DIY Kids Table Ikea Hack

An easy DIY Kids Play Table that’s customizable for any age and size and for storing all your little one’s little things.

photo of Gwen reading and crafting in our new playroom by top Houston lifestyle blogger Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth

photo of Gwen painting at her new DIY kids play table by top Houston lifestyle blogger Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth

I absolutely loved giving you all a sneak peek of this DIY Kids Play Table from our kids playroom makeover

This children’s table really is much simpler to make than it seems, and you can use it for storing all sorts of things.

LEGOS, art supplies, magnets, stickers. The options are really endless when you have so much storage space!

Plus, I love that you can easily customize this table to any color scheme, room size, or height that you’d like depending on your child’s age and interests. 

photo of our DIY Kids Table using Ikea storage bins by top Houston lifestyle blogger Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth

Determining Your The Height Of Your DIY Table

Traditionally, a standard kids table height is around 20 inches.

But I wanted to make sure our table would fit with our Ellie & Becks Co. rattan chairs.

The overall height of this table is about 24 inches once you assemble the tabletop. 

photo of our new kids playroom with decor ideas by top Houston lifestyle blogger Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth

photo of all the extra additional storage you can add to your kid's activity table by top Houston lifestyle blogger Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth

Ikea Kids Table | Materials And Tools Needed To Make A DIY Kids Play Table

While this kids table might look intimidating, it’s actually as simple as assembling a few different pieces of pre-cut wood! 

Here are the materials that you’ll need —

2 Ikea Moppe mini storage chests — Or any storage bins of your choice. We also left ours unfinished for a cohesive look with the desk and chairs.

6 pieces of 1″x6″ wood that are cut to 22 inches in length each  — We used thick solid wood boards to make sure that they create a sturdy working surface and table top. 

High gloss white paint — Or paint color of your choice

Bin shellac finish — Optional. However, this creates a food-safe non-toxic finish for kids.

16 flat head screws that are 3/4 inch in length 

4 metal L brackets — The brackets usually come with screws. Otherwise you’ll need 8 more 3/4 inch screws.

1 wooden tabletop — Ours is 36 inches in diameter.

Fine sandpaper

Drill

Paint roller 

Don’t be intimated by the idea of cutting wood to size!

If you don’t own the proper power tools, your local home improvement store like Home Depot will cut these to length for you. 

photo of a DIY Kids Activity Table by top Houston lifestyle blogger Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth

Easy DIY Kids Activity Table | How To Make a DIY Kids Play Table

The first thing you’ll need to do is make sure that the ends of your boards and the edge of the table are smooth.

Using fine sandpaper, run your hand over the edges of the wood.

Once smooth, paint the 1″x6″ boards on the front and back, as well as all sides of the tabletop.

Let them dry completely.

And then, spray a thin coat of BIN Shellac finish on the top and sides of the table. 

photo of how to make a DIY Kids Table by top Houston lifestyle blogger Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth

Next, you will be assembling the sides of the tables. 

To attach the sides, lay 3 of your 1″x6″ boards side by side on a flat surface. And then, place the Ikea Moppe storage back to back on top of them. Make sure the storage bins are flush together and resting in the center at the very bottom of the boards. 

Remove the storage bins from the Moppe and use the 3/4 inch screws to attach the Moppe to the 1″x6″ boards on the side in all four corners of the inside of the Moppe. 

Be sure to make the screws VERY flush or slightly inset in the wood. Otherwise, the storage drawers for the Moppe won’t close. 

photo of how you can add extra hidden storage to a DIY Kids Table by top Houston lifestyle blogger Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth

Once you have the 1″x6″ boards attached to both sides of the Moppe, use the L brackets to attach the top of the table. 

Place the top side of your round tabletop on the floor, with the bottom facing up. 

Next, flip the base of your storage table (as seen below) on top of the upside table, making sure that it’s centered. 

photo of how to assemble your DIY Kids Table by top Houston lifestyle blogger Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth

Attach the L brackets (with the screws that came with them on all four corners) underneath the tabletop. 

Flip the table upright.

Insert the storage bins for the Moppe back inside. 

photo of the final step on how to make your own DIY Kids Table for your kid's playroom by top Houston lifestyle blogger Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth

Now you’re all set for storing your kids learning table and/or craft table supplies, dollhouse miniatures, stickers, you name it!

We know the Latt Table is everyone’s go-to children s desk, but this DIY table just gives you so much more storage and play space!

 

 

photo of Gwen enjoying her new kids art table by top Houston lifestyle blogger Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth 

photo of our Ikea hack kid's table by top Houston lifestyle blogger Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth

More Kids Decor And Play Ideas

At the moment, the table and chair set serves as Gwen’s kids art table and art center (and occasionally, her dolls’ dining table.)

Love our DIY art desk? Check out a few our our favorite kids decor and play ideas from our archives below —

photo of a step by step guide on how to make an easy DIY Kids Table by top Houston lifestyle blogger Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth

DIY Kids Play Table

photo of an Ikea Hack DIY play table

DIY Kids Table

Print
5 from 10 votes
An easy DIY Kids Play Table that’s customizable for any age and size and for storing all your little one’s little things.
Total Time1 hour 30 minutes
Course DIY
Category Babies & Kids

Equipment

  • Drill
  • Paint roller

Materials

Notes

  • A standard kids table height is about 20-inches. However, our table is 24-inches tall accommodate our chairs.
  • If you don’t own the proper power tools, your local home improvement store can cut your wood at any length.

Instructions

To prep your wood:

  • Using fine sandpaper, run your hand over the edges of the wood to smooth the ends of your boards and the edge of the table.
  • Once smooth, paint the front and back of the 1"x6" boards and the tabletop sides. Allow them to dry completely.
  • Spray a thin coat of the shellac finish on the top and sides of the table. 

To assemble the sides the table:

  • Lay 3 of your 1"x6" wood boards side by side on a flat surface for each side of the table.
  • Place the Ikea Moppe storage chests back to back on top of them. Make sure the storage chests are flush together and resting in the center at the very bottom of the boards. 
  • Remove the storage bins from the Moppe and use the 3/4" screws to attach the Moppe to the 1″x6″ boards on the side in all four corners of the inside of the Moppe. Be sure to make the screws VERY flush or slightly inset in the wood. Otherwise, the storage drawers for the Moppe won’t close. 

To assemble the tabletop:

  • Place the top side of your round tabletop on the floor, with the bottom facing up. 
  • Flip the base of your storage table on top of the upside table, making sure that it’s centered. 
  • Attach the L brackets (with the screws that came with them on all four corners) underneath the tabletop. 
  • Flip the table upright and insert the storage bins for the Moppe back inside. 
Cost: $164
KEYWORD: childrens table, diy table, ikea hack, ikea kids table, kids activity table, kids art tabe

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4 thoughts on “DIY Kids Table Ikea Hack”

  1. This is such a wonderful guide and idea! I will definitely buy the things that I need for this activity table and surprise my kids. They will absolutely love this!5 stars

    Reply

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