We finally got to the point where the kids toys started to overtake the playroom in the basement. We needed to find a way to organize all that stuff!
I really liked how big and sturdy the Frankenstien shelves were, but I wanted something a little easier on the eyes for the kids toys. On top of that, I couldn't seem to find that same shelf kit at Home Depot anymore. So I decided to make similar shelves, but without the metal brackets.
I used a design that I saw used at work, where 2x4 studs were simply screwed together in a clever and sturdy way. So, after picking up the straightest, smoothest studs I could find, I proceeded to sand and paint the wood.
I wasn't too concerned with the sanding, since I rolled two think coats of interior wall paint on the wood. That gave the surfaces a surprisingly smooth finish. The picture above shows what it looked like pre-assembled in my garage.
For the shelf tops, I used 2x8 foot laminate shelf boards from Menards. These had a great smooth finish, were thick and sturdy, and required no sanding or staining. For the middle and bottom shelves I cut holes where the studs would slide through.
After the whole thing was done, I had to disassemble it to get it into the basement. It was WAY too big and heavy to get down the stairs.
The picture above shows the disassembled sections in the basement. All the pieces were fasted with pre-drilled, counter sunk deck screws with square heads. This gave a nice enough finish.
I sized the shelves to be able to fit 55 quart plastic bins. As soon as I got them together, the girls started climbing all over it like a jungle gym. It's very sturdy. Then they helped me sort their toys into bins and put them away into their new home.
