How to build an easy rustic wood garden shed gate

Learn how to build an easy rustic wood garden shed gate with reclaimed fence planks, stenciled with a garden-theme with Funky Junk's Old Sign Stencils. Click for full blog post tutorial including 2 helpful videos! #gardening #gardenshed #gate #reclaimedwood #shed

Rustic wood garden shed gate

Today we are revisiting one of my garden sheds that hasn’t yet been completed… but leave it to me to go ahead and add a rustic wood garden shed gate I didn’t even realize I was going to make!

Well, I’ve always known I wanted a garden shed gate in this area of the backyard, so with the way this summer is going, there was no time like the present!

But let’s quickly revisit where this shed and fence project left off last summer… then I’ll share what I did next! It’s a cute and easy one!

Revisiting the Garden Shed / Fence Series

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Over the last two years, I’ve been working on a 2nd garden shed in my yard. I did a deep and massive backyard clean up, removed flowerbeds, planted lawn, then built a fence.

Catch up on the shed / fence series to date HERE

building a reclaimed wood garden fence-007

But I never did get to the shed. Yet. I mean, other than pressure washing it and repainting the trim (and hiding the holes with a wheelbarrow.)

In truth, the shed is really a tear down, but I’d like to try and save it because building completely from scratch is a little over my head at the moment. I mean, so is adding just a new roof! But I aim to figure it out…

How I turned a small fence panel into a charming rustic garden gate made from fence planks! Click for full tutorial including helpful videos! #gardening #gardenshed #gardengate #woodworking

So to get my feet wet, I started a simple clean up around the shed first, and caught myself staring at the fence panel in-between the fence and the shed.

My first thought was to perhaps rebuilt it differently from the road side, but then I thought… why don’t I turn it into a hidden gate that I’ve wanted here forever anyway?!

But the intended frame of eventually something bigger turned into something completely different… which I loved even MORE! And it was so easy to do.

Here’s what I ended up doing… which surprised even myself.

How to build an easy rustic wood garden shed gate

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Learn how I built a rustic garden fence using a Kreg Jig! Click for full tutorial including helpful how-to videos of the process! #kregjig #gardenshed #gate #gardening #woodworking

Supplies I used:

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Reclaimed cedar wood fence planks (how I find mine)

My overall gate size – 17 ¾” wide x 39″ tall

  • 5 ¾” x 39″ (2 for sides)
  • 4″ x 6″ (3 for middle sections)
  • 2″ x 4″ (lock blocks x 2)
  • Overall gate size – 17 ¾” wide x 39″ tall

Kreg Jig (visit THIS post to learn more about my own jig!)

Miter saw

Cordless drill and screws

Door hinges

Gate hardware

Stencil brush

Acrylic craft paint or paint of choice – I used Fusion Mineral Paint’s Coal Black

(locate a local Fusion retailer from HERE)

Various Funky Junk’s Old Sign Stencils:


Learn how to build an easy rustic wood garden shed gate with reclaimed fence planks, stenciled with a garden-theme with Funky Junk's Old Sign Stencils. Click for full blog post tutorial including 2 helpful videos! #gardening #gardenshed #gate #reclaimedwood #shed

How-to:

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1. Decide on the overall size of the gate desired, then cut two planks to desired length.

2. Decide on the overall width desired, then cut 3 middle supports to make the measurements work.

3. Using a Kreg Jig, create pocket holes on both sides of all three middle boards so they can be attached to the two long side boards.

4. Assemble with screws. (I used drywall screws)


Video – how to build the gate

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Click above to see how I put the gate together.

Click below to learn how to use a Kreg Jig.


Video – how to use a Kreg Jig

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Click to view a helpful video on how to adjust and use a Kreg Jig.

Read more on how I used the jig to build a screen door HERE

How I used two interior door hinges spray painted black to attach to an outdoor garden gate. Click for full gate tutorial.

Learn how to build an easy rustic wood garden shed gate with reclaimed fence planks, stenciled with a garden-theme with Funky Junk's Old Sign Stencils. Click for full blog post tutorial including 2 helpful videos! #gardening #gardenshed #gate #reclaimedwood #shed

Adding the gate hinges

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5. Attach door hinges.

