Start your family band by crafting some awesome homemade instruments. Most of these are super easy to make, and kids will have a blast banging on a tin can drum, shaking DIY maracas, and making some tunes. Looking for other creative projects for kids? Check out our collection of crafts for toddlers, classic paper crafts for kids, and things kids can make with toilet paper rolls.
Why Are Homemade Instruments Important?
Making and playing homemade instruments allows kids to use not only their artistic creativity but their musical creativity as well. In addition, according to the Ethnomusicology Review, “When fully engaged in musical invention, children can develop their naturally imaginative and participatory approach to learning.”
A rain stick makes the prettiest sound, and it’s very easy to make one at home with a few simple items. We love the tutorial for this found over at Kid Made Modern.
Cardboard Guitar
Perfect for toddlers who aren't ready for the real thing, we love this cardboard guitar spotted over at Pink Stripey Socks. You can paint it in any design, too!
Kids can twist and twirl these homemade hand drums to their heart's content! Find the tutorial over at Minted.
Bongo, Shaker, Güiro All in One
Mama. Papa. Bubba
This fun little instrument is really three in one! Kids will enjoy shaking it or playing it as a drum and it's super easy to make. Get the tutorial over at Mama.Papa.Bubba.
This adorable nature-themed tambourine-like DIY instrument is the perfect addition to a May Day celebration or even just a day outside. Easy to make, you can find the tutorial from Buggy and Buddy.
If you've got a serious hankering for DIY projects, this adorable xylophone kids can play along to "Do-Re-Mi" from The Sound of Music fits the bill. From Lovely Indeed, you'll need to make a trek to the home-improvement store for all the materials, but the chic design and good sound quality mean you'll want to keep it out instead of stashing it away somewhere. Be sure to check out all the other adorable projects over at the Sound of Music Crafting Corner.
This super cute and colorful homemade instrument is as much fun to make as it is to play. Get the scoop on how to do it yourself over at And Next Comes L.
Paper Plate Tambourine
Gabby Cullen
This little DIY instrument packs a jingle and it's a great use for paper plates left over from a birthday party. If you have the plain white ones, even better, though because then your little maestro gets to decorate her own. Get the complete step-by-step here.
It's one of the world's oldest instruments, and your kids can make their colorful version in one afternoon. The secret to making it look real? Earth-toned paint colors. You can find the entire tutorial over at KiwiCo.
For an outside-the-box take on a homemade instrument, you’ve got to try this “chicken in a cup” from All for the Boys. It’s super easy to put together using household items, and kids will get a kick out of the squeaky sound it makes.
If you've got a cereal box and a couple of rubber bands lying around, you've got a guitar! Made by Joel has the super simple how-to. Older babies and toddlers can help you decorate the cereal box with stickers or washi tape, then get to strumming. No cereal box? Rubber bands stretched around a loaf pan will produce a similar effect.
Keep it simple (but still super fun) with this sweet DIY instrument idea from Red Ted Art. Kids can paint the “drums” however they want, and then they’ll have a blast discovering the different sounds they can make with kitchen utensils.
Banging on a pot with a wooden spoon is practically a rite of passage in babyhood. Why not take it a step further and construct an outdoor music wall for your kids like this one from PreK + K Sharing? Scour your house for any seldom-used odds and ends that make a fun sound (or hit up your favorite thrift store), then use a hammer and nails to secure a section of fencing.
Easter Egg Maracas
iStock
Shake to the sound of rice with these easy-peasy maracas. All you need is rice, plastic spoons, easter eggs, and tape! Best part? These shakers have been tried and tested by lifestyle blogger and mom of three, Katelyn Fagan of What’s Up Fagans, and they are certified to play at a decent volume without being too annoying.
Explore sound and science with Buggy and Buddy’s homemade kazoo. With simple materials that you’re bound to have at home, this kazoo is perfect for vocal tots who love to spend their days humming and singing. What a fun homemade instrument!
Did you know empty containers hold a secret melody? All you need are some rubber bands, a shoebox, and split pins; then your quick-fingered tot can get their twang on. For the key to perfect, magical sound, check out the tutorial over at Minieco.
With a little more time and effort, your wooden mandolin is set to last much longer than your musician’s first gig. Hello Bee has an awesome tutorial on making a mandolin that’s worthy of being part of a kid-sized Philharmonic.
