Don't Toss A Crib Mattress. Use It To DIY A Charming Front Porch Swing Instead

Children can be quite the adventure, and they grow up so quickly. It can feel like they're transitioning from a crib to a bunk bed in the blink of an eye. Some parents donate or toss out their child's baby furniture, but there are clever ways to repurpose old cribs and crib mattresses. If you enjoy DIY wooden furniture projects, you can give it a second life by using it to create a charming front porch swing.

Various templates for how to build a porch swing are available online, but if you want a basic option, you'll need four 2-by-6 wood pieces and 18 2-by-4 pieces for your materials. For your tools, gather some wood glue, wood stain or paint, a drill, 2.5-inch pocket hole screws, eye bolt screws, a thick rope, hanging hardware, and a miter saw. Expect to spend a few hours or more on the project, from start to finish, if you'll be working alone.

For the first step, cut the lumber to size. This Old House provides an easy-to-follow cut list for the wood, but feel free to use another. Just be sure to measure the mattress first so you'll know what dimensions your swing seat should be. If you prefer a brief instructional video of the construction process, check out Mason Smith, aka Dad Social, on YouTube. Assemble the base pieces and front of the seat frame using wood glue and the pocket hole screws. Next, create the back of the seat frame, finish building the sides, and secure the seat frame to the base. 

After assembly is complete, stain or paint the swing. Let it dry completely before drilling the next round of holes and adding the eye bolt screws. Now it's time to install the porch swing using the hanging hardware. Remember to leave enough room for swinging; you don't want to place the swing too close to the wall. Select your desired swing height and thread the rope through the hanging hardware and eye bolts, knotting it under each end of the swing seat.

Ensure the swing is level, the knots are secure, and cut any excess rope. Last but not least, add the crib mattress. You can either use the original cover or a new waterproof or water-resistant one intended for outdoors. Finish the look by adding some throw pillows if you'd like, and get to swinging! Your DIY creation can quickly become one of the best porch swings for the perfect summer hangout spot.