How to Design a Toy Box

How to Design a Toy Box

• 1

  Select the materials that will be used to make the box. Some thought should go into whether the box will be left with a natural wood finish or painted. Soft woods such as pine and fir lend themselves well to painting, but you still need to use clear wood stock (boards with no knots.) Hardwoods look good with a natural finish, but the price of purchasing hardwood stock can rise quickly.

  Also the size of the box mandates that some attention be paid to the strength and durability of the wood you decide to use. Also keep in mind that some structural problems can be solved by simply using a larger stock size of wood. On the other hand, one does not want the box to weigh so much that the child has trouble moving it around. (An exception to this idea may be the deliberate construction of a large, weighty toy box that is shaped like a treasure box and is meant to be stationary.)

• 2

  Decide if the box will be opened from the top (like a treasure chest) or from the front like a cabinet. Toy boxes that open from the front can have one or two doors, and toy boxes that open from the top can have a flat lid or one that is curved like a treasure chest.

• 3

  Determine the structure of the body. The main point of emphasis here is that you should decide whether your box has corner pieces, where the side pieces are attached, or a joint (rabbet joints work well) that simply joins the sides together.

• 4

  Select hardware for the lid or door(s). You should keep the hardware simple, mainly as a safety issue. Metal corners and design pieces may look swell on the side of a treasure chest, but they could be a safety hazard to young children. Metal hinges come in a variety of styles, some of which are mostly recessed from sight and touch. These might be a good way to go if you want doors that open like a cupboard. And then, don't forget that you can build a lid that uses a simple handle on top. If made properly, the lid should just fit into place. Putting four casters on the bottom of the toy chest might be an option so that the box can be moved around the room.

• 5

  Decide on a finish or a painted image for the exterior of the toy box. Acrylic paint is a better choice than oil paint. Keep in mind that some wood finishes may be toxic for small mouths. In general, shellac or varnish might be avoided, but a plastic finish such as polyurethane might be acceptable. Check the labels. You might even consider a natural wax, such as rubbing sliced almonds on the bare wood. This is a time-consuming task, but the finish looks nice and would be appropriate for a toy box. Painting an image on the side of a toy box is a wonderful way to finish off a toy box, but is it in the reach of your artistic talents? You might want to make preliminary sketches on a piece of paper first to see how your drawing looks. You may be surprised how much a drawing concept improves after a few preliminary sketches.