Lolly Jane

We turned our baby crib into a porch swing!

Furniture· Outdoor Decor

Sentimental hack: Turn a crib into a porch swing to keep your memories growing for years to come! Learn how to easily paint your baby crib porch swing the right way!

I’ve seen up-cycled baby cribs turned porch swings all over the place and FINALLY made my own! Luckily, my babies weren’t biters and all four of them used the same crib. It was in excellent condition when they were done with it so we kept it in storage thinking we would pass it onto our grand babies.

See how easy it is to upcycle a baby crib to porch swing tutorial. Don't throw away your kid's baby crib, upcycle it into a meaningful porch swing to create new memories! Great DIY porch swing crib idea!

As time passed and after drooling over my many pins of easy to make headboard benches and diy crib swings, I decided to cherish our sweet crib and re-purpose it into a functioning porch swing. Here’s to many more memories with my growing babes!

Tips to turn a crib into a porch swing

Nate actually surprised me by making a swing out of a crib so I don’t have a step by step for you. Sorry! However, all instructions will differ anyway as cribs have so many different styles. He shared with me a verbal how-to as best as he could:

  • He used the crib head board and foot board only, he donated the slates and springs.
  • He used a Dremel to cut the top trim on 2 sides so it would be flush with the sides of the top of the crib. 
  • He used two 1×4’s to create back supports (one in the middle, one on the bottom) then wood glued then screwed it into the back of the new joint head board.
  • He used more 1×4’s to create a planked bench with 1×3 piece of trim all the way around.
  • He fashioned arms with 2×4’s on the front of the arms and 1×3’s where your arms rest.
  • He used a boat load of wood glue and screws 😀
  • Check out tips to securely hang your porch swing here!!

Check out this baby crib turned porch swing using scrap wood and white paint! Don't let your memories of your baby fade, turn their first bed into a lifelong swing to keep making memories! #babycribporchswing #diycribswing #porchswing #diyporchswing #cribporchswing

After assembly, my work began!

How to Paint Outdoor Furniture

See how easy it is to upcycle a baby crib to porch swing tutorial. Don't throw away your kid's baby crib, upcycle it into a meaningful porch swing to create new memories! Great DIY porch swing crib idea!

Visit more furniture Makeovers:

SAND crib swing

I’m not huge on sanding but I do like the paint to grip to the wood so I quickly went over the piece with my well loved mouse sander using 120 grit.

See how easy it is to upcycle a baby crib to porch swing tutorial. Don't throw away your kid's baby crib, upcycle it into a meaningful porch swing to create new memories! Great DIY porch swing crib idea!

BLOW OFF/WIPE DOWN swing

I hate prep work even more than sanding so I prefer to blow it off before painting versus wiping it down tediously with a lint free cloth. Feel free to do both, dust in your paint is super annoying.

See how easy it is to upcycle a baby crib to porch swing tutorial. Don't throw away your kid's baby crib, upcycle it into a meaningful porch swing to create new memories! Great DIY porch swing crib idea!

PAINT to use for outdoor furniture

I used Americana Decor Outdoor Living in Picket Fence White.

A huge perk is the sealing power inside the paint, no need to seal afterward. Time saver!

See how easy it is to upcycle a baby crib to porch swing tutorial. Don't throw away your kid's baby crib, upcycle it into a meaningful porch swing to create new memories! Great DIY porch swing crib idea!

I didn’t dilute it at all but poured a jar right into my favorite paint sprayer.

See how easy it is to upcycle a baby crib to porch swing tutorial. Don't throw away your kid's baby crib, upcycle it into a meaningful porch swing to create new memories! Great DIY porch swing crib idea!

It covered my new baby crib porch swing like a champ!

See how easy it is to upcycle a baby crib to porch swing tutorial. Don't throw away your kid's baby crib, upcycle it into a meaningful porch swing to create new memories! Great DIY porch swing crib idea!

I ended up applying 2 coats total, using 2.5 jars (approximately 2 1/2 cups of paint).

Not too shabby.

