Keep toys tidy and organized with DIY wooden toy boxes you can build yourself. Choose from various plans or blueprints to design a customized storage solution to fit into any corner of the house.
The best DIY Plans Store offers this attractive storage chest as both a toy box and bench with its free plan containing supply lists, color photos, and easy instructions that even beginners can follow.
Preparation
When your kids have too many toys but no storage solutions available to them, it can become an absolute mess. Wooden toy boxes may be just what's needed to solve this problem - making a stylish statement while being safe for play. These containers make great storage solutions. Featuring easy cleanup procedures and soft finishes for kid safety, wooden toy boxes offer great solutions.
Toy boxes come in various styles and sizes to complement any home. Some feature animal designs while others provide traditional storage space. You may also choose to personalize it further with custom carvings on its front for an added splash of style.
Use of a wooden toy box will help your children learn to organize and store their belongings effectively, as well as reduce fire hazards associated with plastic toys. Furthermore, wooden toys engage multiple senses simultaneously including touch, smell and sight - further benefiting your environment!
Step one of constructing a wood toy box involves selecting suitable plans. There are plenty of free toy box plans online, some even come with comprehensive instructions that allow you to design its shape as well as determine its size or dimensions.
Once your plans are in order, the real work begins! Wood glue can ensure all joints are solid and watertight while fastening pieces together using nails can also work; just beware that wood glue may not be as secure.
Wood toy boxes are the ideal material, as it is both sturdy and attractive, offering lasting performance for young children's play. Furthermore, this natural and organic feel makes for the ideal environment to welcome imagination in children of any age.
The Frame
Designing the frame of a wooden toy box presents numerous options. You could make something straightforward enough for children to use or something intricate enough to complement your child's room decor, with or without wheels or shelves. No matter which style you decide upon, it is crucial that dimensions are planned out carefully prior to beginning construction - this will ensure it fits snugly on its intended floor surface without leaving marks or scratches behind.
For an organized approach, consider investing in a toy bin with cubbies. These storage containers allow both you and your children to effortlessly organize toys instead of lifting up lids each time a new toy comes along. Shanty 2 Chic offers a free toy bin plan featuring cubby storage that includes YouTube video tutorial, material list and written tutorial - this DIY project is also more beginner-friendly as only four boards and half sheet of plywood is required!
Molding can transform your toy box's appearance, giving it a classic or modern feel that suits any child's decor. Homebeautifull provides this toy box frame with molding plan along with detailed instructions and materials list; add a decorative chalkboard label on its front to keep track of what's inside!
NutandBolt provides another popular toy box option - an open toy box with sides and a slightly raised base, perfect for small spaces as it takes up minimal floor space. Their plan features YouTube video instructions as well as detailed tutorials and material lists to get you up and running quickly!
Families struggling to keep the children's bedrooms tidy will benefit greatly from investing in a sturdy toy box with doors, featuring an easy locking mechanism and designed specifically to meet the needs of young ones. Such storage containers also make great choices for older children who are responsible with handling tools.
The Lid
The lid is an indispensable part of a toy box, storing toys for kids to play with while simultaneously serving as storage for adults storing clutter. Because this space serves multiple functions simultaneously, its safety should always be prioritized when designing its design. Many older boxes feature swinging hinges which could cause serious injury to young children when opening or closing it - adding counterbalanced lid supports can prevent accidental lid falls onto young fingers when opening and closing it.
Ana White offers several toy box plans with safety features built in, like this simple hinged lid toy box that makes opening easy for young hands and has an elevated base with feet for stability. Plus, its decorative face trim and star stencils add a unique aesthetic.
Addicted 2 DIY offers another solution in this DIY wooden crate toy box from Addicted 2 DIY, which makes an excellent toy storage solution for older kids as it can serve both as a shelf and two large crates for extra storage space. Plus, its sturdy design is easy to move from room to room!
Assemble the sides of your toy box frame first. Check that all edges are flush and each panel fits, before joining together using glue and pocket hole screws - for maximum efficiency, use a Kreg jig to help create pockets for pocket hole screws as this will save both time and ensure the screws are in their proper places.
Once your toy box sides have been assembled, it's time to tackle its lid. Here you can truly personalize its size and shape to meet the needs of any given room, adding custom cut-out handles or lettering as finishing touches to further customize its appearance.
Build the lid slats using 1x4 or 1x6 boards; for added durability use maple or walnut hardwood as this will prevent warping of the boards. Before beginning construction on your toy box make sure all pieces of wood have been thoroughly wiped down with damp cloth to eliminate dirt or dust particles; you may also use a sander to smooth their surfaces prior to attaching them to its frame.
The Finish
A toy box can help organize kiddie clutter and free up floor space. Our selection features various styles - from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle themed boxes, to simple white ones that blend in seamlessly with other furniture pieces.
Building a wooden toy box may seem straightforward, but there are important considerations that need to be made prior to beginning construction. Without enough time and experience in reading plans, finding suitable wood, sanding each piece correctly and assembling your box correctly it may be more practical to purchase one instead.
As part of your toy box's design, one of the first decisions to be made should be about what type of wood to use. Softer species like pine are more susceptible to scratching or denting when being used by young children compared to harder wood such as birch or maple which offer stronger and longer-term durability.
Finishing your toy box requires making another important choice: stain or paint? Staining can be messy and requires multiple coats of stain; therefore it is crucial that it takes place in an well ventilated environment and uses non-toxic stain. On the other hand, painting requires patience and an attention to detail, since any imperfections will be more obvious than with staining.
Once your toy box has been completed, allow it to rest and cure for at least 24 hours before handling it. This will allow the finish time to fully set while also helping avoid smudges or scratches when moving it around.
A wooden toy box can make an outstanding addition to any home, providing your child with a place to store his/her toys while instilling independence and organization. Quality toy boxes will become timeless treasures that can be passed down from generation to generation.