A toy box provides an enclosed compartment where children can have all their toys placed safely for when ready to be used. Most kids after playing have their belongings all over the place, so a lot of time is saved looking for things when all their favorite toys can be found in one central location when it is needed. Making a toy box can be a fun project, so follow the instructions below and build your own toy box.
Tools required
- Hammer
- Tape measure
- Saw (hand or circular)
- Spray paint
- Drill
- Screwdriver
Materials required
- Plywood
- Hinges
- Screws
- Braces
- Wood glue
- Pieces of rope
Instructions
- Find out how big you want your toy box to be, this depends on how many toys you have to store or how many you might have in the future.
- Use the tape measure to calculate all the pieces according to the design and cut them out, to make the base, sides, and top of the toy box. Then use sandpaper to smooth down the sides and edges so there is nothing to cause abrasions or cuts, especially since a lot of times a child will be using the toy box.
- Use the drill to create holes in the wooden piece of the box that will be the lid for the toy box, this hole will be used for the lid handles.
- Apply several coats of polyurethane on the wood pieces inside out to make the wood bright and allow the wood to dry.
- Now it is time to assemble into pieces together. Lay out the pieces and start connecting the pieces together using braces and screws. Start with the base and screw the ends of the braces onto it, and connect the side pieces to the sides of the braces to form the basic box structure.
- Connect two hinges to the back side of the toy box, where the lid will open. Arrange it so the lid can be fully opened. Then join the wooden piece for the lid, so it flushes with the ends and sides of the box.
- Add wood glue to the corners and joints to add additional strength and support to the box. Make sure all the dust is removed from the surface of the toy box.
- Tie overhand knots in the inside of the holes in the lid for the rope handles and there you have it.
Tips and Warning
- Use softwood that is strong but light to build the toy box. Wood that is not susceptible to termites and rotting, the woods that are recommended are pine and oak.
- You can apply fabric to the toy box to give it a different feel.
- You can spray-paint the braces and hinges to add a different feel and color to the different elements of the toy box.
- Cutouts can be used as the handles for the opening lid of the toy box as well if you don’t wish to use the rope. The cutouts would be made with a saw.
- You can decorate the toy box with stencils if you wish, however, this must be done before the wood is coated with polyurethane.