I used two regular interior door hinges that I spray painted black for outdoor durability.

To install, I propped the gate in place, then decided where it would be best to add the hinges, then attached with screws.

How to make simple locking blocks for a rustic garden gate using reclaimed wood and a washer. Click for full garden gate tutorial.

Lock blocks

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6. Add two locks made from blocks of wood to the front and back of the gate.

These small blocks of wood measure 2″ x 4″ at ½” thick.

A washer was placed in between a block of wood and the gate, then screwed to the gate.

The washer helps make the lock spin easier. Works great!

Garden Shop is a garden-themed stencil from the collection of Funky Junk's Old Sign Stencils. Click to view how Garden Shop was used to enhance a rustic garden shed gate! Full tutorial with video is included. #gardenshed #shed #stenciling

Find all garden-themed stencils HERE

Shop Funky Junk's Old Sign StencilsShop Funky Junk's Old Sign Stencils by clicking HERE

Stenciling the gate

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6. Stencil garden-themed sayings on the gate panels to resemble garden crates.

To add a little more interest, various garden-themed stencils were used make the gate appear that it was made from cut up garden crates or signs.

Once the gate was hung, the images were stenciled as shown below.

Learn how to stencil HERE

Visit many more stencil projects HERE

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So are you even ready for some pretty dramatic befores and afters? Here we go!

The gate before: learn how I turned this little fence panel into a quaint and simple rustic garden shed gate with fence planks! Click for full tutorial including videos.

Before – back yard view

The gate before: learn how I turned this little fence panel into a quaint and simple rustic garden shed gate with fence planks! Click for full tutorial including videos.

Bam! Lookit that pretty view! First time in… probably forever.

Learn how to build an easy rustic wood garden shed gate with reclaimed fence planks, stenciled with a garden-theme with Funky Junk's Old Sign Stencils. Click for full blog post tutorial including 2 helpful videos! #gardening #gardenshed #gate #reclaimedwood #shed

The finished gate!

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After: back yard view

Parts of Garden Shop was stenciled in Fusion Mineral Paint’s Coal Black

So, this was meant to be a frame for larger pieces of wood to be attached to hide the fact that it was a gate. But after seeing it like this, I couldn’t cover it up! It was simple, cute, and did the job well!

I may create a longer gate that goes to the ground once I fix up the shed and possibly add some kind of screen to the openings to keep other’s pets or wildlife out of my yard, but for now this will do.

This garden fence where ivy climbed it left a nasty mess! Click to visit the now incredibly charming rustic garden gate made from fence planks! Easy build! Click for full tutorial including videos.

Before – road view.

Hideous, huh? No wonder I ran away! Those ivy vines are nasty.

Learn how to build an easy rustic wood garden shed gate with reclaimed fence planks, stenciled with a garden-theme with Funky Junk's Old Sign Stencils. Click for full blog post tutorial including 2 helpful videos! #gardening #gardenshed #gate #reclaimedwood #shed

After – road view

Wild Flower Seeds and Shipping Crate Stamps teamed up with ‘Bulbs’ from Garden Shop were stenciled in Fusion’s Coal Black.

Crazy difference, right?! It’s so simple too!

Hiding the pocket holes

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This was the side of the fence with the pocket holes showing. They were simply covered up with other reclaimed wood parts, doubling up the thickness in the centre parts. It turned out really cool and very intentional!

And then.. I started to pressure wash the house… and I knocked a whole buncha paint off the shed and house. Oh boy did I.

So I rolled with it and staged the gate with the paint knocked off the shed!

Nothing like just making it work, right?

This garden fence where ivy climbed it left a nasty mess! Click to visit the now incredibly charming rustic garden gate made from fence planks! Easy build! Click for full tutorial including videos.

Before – road view (I know. I KNOW!)

Learn how to build an easy rustic wood garden shed gate with reclaimed fence planks, stenciled with a garden-theme with Funky Junk's Old Sign Stencils. Click for full blog post tutorial including 2 helpful videos! #gardening #gardenshed #gate #reclaimedwood #shed

The full tour

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After – road view.

So. Much. Better! 

I love how my side ties in with the neighbour’s now too.

