Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Inventory your child's toys, sorting by type and appropriate age. This will help you decide how large the toy organizer should be.
Measure the youngest child's toys while they are lined against a wall to decide how much side to side space will be needed to store every toy. Set aside small items that should be stored together in bins. Measure the height of the tallest items. Repeat for the next oldest child, and continue for each child until you know how much space you will need to store all their toys.
Plan for at least two shelves per child. Divide the side to side measurement needed to store each child's toys by the number of shelves each child will have to help you decide how wide the toy organizer should be. For example, if a child's toys take up 8 feet from side to side, your two shelves each will have to be at least 4 feet wide.
Have each child stand with one arm stretched out at the shoulder, touching the wall where the toy organizer will be. This is the height of the tallest shelf each child can use without climbing on something. Mark these points on the wall with bright spray paint or highlighter pens, using a different color for each child. Mark one additional point at your own shoulder height. You can use this shelf to store toys the children don't put away.
Mark the point on the floor that represents each child's full reach from shoulder to fingertip. This is the maximum depth for that child's shelves. Toys that are too long to fit will have to be stored on the floor beneath the first shelf.
Cut two side pieces from 3/4-inch plywood, using a table saw. Make the length equal your shoulder height, and the width equal your arm length from shoulder to fingertip.
Cut shelves with a table saw or jigsaw from 1/4-inch plywood or Masonite, using each child's reach from shoulder to fingertip for the front-to-back depth of each shelf, and the total width needed for toy storage divided by the number of shelves each child will have.
Cut 1/2-inch by 1/2-inch stock lumber with a jig or band saw to the same length as the shelf depth. These will be shelf supports.
Sand all wood pieces using coarse through extra-fine papers.
Place the top shelf across the two side pieces until all corners are flush. Drill 1/8-inch diameter pilot holes every 2 inches, beginning 3/8 inch from each end of the shelf, and 1/2-inch from what will be the back of the toy organizer, and ending 1/2-inch from the front edges. Insert 3/4-inch long, 1/4-inch diameter wood screws into each hole and secure the top shelf to the sides of the organizer.
Lay the toy organizer on the floor on its back, with the top shelf away from you. Use a carpenter's pencil and ruler or yardstick to mark the positions for each shelf on the inner sides of the toy organizer. Make a second line to indicate the thickness of each shelf.
Apply clear instant adhesive to one side of each shelf support. Carefully position each support below the lines for each shelf on the sides of the organizer. Allow the adhesive to dry for an hour.
Drill 1/8-inch pilot holes in each shelf support, beginning 1/2-inch from the back of the toy organizer, every 2 to 3 inches, and ending 1/2-inch from the front. Insert 1-inch long, 1/4-inch diameter wood screws in each hole and secure the shelf supports to the sides of the toy organizer.
Slide the shelves into place on the supports. Drill pilot holes as before, through the shelves and down into the supports, beginning 1-inch from the back, every 4 inches. Secure the shelves to the supports using 3/8-inch long, 1/4-inch diameter wood screws.
Finish-sand the entire toy organizer. Seal with three or more coats of clear acrylic wood treatment, allowing it to dry completely between each coat.
Secure the toy organizer to the wall using L-shaped wall mounts and wall anchors every 1 to 3 feet. This will prevent toppling or crushing accidents.