How to Build a Toy Box With Book Shelves & Dry Erase Board

Making the Sides

• 1

  Lay out the long side pieces side by side. Use the drill and three wood screws to attach a 24-inch-long 2 by 2 along the bottom of each plywood sheet. Measure 24 inches up from the bottom and use the drill to attach a 2 by 2 board as a support for the toy box front and back. Do this on both side pieces.

• 2

  Attach another 2 by 2 board along the top of the side pieces the same way using three wood screws.
  Use the measuring tape to find a spot 12 inches down from the top of the plywood side piece and mark it with a pencil and then measure down 12 more inches and mark with a pencil. Repeat this on the other plywood side piece.

• 3

  Use the carpenter’s level and a pencil to mark a straight line at each of the spots you marked in step 2. Use the drill and wood screws to attach 24-inch-long 2 by 2 boards along these lines. These are your shelf supports.

• 4

  Turn one of the plywood side pieces up against a wall with the 2 by 2 boards facing inward. The wall will support it while you work. Place one of the 24 by 36 boards on top of the 2 by 2 board along the bottom and attach it to the 2 by 2 using the drill and three wood screws.

• 5

  Attach the other side piece in the same way using the drill and three wood screws.

• 6

  Lay the work down gently and use the drill and wood screws to attach a 24 by 36 board to the top by putting the crews through the top piece into the 2 by 2 side boards.

The Box and Shelves

• 7

  Stand the shelf unit up. Place a 24 by 36 inch plywood piece across the front at the bottom of the unit. Use the drill and wood screws to attach it to the front of the unit. First drill the screws through the plywood front piece into the 2 by 2 support boards at the bottom.

• 8

  Now put a screw through the plywood into those 2 by 2 support boards you put 24 inches up from the bottom. Do this on both sides. Now the front of the toy box is installed. Take another 24 by 36 inch plywood piece and repeat these steps to install the back of the toy box.

• 9

  Take medium grit sandpaper and smooth the top edge of the toy box to remove any splinters.

• 10

  Slide the shelves onto the support boards you attached in step 3. If the fit is too tight, sand down the edges a bit until the shelves slide in easily.

• 11

  Remove the shelves and paint the unit and the shelves. Allow the unit to dry, and then hang the dry erase board on the front of the toy box.