Strum up a tune with bobby pins. This experiment and discovery project by Pi'ikea Street explores how different sounds can become just by changing one object.
Ring in a merry afternoon with these bell shakers. This tutorial from craft blog Hello Bee requires some drilling, but the modern look and long-lasting build are worth it. Now your littlest can join the family band with just a wriggle of the wrist!
We love these sensory bin shakers because they'll extend sensory play time. It's also easy for your kids to make on their own. Head over to Fun-a-Day to see how to make your own.
with additional reporting by Taylor Clifton, Amber Guetebier, and Gabby Cullen
Whether there will be six more weeks of winter or an early spring, these cute projects will help you pass the time.
Excitement is building in your house. Your little critter can hardly wait for the Punxsutawney prophet himself, Groundhog Phil to make his annual prediction. Will he grant your snow baby six more weeks of snowman building or is it on to spring tulips and rainy day puddle jumping? Craft while you wait with one of these simply adorable Groundhog Day crafts for kids.
Almost Unschoolers
1.Almost Unschoolers has the scoop on how to make this geometric groundhog that’s a perfect fit for preschoolers.
2. Put that sensory box to good use by having your little ones search for tiny groundhogs and match them to a printout like this fun idea from @playroomprek on Instagram.
Allison Sutcliffe
3. No matter how your aspiring artist chooses to paint or color this cute groundhog, his shadow will always be close behind. Get the template, instructions, and a cool texture painting idea at allkidsnetwork.com.
Allison Sutcliffe
4. Your kidlet can play peek-a-boo with this groundhog puppet, who loves popping in and out of his grass-lined toilet paper roll to look for his shadow. Print your own cuddly paper puppet template online to get this project rolling!
Allison Sutcliffe
5. We dare you not to love this simple cut-and-paste, googly-eyed groundhog who’s a Pinterest fave. Three hearts make up his face, teeth, and button nose, followed by ears and eyes trimmed freestyle. All you need is a glue stick at the ready to assemble this furry friend!
6. Our friends at Kids Activity Blog have the how-to on this adorable, paper-bag craft.
Housing a forest
7. We can’t quite put our finger on what makes these petite puppets so adorable, but we bet your little ones will love making them. Housing a Forest spells out the necessary steps to construct this easily animated guy.
It doesn’t get much easier than this 5-ingredient taco salad from the food blog, Sweet Phi. If you dare go above the five ingredients feel free to sub in or add your toppings suited to your kiddos’ taste buds. Either way, we promise this turkey taco salad dinner will be one of the easiest and tastiest you’ve ever made.
Ingredients for Turkey Taco Salad
1 lb ground turkey, extra lean
1 cup salsa, divided
6-8 cups romaine (or lettuce of choice)
1 cup tortilla chips
1 cup shredded cheese (I use Mexican blend cheese or pepper jack)
Notes from the Chef:
• If making this salad to eat later, cook the ground turkey and salsa, and store it in an air-tight container in the fridge until you’re ready to use it.
• This salad is good with both warm or cold ground turkey
• Alternatively you could use slow cooker salsa chicken as a topping (just put salsa and chicken in a crock pot on low for 6 hours and then shred when done).
Method for making Turkey Taco Salad:
1. Pour ½ cup salsa into a large frying pan, add the ground turkey, and cook it, breaking it up as you cook it. Cook for 15 minutes, or until the turkey is cooked through.
2. In a large bowl (or 4 small bowls) divide out the lettuce.
3. When the turkey is done cooking spoon out on top of the salad, pour the remaining salsa on top of the ground turkey, then add the cheese and tortilla chips (I like to crush some of the tortilla chips as I add them to the top the salad).
Wondering how to make hot chocolate bombs? It’s easier than you think
One of the best things about the colder months is settling in with a cup of hot cocoa. Rather than waste your tastebuds on a packet of instant mix, why not whip up a batch of something sweeter? Hot chocolate bombs can be made into all sorts of shapes, sizes, and all sorts of flavors, and fillings. Basically, it’s the sweetest afternoon activity. If you’d rather go with a traditional cup of hot chocolate, try these unique recipes!
Want to start with your basic, delicious hot chocolate bomb? Here's your recipe! It takes just three ingredients and a silicone mold to get your hot cocoa skills moving.
