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A kids' play table with a clever twist: recessed tray bins built into the apron below the tabletop, so blocks or bricks store in the table itself and the panel top drops on to hide them. It's a clean, modern piece built from just five 1x4s and a single project panel.
The legs are doubled 1x4s — cut the leg pieces from the same boards as the side aprons so the grain and color match. The trays are U-shaped assemblies of 1x4 that hang between the aprons to catch toys. Everything joins with 3/4" pocket holes and 1-1/4" pocket screws plus glue, keeping the fasteners hidden.
Size the top to sit over the trays: cut the 24" x 48" project panel down to 40" and pocket-hole it to the aprons from below, spacing screws every 6–8". Attach the legs to the underside and screw into the sides of the tabletop as well for rigidity. Round every edge — it's a table small kids lean and climb on.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 1x4, 8 ftLegs, aprons, trays. | 5 each |
| Plywood or MDF project panel, 24" x 48", 3/4"Tabletop, cut to 40". | 1 each |
| Pocket-hole screws, 1-1/4" | 40 each |
| Brad nails, 1-1/4" | 40 each |
| Wood glue | 6 oz |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Legs (from apron boards)1x4 | 4 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 22 1/2" |
| Legs1x4 | 4 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 23 1/4" |
| Tray boards1x4 | 6 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 24" |
| Side aprons1x4 | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 50 1/2" |
| Tabletop3/4" plywood/MDF | 1 | 3/4" × 24" × 40" |
Buy 6 boards at 8 ft.
1 board
5 boards
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Drill 3/4" pocket holes, two per end, on each of the four 22-1/2" 1x4 leg pieces (cut from the same boards as the side aprons so they match). Attach them to the full leg pieces with 1-1/4" pocket screws and glue to build up each doubled leg.
Drill two 3/4" pocket holes on each end of the six 24" 1x4 tray boards. Nail three boards together in a U shape with 1-1/4" nails and glue to form each tray bin, keeping them square.
Attach the trays to the side aprons with 1-1/4" pocket screws and glue, outside edges flush. The trays hang between the aprons to catch toys under the top.
Cut the 24" x 48" panel down to 40". Drill 3/4" pocket holes along the underside of the 40" long sides, spacing every 6–8", and attach the panel to the apron assembly. The top sits over the trays and lifts off to reveal storage.
Attach the legs to the underside of the table, and also screw into the sides of the tabletop for rigidity. Sand every edge round — it's a kids' table — and finish with a durable, wipeable coat.
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