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A simple toy box with no lid, which is a feature, not an omission: an open top means no heavy lid to slam on small fingers, and kids can see and reach their toys. It's a plywood box dressed with base moulding around the bottom and cove moulding at the top for a furniture look, on a small 2x2 base that lifts it off the floor.
Everything comes from one 4x4 sheet of plywood ripped into 15-3/4" strips, plus a little 2x2 and 1x2 and some moulding. Build the box — bottom to ends, then sides to both — with 1-1/4" brads and glue, then nail the 2x2 base supports from inside.
The top rim is optional but worth it: building a simple frame top from pocket-holed 1x2 (or just capping with the mouldings) finishes the raw plywood edges. Miter the base and cove moulding to fit around the bottom and top, and if you like, jigsaw a shaped foot detail into the base. Round every edge and use a durable, wipeable finish — this is furniture that lives on the floor of a kid's room.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Plywood, 3/4", 4x4 sheetRipped into 15-3/4" strips. | 1 each |
| 2x2, 3 ftBase supports. | 3 foot |
| 1x2, 9 ftTop frame. | 9 foot |
| Base moulding, 3-1/4", 9 ft | 9 foot |
| Cove moulding, 1/2", 9 ftOptional. | 9 foot |
| Brad nails, 1" and 1-1/4" | 100 each |
| Pocket-hole screws, 1-1/4" | 16 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sides3/4" plywoodBottom and two sides. | 3 | 3/4" × 15 3/4" × 32" |
| Ends3/4" plywood | 2 | 3/4" × 15 3/4" × 15" |
| Base supports2x2 | 2 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 17 1/4" |
| Top frame (long)1x2 | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 33" |
| Top frame (short)1x2 | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 15 1/4" |
| Base and cove mouldingMouldingCut to fit around top and bottom. | 1 | 1/2" × 3 1/4" × 108" |
Some parts are longer than a 8 ft board, so there is no honest board count to show here. Open the board plan to pick a longer stock length — it names every part that does not fit.
1 board
2 boards
2 boards
0 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 →
Attach the bottom to the two end pieces with 1-1/4" brad nails and wood glue.
Attach the two sides to the bottom and ends with 1-1/4" brad nails and glue, closing the box. Keep it square.
Nail the 2x2 base supports from inside the toy box with 1-1/4" brad nails and glue. They lift the box off the floor and give the base moulding something to attach to.
Build the top rim first with 3/4" pocket holes and 1-1/4" pocket screws, then attach it to the top of the toy box with 1-1/4" brad nails and glue. This caps the raw plywood top edges.
Miter the base and cove moulding to fit around the top and bottom and attach with 1" brads and glue. Optionally jigsaw a shaped foot detail into the base. Round every edge, sand, and apply a durable, wipeable finish.
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