No need to buy an extra mold when you use this recipe that repurposes that silicone egg mold you have lying around! Grab your hot cocoa powder, marshmallows, and all the fixings you like in your hot chocolate and you have everything you need to make homemade cocoa bombs.
These magical treats are almost too pretty to eat. Using some creative icing decorations, unicorn hot cocoa bombs make the perfect treat at a little girl's party or as a gift!
Candy melts are the key to making your own LEGO man hot cocoa bombs. These sweet-tasting treats can be complimented with any number of fillings, especially tons of marshmallows!
You can stop looking for a Valentine's Dessert recipe! This adorably pink hot cocoa bomb is kid-friendly, doesn't require sealing two halves together, and uses your Instant Pot!
Snickerdoodle lovers: you're gonna want this recipe. White chocolate, cinnamon, and sugar come together that will not only have you gulping down the entire mug but maybe dipping a cookie in, too.
You won't want to let this recipe go. Frozen hot cocoa bombs are beautifully blue from candy melts that make the entire process a breeze. These are definitely Elsa-approved.
Calling all PB lovers! This decadent dessert pairs the world's best creations: peanut butter and chocolate with a simple process using just your microwave.
Need a little extra kick of cocoa? This four-ingredient recipe is easy to whip up and store in the freezer! When you're having a chocolate craving, just pop in your mug!
We’ve rounded up sweet Halloween crafts for kids guaranteed to give your little goblins thrills, not chills
Are frightening zombies, spooky spirits, and menacing mummies a little much for your little ones? We’ve got 18 Halloween crafts for kids that are way sweeter than they are scary (just like these Halloween jokes). You’ll find smiling jack-o’-lanterns and googly-eyed bats that’ll leave you and your crafty little pumpkins cackling with glee. Go ahead and make a night of it with easy Halloween treats, kid-friendly ghost stories, and Halloween games (including minute to win it games)!
This one is more of a time-consuming project, but what an exciting one! This could be a fun activity for the family or a big Halloween craft for kids, but either way, it’ll be amazing.
Get out into nature before it’s too chilly and find some leaves to make this fun Halloween craft for kids. They will have a blast searching for their leaves outside and cutting and gluing their candy corn pieces. Use petals for the white section if you have some around.
This bunny pumpkin couldn’t be scary, but it is super adorable! This project might be good for young kids, but this is also a good craft to accessorize. Add eyelashes, a hat, or anything you’d like to make your bunny unique.
These ghost jars will make an adorable glowing decoration for Halloween! Safety Tip: Use battery-operated votive candles to keep things safe. You can also use multi-colored string lights to make things more fun!
These painted leaves are super cute ways to let your kid be creative and it doesn’t require many materials! The best part? This Halloween craft for kids won’t consume too much of your time.
Your kiddo will love trying out this ghost painting! They can paint any sort of accessories like hats, bows, or anything they’d like to give their ghost some personality.
Nothing spooky here! This sweet pumpkin craft from Craft Box Girls transforms an ordinary craft gourd into a macaron with a little paint, glitter, felt, and glue. And let's be honest, it's a whole lot easier than making real macarons!
10. Batty Silhouette
Mini Monets & Mommies
Explore the idea of silhouettes with this batty Halloween craft for kids. Your kid can create a vampire bat, using plain black construction paper. Fold the paper book-style, and draw half the bat starting at the center. Keeping the paper folded, cut the bat out. Unfold the paper to reveal the whole creature. Glue the silhouette to a painted paper sunset to complete the craft. Get the tutorial at Mini Monets and Mommies.
These happy nocturnal creatures are the perfect Halloween decor for your bat cave. You might even have everything you need lying around the house, too! Fly over to the tutorial at Buggy and Buddy.
Creepy crawlies don't need to be super scary. This paper plate spider has more crafty cuteness than venomous fright. Think of it as treat, and not a trick! Get the Halloween crafts instructions from Living In Happy Place.
This sweet skeleton is perfect for kids to display all the way through Dios de los Muertos! We love that there's a free printable template you can use and that kids can decorate however they see fit. Get the tutorial here.
Put your left (and right) foot in to create this adorable party decor from Mama.Papa.Bubba. From ghosts to cats, candy corn, and more, let the kids decorate each footprint as their favorite Halloween characters.
