- Make it wide enough. Think about how it will be used. If you’re going to be moving lawnmowers, wheelbarrows, or other bulky items, make sure you make it wide enough to get everything through!
- Is it dog proof? If you have a dog, the gate should be high enough so it can’t jump over; gaps at the bottom should also be small enough so it can’t burrow underneath. If the gate is going to have posts (rather than be solid), make sure your dog can’t squeeze between them and escape.
- What about small children? Children can be inquisitive and wander off, so you also need to make sure that the gate is secure. This is particularly important if you live on a busy road. The answer to this is to use a childproof latch on your gate. The latch can be high enough that the child cannot reach it or may have a mechanism that makes the gate latch too difficult to open for small children.
- Do you need to lock it? You could also consider having a lock on the gate, so your kids can’t get out, and no one else can wander in uninvited.