See how easy it is to upcycle a baby crib to porch swing tutorial. Don't throw away your kid's baby crib, upcycle it into a meaningful porch swing to create new memories! Great DIY porch swing crib idea!

The planked seat is my favorite! It looks so good paired with crib curves.

See how easy it is to upcycle a baby crib to porch swing tutorial. Don't throw away your kid's baby crib, upcycle it into a meaningful porch swing to create new memories! Great DIY porch swing crib idea! Love this baby crib porch swing makeover!

At the last minute, I pulled off this brown piece of plastic that said PUSH, spray painted it black then screwed it on the bottom of the swing for an extra little memory of my baby days.

See how easy it is to upcycle a baby crib to porch swing tutorial. Don't throw away your kid's baby crib, upcycle it into a meaningful porch swing to create new memories! Great DIY porch swing crib idea!

See how easy it is to upcycle a baby crib to porch swing tutorial. Don't throw away your kid's baby crib, upcycle it into a meaningful porch swing to create new memories! Great DIY porch swing crib idea!

Isn’t it so sweet?

See how easy it is to upcycle a baby crib to porch swing tutorial. Don't throw away your kid's baby crib, upcycle it into a meaningful porch swing to create new memories! Great DIY porch swing crib idea! Love this baby crib porch swing makeover!

See how easy it is to upcycle a baby crib to porch swing tutorial. Don't throw away your kid's baby crib, upcycle it into a meaningful porch swing to create new memories! Great DIY porch swing crib idea!

 I love how the undertone of the wood came out in the distressing process. I never loved the natural wood color when I first bought the crib but now appreciate seeing a glimpse of it.

See how easy it is to upcycle a baby crib to porch swing tutorial. Don't throw away your kid's baby crib, upcycle it into a meaningful porch swing to create new memories! Great DIY porch swing crib idea! Love this baby crib porch swing makeover!

See how easy it is to upcycle a baby crib to porch swing tutorial. Don't throw away your kid's baby crib, upcycle it into a meaningful porch swing to create new memories! Great DIY porch swing crib idea! Love this baby crib porch swing makeover!

Here she is all dolled up.

See how easy it is to upcycle a baby crib to porch swing tutorial. Don't throw away your kid's baby crib, upcycle it into a meaningful porch swing to create new memories! Great DIY porch swing crib idea! Love this baby crib porch swing makeover!

See how easy it is to upcycle a baby crib to porch swing tutorial. Don't throw away your kid's baby crib, upcycle it into a meaningful porch swing to create new memories! Great DIY porch swing crib idea! Love this baby crib porch swing makeover!

See how easy it is to upcycle a baby crib to porch swing tutorial. Don't throw away your kid's baby crib, upcycle it into a meaningful porch swing to create new memories! Great DIY porch swing crib idea! Love this baby crib porch swing makeover!

See how easy it is to upcycle a baby crib to porch swing tutorial. Don't throw away your kid's baby crib, upcycle it into a meaningful porch swing to create new memories! Great DIY porch swing crib idea!

I love how the undertone of the wood came out in the distressing process. I never loved the natural wood color but now appreciate seeing a glimpse of it.

See all of my porch decor swaps here!

Colorful front porch ideas and tips, lots of pretty decor ideas by layering textures and patterns.

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About Lolly Jane

Meet Kelli & Kristi, twin sisters and authors of Lolly Jane. We are two busy wives + mommas who are makers of all things pretty. From signs to home decor and holiday crafts or redoing furniture in between soccer practices, we do it all all while armed with an ice cold Diet Coke. Join us in our DIY adventures! XOXO

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Comments

  8. Muddy Gurl says

    I always appreciated when the maker shows the parts (from crib) used BESIDES the crib, or makes a list of wood need. This shows the end result, and promotes the purchased products to ensure benefit to the product, but I can’t tell how many 2×4’s or what other scrap or purchased wood was used. Often if I ask the ladies what was done they just refer to the hubby doing the actual work..can you share more on the “how”? thanks so much.

    Reply

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