We love how Life is a Lullaby transformed tiny mason jars into whimsical, shimmering jack-o-lanterns that double as candy holders and decor. The kids will love crafting their own toothy grins.
This googly-eyed witch from This Girl's Life Blog is wickedly cute. Part of a collection of magnets that includes a festive scarecrow and pumpkin, it's the perfect Halloween craft for the spooky season.
You’ve never been jealous of your kid’s room… until now
Whether you have a small space or just really the kids to share a bedroom, bunk beds will take their sleeping arrangements to a whole new level. From designer bunk beds to bunk beds with stairs, the only limit for these lofty projects is your imagination (and your ceiling height). And who knows? With these clever designs, sleeping in your kid’s room may not be such a bad option after all.
If you've got an older kid sharing with a younger sibling, this full/twin combo bunk bed will make a room feel like it belongs to everyone. Plus, the steps have built-in storage and one side is a storage chest, so it's perfect for a shared bedroom. Get the details at Rooms to Go.
Convertible Bunk Bed
They want twin beds—no—they want a bunk bed! Lucky for you, Delta Children has a brand-new convertible bunk bed with guard rails and a ladder that can be converted into twin beds.
Mid-Century Bunk Bed
If you love all things Mid Century, then this bunk bed from West Elm will be a perfect fit in your kids' room. We also love that the ladder is fixed, so there's no worry that someone will dislodge it. Get details at West Elm.
We love the built-in shelves that line this twin over full bunk bed idea from designer Bailey McCarthy. It's perfect for older kids and allows for sibling sharing rooms to have their own decorative space. See the bunk beds over at Bailey McCarthy.
Jewel Marlowe, interior designer and prolific DIY-er, upgraded a standard wooden bunk bed into this luxurious room-stopper in just seven easy steps. Head over to her blog Jeweled Interiors for the step-by-step instructions and see for yourself the amazing photo transformation before photo—you'll never look at a bunk bed in the same way again.
If your kid's (or your) taste tends to eschew on the less juvenile side, get inspired by Amber Interior's bunk bed situation that was made with timeless design in mind. This modern marvel, complete with stairs and built-in bookcases may be the best twin bed over a full bunk bed that we've ever seen. Don't be surprised if your kids never want to leave their room.
The problem with a lot of bunk beds is that they look, well, out of place. This triple-bunk by Foxhole Farmhouse looks as if it has always been in this space thanks to custom woodwork like moldings and shiplap. For the full instructions on how these clever DIY-ers maximized this corner in their house, check out the "Bunk Tutorial" on their Instastories.
Sleek and simple, this bunk design by Vardehaugen Architects, a firm located in Norway, nails the privacy and space issue while maximizing the hygge feel of course.
Bunk with Stairs
Instead of a ladder, which might be scary for little kids, this one has a set of stairs (keeping bunk bed ideas for toddlers in mind) that'll take your little one to dreamland. Plus, with an extra pull-out trundle and built-in cupboards, this one is perfect for sharing among family and friends. More details at Wayfair.
We love how the ladder is built into the side of this bunk bed from Crate&kids, saving additional floor space, not to mention the rolling twin bed feature that allows you to change the positioning of the lower mattress from parallel to perpendicular to the bunk. More details at Crate&kids.
Kids that don't have to share a room can enjoy the perks of bunk living too. This loft-style IKEA bed allows for the top to be used as the sleeping space, and the area below as a reading nook or even a study space, which is ideal for a small room. More details at IKEA
We love how Sarah Barnard Design tackled this kid's bedroom. While bunk beds don't traditionally don't scream privacy, the addition of individual curtains on the bunks coupled with the private desk alcoves all but guarantees that each kid will have plenty of space to themselves.
Wake up and play in this fully customizable farm fresh-inspired bunk that comes complete with flower boxes and a handy trundle space that can be used for storage or extra sleeping space. More details at Etsy.
For those kids that love tractors more than trains, this DIY bunk bed pays tribute to the iconic brand John Deere including an exact color match and those can't miss decals. If you want to make one for your own little hauler, all the details (including measurements!) can be found at the blog Rucker Rendevouz.
The Suzanne Nichols Design Group took their inspiration from one of childhood's most clever toys and designed a room that any master builder (or master builder in training) will want to cozy up in thanks to the eye-popping colors and brick-inspired steps.
