Kimberly says
What a cute idea! I love how it looks!
skoots1mom says
great job…
curious: what’d ya do w/ the stuff from the closet?
Paula Kiger says
You brave, brave woman. That looks GREAT!! So impressed. But if “share a DIY” project turns into a writing prompt this week and random.org gives it to me, I think I will have to ex-communicate you or pull your blogger card or something BAD, BAD, BAD from bloggerland. :-)
Krista says
That’s awesome. I am always seeing great DIY projects but never following through. Right now I’d be happy if I was motivated enough to just throw things away. That is a very cool desk and an great use of those old cribs!
Cindee says
Nice job I so love it. I think the chalk board paint is totally awesome. I have been wanting to buy some. Can’t wait to see how that turns out neon calk fun
Adventuresindinner says
Ok, those are pretty freaking awesome:)
Mimzy Wimzy says
This is super, totally, amazingly, awesome!!! Now… if only I had seen it before I sent an old crib to the trash truck 3 weeks ago. Thats ok… I have 2 more cribs in my house I’ll want/need to part with eventually!
Ann says
What a GREAT idea! I love this! I bet the kids love it, too! For someone who says they’re not a DIYer…this is amazing!
Ashleigh says
AMAZING! I have 2 extra cribs as well and NO desk. The wheels are turning!
Loukia says
I love this! Amazing that you did it! Now, I just have a question – where did all the contents of her closet GO?
Christi says
Wow – I’m impressed! I have pinned so many things, including ideas of what to do with an old crib, but my follow through is nonexistent. Perhaps someday.
Caz says
Thanks for sharing our repurposed cot project, so glad you enjoyed it :-) Love the one you have made, would you mind if we shared it on A Little Learning? Putting it in the wardrobe to create a study nook is a fabulous idea!
Caroline says
I LOVE this desk. I definitely will be using this idea one day for my two girls to have a desk!!
Rose @ Walnut Acre says
Love it! We have two cribs stored in the garage that would be awesome for this. Operation convince my husband now commences. :-)
Kir says
that is A FANTASTIC idea…wow…and it looks great, love the lamp and the little things that make it “hers” Great job!!!! *(and thanks for the idea)
Scary Mommy says
Whoa.
Who are you, dude?
Metamor4sis says
Love this! So very well done!
Jaydon Bracamonte says
Thanks again for the post.Really thank you! Awesome.
Steph says
Here’s an idea- paint the wood with chalkboard paint! That sounds like fun. Or run a roll of brown paper across it for them to paint and rip off as they go. So many ideas…. so little time!! Awesome