How to Build a Storage Table for Legos

Set two of the 16-inch lengths of 2-by-6-inch hardwood upright on their 2-inch sides in front of you.

Stand one of the four 20-inch lengths of 4-by-4-inch hardwood, the table legs, upright on its square edge at each end of the two pieces of 2-by-6-inch hardwood. The ends of the 2-by-6-inch hardwood boards should be flush against the vertical sides of the 4-by-4-inch hardwood. About two inches of each table leg should extend beyond the width of each piece of 2-by-6-inch hardwood.

Attach the 2-by-6-inch hardwood boards to the table legs by driving 3-inch wood screws at an angle through the 2-by-6-inch boards into the table leg at both ends. Use two screws on each end of the hardwood boards.

Position the two 2-by-6-inch hardwood boards parallel to each other with the extra two inches of the four table legs extending toward the space between the boards. Sandwich the remaining two 16-inch lengths of hardwood perpendicularly between the 2-by-6-inch hardwood boards.

Align the outer edge of the perpendicular pieces of hardwood with the outside edge of the table legs. When finished, you should have a square frame with a table leg standing upright in each corner.

Attach the two pieces of hardwood you just installed by driving 3-inch wood screws through the boards at an angle into the table legs.

Lay the 20-by-20-inch sheet of 1/2-inch plywood on a flat surface in front of you. Use a ruler to draw a 2-inch square in each of the four corners on the surface of the plywood in pencil.

Cut out the four squares you just drew, using a circular saw. This will result in a 2-inch square notch cut in each of the four the corners of the plywood. Gently sand the cut edges with fine-grain sandpaper.

Stand the storage table frame upright so the bottoms of the table legs are flat on the ground and the 2-by-6-inch hardwood frame is held off the ground. Slide the notched sheet of plywood you just prepared into the hardwood frame. The inside corners of each table leg should fit precisely into the notches you cut in the corners of the plywood.

Have someone hold the plywood panel in place, aligning the outside edges with the bottom edges of the hardwood frame. The long sides of the plywood panel should be flush with the 2-by-6-inch hardwood boards.

Secure the plywood in place by driving 2 1/2-inch wood screws through the outside of the hardwood frame into the thickness of the plywood every four inches. Drive additional screws at an angle through the bottom of the plywood panel into the table legs.

Lay the 24-by-24-inch sheet of 1/2-inch plywood flat on top of the completed table frame. Align the outside edges of the plywood with the edges of the hardwood frame. This sheet of plywood will serve as the lid and tabletop for your storage table.

Attach the tabletop using two metal hinges. Install the hinges about two inches from each corner along one side of the sheet of plywood. Screw the other side of each hinge into the side of the table frame. Test the hinges by raising and lowering the plywood lid.

Paint or stain your storage table to match the decor scheme in your room, or allow your child to decorate the table using stencils and craft paint. Once the paint or stain dries, cover the table with a protective coat of clear varnish or polyurethane.