And now the moss on the shed roof even looks charming! Who knew?

Learn how to build an easy rustic wood garden shed gate with reclaimed fence planks, stenciled with a garden-theme with Funky Junk's Old Sign Stencils. Click for full blog post tutorial including 2 helpful videos! #gardening #gardenshed #gate #reclaimedwood #shed

Even though it’s not even done. Doesn’t it look SO much more inviting?! I can barely believe this is the same corner.

Learn how to build an easy rustic wood garden shed gate with reclaimed fence planks, stenciled with a garden-theme with Funky Junk's Old Sign Stencils. Click for full blog post tutorial including 2 helpful videos! #gardening #gardenshed #gate #reclaimedwood #shed

The gate is narrow, measuring 17 ¾” wide, but if I don’t carry too much stuff along with me, it works great! Just enough to scoot through.

Sure beats walking all around the entire house just for a garden tool or two!

Learn how to build an easy rustic wood garden shed gate with reclaimed fence planks, stenciled with a garden-theme with Funky Junk's Old Sign Stencils. Click for full blog post tutorial including 2 helpful videos! #gardening #gardenshed #gate #reclaimedwood #shed

Learn how to create rustic signs to use as coat hooks! Click to full tutorial.

Stencil: Welcome to My Garden HERE

Welcome to my Garden sign

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To dress the shed up a little, I added an curbside found old window dry-brushed in black, and topped it with a rustic Welcome to my Garden sign I made previously. 

I stole it from my front entrance wall in THIS POST.

 

A fern inside a rusty galvanized bucket becomes an easy window box replacement when hung from an old vintage window! Add a wooden tag number for extra charm! Click for full tutorial. #planters #ferns #buckets #gardening #windowbox

The fern bucket planter

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To mimic the look of a flower box (but something MUCH more instant), a fern-loaded rusty bucket was hung from a screw, and a little wooden #5 tag was created and stenciled for a little extra bling.

Learn how to create a sweet numbered wooden tag for planters or projects, using reclaimed wood and Vintage Crock Numbers stencil from Funky Junk's Old Sign Stencils. Used to decorate a planter bucket! Click for the full tour and tutorial. #planters #tags #reclaimedwood #stencils

Stencil: Vintage Crock Numbers HERE

Rustic number tag

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It was a great way to tie in a little more wood and is actually a great hack if you don’t wish to stencil an authentic antique!

Tag angles were cut at 45 degrees.

Learn how to build an easy rustic wood garden shed gate with reclaimed fence planks, stenciled with a garden-theme with Funky Junk's Old Sign Stencils. Click for full blog post tutorial including 2 helpful videos! #gardening #gardenshed #gate #reclaimedwood #shed

So there you have it. The coolest, easiest rustic wood garden shed gate you could possibly make that really made this little area of the shed look inviting and cute!

Even with all those ivy marks…

This area still has a ways to go, but as I hack away, I’ll keep sharing the progress!

Catch up on all of the shed / fence series to date HERE

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Other related projects you may enjoy:

Learn how to build a reclaimed wood Farm Supply antiques garden fence.

Reclaimed wood Farm Supply garden fence

Learn how to build this charming scrap wood garden-themed garden walkway! Decorated with Funky Junk's Old Sign Stencils. Click for full tutorial.

Garden-themed scrap wood walkway

Learn how to build a charming wooden rustic screen door from scratch using a Kreg Jig! Features pet screen. Click for full tutorial plus helpful how-to video. #screendoor #buildling #woodworking #doors

How to make a screen door from scratch

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14 thoughts on “How to build an easy rustic wood garden shed gate

    • Haha! Thanks Wendy! For years I’ve cursed that roof… but it does look better now as if it’s more intentional… plus it came in handy for my ‘ol knees as I pressure washed the side of the house so there’s that! LOL

      I have plans to replace the roof at some point!

  1. So cute! Now I need to figure out where I can put one 🙂
    I just love how you share your human aspect ~ I can SO relate!
    Thanks again for the fun!!

  2. You’re going to love having that secret gate. We built one a few years ago and it’s so handy to cut through to water plants in the front yard but ours doesn’t have near the character that yours does. Such a difference and I love how you decorated your shed too.

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