If you want an easy and quick DIY project, you should learn how to build a toy storage for your kids! Toy storages are an excellent first woodworking project if you have little to no experience woodworking, and your kids won’t have a reason to leave their toys lying around anymore – talk about hitting two birds with one stone! In this article, you’ll learn how to build a toy storage from scratch.
Benefits of Having a Toy Storage
The most obvious benefit that you can enjoy when you know how to build a toy storage is that your child will have ready storage to put their toys away. However, here are five benefits that you might not have thought of when it comes to making your toy storage from scratch:
Tons of Free Plans Online
While you can buy a toy storage for any furniture store, why would you? There are many free plans online that will teach you how to build a toy storage step by step! Whether you want a simple box with a hinged lid or want something more fun like a car-themed toy storage box, you’ll be able to find free plans online.
Can Be Made with Regular Tools
One of the best things about making your toy storage box at home is that you can make it with tools you probably already own! You won’t need any fancy tools to make a toy storage box. Instead, you will need common tools such as screwdrivers, a hammer, tape measure, and a saw. Of course, using a table saw and other power tools will make the job easier and faster.
Increase Your Woodworking Skills
Once you learn how to build a toy storage box, you will acquire the skills and knowledge to build other woodworking projects! Why not kick it up a notch and build a playhouse or small picnic table for your kids? If you’re looking for more “adult” projects, you can also build a wine rack or a coffee table.
Great Bonding Activity
If you’re looking for a bonding activity that you can do with your kids, getting together to build a toy storage box for their room is an excellent choice. After you do all the heavy lifting and working with the tools, your kids can come in and add some finishing touches to their storage box. Allowing your kids to have a hand in making the toy box means that they will appreciate it even more.
Can Become a Cherished Family Heirloom
A toy storage doesn’t have to be a piece of furniture only. Over time, it can become a valued family heirloom that will be passed down in your family. Don’t you love your child eventually passing down the toy storage box to their kids?
Type of Toy Storage
Here are some ideas that you can use when choosing what kind of toy storage box to build:
Classic Toy Box with Lid
Nothing beats the classics! The toy box is a staple of most toy rooms, and this type of storage box is a simple box with a hinged lid. You can adjust the height and dimensions of this box to accommodate how many toys your children have, or to fit the size of your toy room.
Toy Storage Box with Rolling Bins
If you have older kids, this type of storage box is ideal. This storage box has a shelf with three divided bins sits on top, and two pull-out crates at the bottom. Your kids will learn how to segregate their toys.
Little Car Toy Box
Have you considered giving your kids a toy box that also doubles as a toy itself! Look for plans that allow you to transform a cheap toy box into a small car that can seat two small children.
Toy Box with Bookshelves
If your kids have books and toys, you can make a 2-in-1 shelf that can accommodate both their toys and their books. A simple design would include 1-2 bookshelves attached to two toy bins at the bottom.
Lidless Toy Box
The simplest type of toy box! If you want a project that you can make in an hour or less, this is the one for you.
Building a Toy Storage in Four Steps
While there are many great plans out there on how to build a toy storage box, here is a simple seven-step plan to help you build a lidless toy box.
What You Need:
- 1 pc. 4’ x 4’ sheet of ½” thick hardwood plywood
- 1 pc. ¾” thick project panel 36” x 16”
- 2 pcs. 1” x 3” plank (8 feet long)
- 1 pc. 1” x 2’” plank (8 feet long)
- 1 pc. 2” x 2” plant (8 feet long)
- 1” and 1 ¼ “ pocket hole screws
Steps:
- Create your base and sides by measuring the sheets and cutting them using a table saw, or hand saw. It is easier to get all the cutting out of the way in the beginning so that you can work continuously on putting together the pieces of the toy box afterward.
- Secure the short sides of the toy box to the base using a pocket hole jig, or if you don’t have one, you can use screws or nails.
- After securing the short sides, you can attach the long sides of the box.
- Cut the trim pieces and fit them to the inside and outside of the top of the box to give it a strong and wide edge.
- Sand over all the edges of the box to prevent your kids from getting injured from the sharp edges.
- After sanding down the sides and exterior of the box, add a base coat of white primer.
- Add a final coat of white semigloss latex to give the box a clean and modern look.
Conclusion
There you have it, a simple step-by-step guide on how to build a toy storage from scratch! This guide is best for beginners who don’t have any experience with woodworking, but if you have the experience and tools, you can try your hand at making more complex toy box designs. Your child will surely love having a handmade piece to keep their toys in, and you won’t be tripping on toys each time you enter your kid’s room. Everyone wins! Know more about baby toys.