The metallic frame on this bunk bed looks like it is made from plumbing parts. It lends an industrial modern edge to the room and successfully mixes and matches with the classic Hudson Bay bedding. The whole look is pulled together by interior design company Massucco Warner Miller.
If you’ve got triplets (we salute you!) or three kids sharing a room, this modern, made-to-order bunk bed set from Wayfair could be the answer to your prayers. The bottom flor bunk uses the space well, and the simple design makes for a streamlined look.
The best part about this bunk bed setup is that you can fully customize it to meet your needs. But don't worry about feeling stuck with it—not only are the parts are reversible, but they can also be dismantled and used separately, meaning you can change the configuration as the needs of your family changes. Oh, and let's not ignore the awesomeness of the slide. More details at Max Trix Kids.
Here's some fun math: Five people, two bedrooms, and 1000 square feet. Tight right? Well, maybe not. Thanks to this unique setup by Meg Freeman who ran the blog, Elsie Marley: Handmade and Imperfect, she found a fantastic solution for providing the best dreamscape for her growing brood. Here she created a makeshift bunk bed by building a loft above the existing bed adding "clouds" to double as a guardrail and as a decorative distraction from an unmade bed.
Beep! Beep! It’s nothing but sweet dreams ahead. As his daughter’s third birthday approached, and her days in the crib were numbered, this handy dad raced to finish her adorable big kid bed. Made with real VW parts, painted in a spectacular palette of psychedelic colors, and finished just in time for the big celebration, you can see this incredible bed come together at the blog Treehouser.
Just hanging around takes on a whole new meaning with this lofty bunk bed designed by Barbara Chapartegui. Like a modern hammock suspended from strong ropes, this modern twist on traditional bunk beds is an ingenious solution to creating a shared sleeping space.
Expecting a new addition to the family? Your toddler might be ready to abdicate their spot in the crib and move on up…to the top bunk! Customize your shared space with a lofted toddler bed/crib combo. This configuration features easy staircase access to the top bunk, a built-in bookcase, sturdy safety railing and shelving. The crib is even outfitted with wheels for easy mobility. More details at Casa Kids.
Inspired by treehouses, this bunk bed design is available in an assortment of vibrant colors and unique configurations. We love the slim and compact nature of the beds—providing maximum comfort in a minimal amount of space. More details at Aalto + Aalto.
The ultimate sleeping quarters for your little campers, this adorable cabin is handcrafted by a Belgian design company. The house-inspired bunk bed is great for a shared space that also doubles as a playroom. More details at Mathy by Bols.
Opting for a rock wall in lieu of a traditional ladder helped to transform these top bunks into a private space that's definitely worth the climb. More details at Decoist.
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Some of these forts for kids can be built with things you already own
When your craft kit supplies are running low and your kids are looking at their devices with longing, there’s nothing quite like building an indoor fort with your kids. We’ve gathered up some seriously wow-worthy forts to inspire your next creation. Grab your pajamas and your pillows and get building
Construct and play inside incredible indoor forts, castles, mazes, and tunnels; there are endless possibilities of what you can build with this engaging kit!
We’re totally wowed by Brandon Tran’s cardboard castle. If you’ve got extra cardboard boxes (and a fair amount of patience), you can make one for your house too.
Fort Boards
Indoor afternoons just got a whole lot more fun! Fort Boards are the perfect open-ended building toys that combine imagination and STEM skills and will keep littles busy for hours. Construct domes, vehicles and various-shaped forts with these colorful and BPA-free pieces that can build up to 20 square feet of construction but fold down for easy storage. Snag a set here.
Gather up your old newspapers to make this genius fort from Modern Parents Messy Kids. You can leave the structure as is, or throw a blanket on top to make it extra cozy.
If fort-building isn’t your forte, you can snag a kit like this one from aidenandtuck on Etsy. It’s got everything kids will need to make an awesome indoor fort (minus the sheets or blankets). You just might be surprised by the creations they come up with.
This hallway house is a truly portable wonder. It's a shapeshifter that can be set up in the hallway, or even over a staircase for older kids who want a two-story play space. Our favorite bit from mom blog ikatbag is how interactive the creation is!
