Charming + Safe: DIY baby gates

Not too long ago it dawned on me that we could use half doors instead of baby gates. Afterall, we already have a dutch door in our kitchen, so why not continue the obsession with half doors throughout the house instead of baby gates?

So, my dad got to work using a door we found at a garage sale for $5. He cut the door in half, installed the first half at the bottom of the stairs leading up to our attic (master bedroom), and used the other half at the top of the stairs leading down into our basement (family room, etc).

Take a look:

The result? Charming, safe, and love at first sight! When True gets a bit taller, we’ll have to secure the knobs, but I’m loving how this has turned out!

Speaking of baby True, he’s…

Hello world. I'm 15 mos and loving my new jacket!

pure joy, into everything, and has us counting our lucky stars each and every day for him. Hard to believe he’s already 15 months. Feels just like yesterday that he was born. It’s been 15 months with him, 15 months with a new (widely open + exposed heart), and 15 months of discovery each and every day (for him and for us). Bliss, bliss…

Kelly Rae pic and signature

Hi, I’m Kelly Rae Roberts! Before I picked up my first paintbrush at the age of 30, I was a medical social worker. I followed my whispers and started playing with paint, and everything changed.

I’m now a full-time artist, author, and Possibilitarian who helps women explore their creativity, nourish their souls, and build thriving creative businesses.

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9 Comments

Debbie on Sunday, February 4, 2018 at 7:44 pm

How can I get one of these doors. I don’t want it for a baby. I need it to contain cats.

Kelly Rae Roberts on Monday, February 5, 2018 at 1:33 pm
My dad actually made it for us! Not sure how well it would work for cats!
Reply

baby gates on Thursday, July 18, 2013 at 12:58 am

Very helpful! Thanks for the help and sharing!

Lynn Reedy on Saturday, May 11, 2013 at 2:51 am

Your little boy is just beautiful !! This is fabulous !! I was just complaining about our baby gates how they are a pain to open and close or "step" over all the time and are starting to look "crappy". We have a little boy who is 16 months and into EVERY thing. Some of the gates he knows how to open already. We also use baby gates to keep our dogs out of some of the rooms in our home so this is fabulous ! I am definitely doing this !!

carla on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at 3:24 am

We just bought our first baby gate for our youngest child, we're having a lot of fun putting it together…

Anonymous on Wednesday, October 10, 2012 at 1:54 pm

Did you already have the door frame or did you put one in…or skip that step. If that's the case and there's no door frame/door jam, how do you keep it closed? Thanks in advance! 🙂

Jason and Amy on Monday, August 20, 2012 at 8:50 pm

Where did you find this half door? I'd love to get one as well.

chandra ~ oh lovely day on Wednesday, July 11, 2012 at 3:09 am

this is genius! You should have your dad to a step-by-step tutorial – I'd use it! 🙂

joyjoytucker on Wednesday, July 11, 2012 at 2:28 am

Great idea! Cute baby too…

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I can hardly believe we made it here!

What a journey this has been. From the seed of a crazy idea to leave our home of 20 years (Portland, OR) for a tiny town and a simpler life to NOW. A full year of dreaming, planning, packing, storing, living in two temporary digs, selling tons of our belongings,...