Baby Gates Moving Beyond The Doorway

We have all tossed around the phrase “size matters”. We see it used in TV ads, in news papers, and most often as a joke amongst friends.

When it comes to baby gates and pet gates today, it seems that size truly does matter.

If we were to look back just a couple of years, the old gate standard would extend up to 38 inches in width. These gates were set up most often in a doorway.

The old 38 inch standard gate still applies, as the average doorway today is still about 34 inches … doesn’t it?

The requirement in today’s market place is very different. The average gate that is purchased today, extends from 38 to 50 inches.

We know that doorway sizes have not been changing, so what is causing this change in the standard? I believe that it is mostly a phenomenon of the movement toward open concept homes.

Most homes will have several doorways throughout the house, but we rarely see actual doors anywhere other than bedrooms, bathrooms and occasionally on stairways.

Newly constructed homes or older homes that are remodelled find new ways of creating separation from one room to another, without detracting from the open concept of the home.

Room dividers today are more likely to be half walls or archways, which require a much wider gate than the old standard.

This change in home design also creates a very different approach to home decor. Adjoining rooms need to have a flow to them and yet provide distinct design features.

The opening between these adjoining rooms needs to enable the decor flow from one design to the other.

The new standard in baby gates and pet gates is not only a new width requirement, it must also enable this design flow between adjoining rooms.

The growing need for various width options, baby gate designs and colors to suit your decor, is front and center for most gate manufacturers.

When considering a baby gate or pet gate purchase, it is important not to focus only on the functionality of the gate.

Gate functionality is still very important, but if you consider that your gate will likely be a fixture in your home for several years, the other design factors grow in importance.

Start by identifying your dimension requirement, and how you want the gate to operate.

Next you need to consider whether an enhanced gate design might add to or detract from your decor, or what color might work best to enable the design flow between your rooms.

Thinking through all of these considerations will result in a much simpler buying experience, and a better chance that you will be pleased with your gate once you have installed it.

I truly believe that gate manufacturers are doing their best to address these needs, but wouldn’t it be great if they could go one step further, by providing multiple color or wood stain options.

It would be great if a manufacturer was to step forward and offer a design-a-gate service. Wouldn’t it be great if you could pick the width, height, gate operation style, design and color that would work best in your home, and they would then create your unique gate.

Although it’s just a dream today, the designer gate may be only a few years away.

Baby and Pet Gates

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