Here’s another take on the reading nook from Small + Friendly, a modern homemaking blog. With a mini futon and a pretty canopy, littles will love relaxing in this cozy corner.
Budding architects are sure to appreciate this geodesic dome indoor fort built by one talented parent. All the details can be found on Instructables. With cardboard, box cutters and some paint in hand, this could be the perfect way to spend a too-hot day—your kids will definitely thank you!
You and your magic-loving tykes aren’t Hogwart’s Alum? No worries, because with a little practice, and a lot of illusion, the kids will be amazing audiences (probably you) in no time. We’ve got seven easy magic tricks, and don’t forget the “Alakazam!”
photo: Gabby Cullen
Paperclip Magic Trick
For our first trick, we chose a simple one with a major WOW factor. A dollar bill and two paperclips are all your magician will need to get “oohs” and “ahhs” from audience members of all ages. Make the magic happen by jumping over to Kids Activity Blog for the how-to.
Color Coded Cards
Card counting isn’t a necessary skill when performing the color card trick, which makes it perfect for tiny magicians’ assistants. Simply separate a deck into black and red stacks (without showing anyone), then ask an audience member to pick, look at, and reinsert a card; after cutting the stack, “magically” select the right card (it should be the only wrong card in a colored stack). If you’re curious about the fine print, Funology has the details.
photo: Shelley Massey
Awesome Illusions
Your older brainiacs may know the secret behind plastic and polymers, so this “magic” trick is a great way to have your science pros impress any younger siblings. We’ve got the scoop for any sorcerers’ assistants right here.
Disappearing Coin Magic Trick
Beginning illusionists will really need to get their hocus pocus working if they want to make a coin disappear. From sweeping the coin under the table to saying the magic words, kids trying this trick will learn that practice makes perfect, and a lot of hand waving helps. You can get the whole tutorial over at Kid Spot.
photo: Gabby Cullen
Floating Toothpick Magic Trick
This trick gives liquid soap a little mojo (we aren’t talking dirty dishes). Getting the five toothpicks to stay in the right place while floating in the water will be your little magician’s hardest challenge. This trick is all about the science of water and surface tension, so kids will be learning a little something, too! You can find out how to master this gimmick over at Kid Zone.
photo: Gabby Cullen
Magnetic Pencil Magic Trick
From levitating, and rubber-esque scribblers, to sticking a #2 through your head; there is more than one way to perform a magic pencil trick. The one we like for beginning magicians will defy the laws of magnetic forces—the pencil will seem to be stuck to the performer’s hand. Magneto would approve! Find out how to perfect this trick here.
photo: Gabby Cullen
Coin-in-Matchbox Magic Trick
Presto! The classic coin-in-matchbox not only looks super cool, but after a few practice rounds, it’s a trick even a muggle can manage. You don’t need anything but the box, a coin, and a few views of this awesome tutorial from Instructables.
Ready to amp up your summer soiree? Say hello to the charcuterie board! From dessert and holiday platters to the ever-popular birthday board, these varietal trays make mealtime fun. We’ve rounded up some of the best summer charcuterie board ideas, like a hamburger board, summer fruit platter, and of course, a s’mores board. Keep scrolling!
Kick the summer off with this simple charcuterie board. It boasts a gorgeous color palette, and easy-to-find ingredients and is the perfect way to embrace the laid-back vibes of the season.
Summer fruit is featured in all its glory in this stunning board! Grab all the peaches, nectarines, and cherries you can find to arrange with sides like honey and cheese.
There's a little bit of everything on this board. Perfect for backyard gatherings in between meals, pile this charcuterie array with meats, nuts, fruit, and spreads to keep everyone happy until it's BBQ time.
Grab a napkin because this steak charcuterie board is mouth-watering! This BBQ-based platter is easily customizable, packed with steak and your fave veggies.
A little more on the fancy side, this grilled skewer board still equals charcuterie fun. Toss some kabobs on the barbie then prep some savory sauces for the ultimate meal.
Step aside hamburger bar—there's a new charcuterie board in town. This enormous hamburger board boasts plenty of toppings and sides to make the most epic and fun dinner.
Movie night just got a whole lot better. This film-themed board brings your fave cinema treats to your fingertips, with options like popcorn, licorice and gummy bears, all you have to do is press "play."
Whether it’s for Memorial Day or the 4th of July, this fun red, white, and blue charcuterie board will give you plenty of ideas for a festive displays.
