How to Build a Play Pen
Whether it's to keep an eye on the kids or the family pet, a playpen can serve double duty as a barrier to keep them in place as well as to protect them from the environment. Commercially made playpens available at many retailers are often made from plastic and come with a hefty price tag; for less money, do-it-yourselfers can often forgo these models and build their own playpen.
Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Utility knife
- Rubber matting
- Foam sheets
- Blanket or bed sheet (optional)
- Metal shelving
Instructions
Measure out on the floor or ground your needed dimensions for the playpen. Generally speaking, smaller kids and pets won't need a lot of room, so a basic starting point is 2 feet: shelving made of metal wire often comes in 2 foot widths that are 3 to 4 feet long, providing plenty of walled protection to keep little ones from wandering off. Cut the rubber mat to suit the size of your playpen if you're using your playpen for pets; otherwise, cut the rubber mat square to size then cut some foam in the same size if you're using the pen for children. By itself, the rubber mat will be easy to clean pet messes while the inclusion of foam will make the pen's play surface softer to absorb falls. Lay out the mat in your desired location and lay the foam over the mat if using foam (cover the foam with a bed sheet or blanket to add more softness if desired). Lay one piece of shelving horizontally against one side of the mat; place the remaining shelving on the remaining sides of the mat. Thread a plastic zip-tie through the top holes in the shelving on one corner to secure the sides together. Use two more ties underneath the first to make a more secure joint. Finish off the playpen by tying more zip-ties to the other three corners.
