How to Decorate an Old Baby Crib

Remove the mattress and any bedding from the crib. Place the bedding in the laundry if you want to reuse it. Clean all remaining parts of the crib. Use latex gloves to dip a sponge into a mixture of trisodium phosphate and water. Rub the mixture over every area of the crib. Let the crib dry in a ventilated room overnight.

Strip the varnish from the wood on the crib. Apply a varnish remover to the wood. Let the crib sit overnight. Scrape away the wood varnish with a scraper. You can also sand the varnish using 800 grade sandpaper. Wipe the wood with a damp cloth to remove any remaining particles.

Pick a design for the crib. The design should include a background color as well as any specific design elements such as the baby's name and preferred color scheme. Draw your design on a piece of paper or use a computer program such as PhotoDraw to see what the finished product will look like. An associate at a hardware store can help you get the exact paint colors you want.

Assemble the materials you need to decorate the crib. All paint brushes, stencils and paints you intend to use should be in one place. You can also use permanent markers. Place a drop cloth on the floor. Move the baby crib on top of the cloth.

Decorate the crib. Start at the bottom and work your way up. Allow the design to dry overnight. Add a layer of varnish to protect the design.