These LEGO storage ideas are genius; you might never step on a rogue minifig again
We know, the struggle that is LEGO organization is real. Even if you think you’ve managed to get them all contained, there are bound to be missing pieces that somehow find their way under your bare foot when you least expect it. In order to help you out, we rounded up genius LEGO storage ideas that range from sleek LEGO bags and bins to the ultimate DIY LEGO table. When you’re done looking, check out our other favorite ideas for toy storage.
If you’ve got wasted space in your home, consider making it LEGO HQ. We love how there’s a space to build, pull-out shelves, bins for bricks, and a place for displaying completed sets in this playroom closet.
You don't have to sacrifice style when it comes to storing LEGO. This sharp-looking five-drawer metal cabinet from the Container Store is offered in several bright colors (red, orange, green, aqua, and more). Simply add in some of the drawer dividers, and you've got a place for every last brick.
This stylish pouf is also a storage container! You kids can stash their bricks, zip, and sit! Offered in four colors, the pouf makes a great seat at a play table.
We get it, you dream of a clean look when it comes to LEGO organization. Whether you’re dealing with a small space or just want to maximize playable square footage, this DIY under-the-bed LEGO storage idea designed by The Happy Housie will make things easy. Just load them in and slide them for a quick, clean storage option.
Buy LEGO Bag Organizers
LEGO Bags
When it comes to organizing all those LEGO bricks, why not turn to the creators themselves? LEGO Bags is ready to rock your world with three super cool systems you can try out: The 4 Piece Organizer Tote ($50), which features a playmat and three zip bins to keep everything (including those “in-process” projects) in place. We also love the Cinch Buckets ($22) for travel.
If you’d rather not have them on display, but still want to use bins, pick a cupboard, measure the space, and find containers that are the right fit. And then, label, label, label.
Display the Minifigs
We love this minifig display case that’ll hold up to 16 of your master builder’s favorite characters. Baseplates are included inside each individual slot, you can mount it to the wall, place it on a shelf or flat surface, and best of all, each case is designed to look like a LEGO and is stackable, for easy storage!
Sometimes your kids will want to build with LEGO in their rooms, sometimes they'll want to build in the living room, kitchen, or wherever else strikes their fancy. An arts and crafts storage cart will also work for their bricks, especially if you find bins to organize the pieces. This one from The Container Store is great because it comes with the organizers included in the total price.
Now that all the bricks have a place, find a spot for those building manuals, too. Believe us, once one of those suckers disappears, the chances of re-building that set are slim to none. We love the simple but brilliant idea from My 4 Misters & Their Sister. Even busy parents (meaning all of us!) can manage this one.
If we're being honest, we know that even the best-laid-out LEGO organization idea is no match for a kid who isn't in a hurry to pick up and put away. Everything—eventually—winds up mixed all together, so make it easy on yourself by ordering a few Swoop Bags. These bags have a six-inch edge to help contain small pieces, are offered in small, medium, or large (this one doubles as an activity mat), and you can choose between all sorts of fun colors like royal blue, green grass, sunshine, and Seattle gray. Basically, it's a storage and carryall solution in one!
Bonus: It comes with an easy pull cord that doubles as a carrying strap.
LEGO bricks are something kids love all the way through to middle school and beyond. When Michelle from That Mommy Blog was looking for a storage solution for her son’s exploding brick collection, she came up with this ingenious adjustable height LEGO table and storage unit, which can be used forever! We love the fact that Michelle covered one side of the shelf with green baseplates, and left the other smooth for the option of building without baseplates. For step-by-step instructions, visit That Mommy Blog.
Use a Bead Organizer Box for the Tiny Stuff
Gabby Cullen
Ever notice that LEGO sets come with a bit more, well, stuff, than when you were a kid? Yeah, us too. Using a tackle or jewelry-making box (snag one at your local crafting store) with tons of tiny compartments makes it easy to have a place for each little accessory: from food to sidekicks, tools, and more. We like this bead organizer for just $9 from Michaels.
Forget fancy LEGO organizing systems. Get yourself to the local DIY store, pick up a package of plastic bins, and just like that, you’ll have an easily accessible solution to your kid’s brick collection. Get the detailed list of what you’ll need Happiness Is Homemade