How is everyone’s summer going? For us it is flying by, I cannot believe we are in the middle of July already! If you are like me, and have kids the summer means your home is extra messy. As if we needed help making out home messier, am I right? The outdoor area is one I struggle with every year. Between my disorganization of our garage, my constant DIY projects, and my kids summer toys. Our home can be really messy outside. My neighborhoods HOA must love us! However, I came up with a solution to one of those problems. How to hide kids outdoor toys, a DIY storage solution! My kids have decided to call this “the Kids garage” and I think it is really fitting.
This is what we were working with for outdoor toy storage. We used a small storage container as a drive-in for bikes and other riding toys. I stuck it in this awkward corner on our patio area and tried to ignore it. It was not functional or very pretty.
When I redid our backyard patio area and turned it into a true oasis, I knew this corner needed to be handled as well. I needed this to function for my family, regardless of how it looked this situation was not working.
I got together enough 2×4’s to cover the complete littler alcove of our house. It came to about 4 ft wide. I nailed them together with two 2×4’s in the bottom.
To make the “legs” of this kids garage I nailed two 2×4’s together. This bulked them up, helping it look a little nicer as well as feeling more sturdy. My kids will be using this, running toys into it and possibly hanging off of this thing. Not because my kids are insane and out of control, they are simply kids and this is what they do. So I took some extra precautions to make sure this is as strong as possible.
I used L brackets to attach the legs to the top of the structure.
It worked well, but was still a little wobbly. I also want this to feel like another piece of furniture on the patio. So I wanted to polish up the overall look to this. I redid my patio table so I wanted the other pieces that I made to match the new furniture.
I cut a triangle shape and screwed it into the top and side of the legs.
To work in making this look more polished and “done” I added a border piece just to the front. This gives it more of the appearance I was hoping for.
I painted this with a very thick outdoor paint. It is heavy duty and this should stay perfectly painted green for a while.
I cleared out the whole area.
Then Dale and I carried this on out shoulders from the garage to the back of the house. We had three kids and two dogs trailing us. This is pretty much standard weekend activity around here. The height of this I wanted tall so that it could easily hold my kid’s bikes. So the height for this is about 4 1/2 feet tall.
I noticed I had a few touch ups of paint to do. But I could still attach the string to hold the curtain on.
I got this curtain from World Market, it is a shower curtain so should be able to take any rain that comes its way. I wove the string through the already existing holes. I just had to cut the curtain down to size. I want to eventually make some outdoor pillows with the rest of the fabric. You know I did not throw this out, I am wayyyyy too much of a hoarder for that!
I used the same large bin for toys and stuck it into the new kids garage.
It hides all of the toys! And, AND….. I can use this for entertaining! We had a big party this weekend with a lot of family over. I always set up some drinks and snacks here. It is generally out of the sun and is up high enough for tiny hands to not eat too much of the snacks. I just thought that some tall stools would be perfect for entertaining in this spot too. I am bummed I did not think of that before our big summer party.
Our outdoor towel rack and electric box hider worked perfectly this weekend with our party. I love combining function and style, this patio area has lots of both mixed in.
I had to bring my little ones out to show off how this DIY storage solution works.
They of course like to clear out all of the toys often and use this to play in. Ignoring the massive play structure already in the backyard for them to play on. Nope, this is the new hit and their “playhouse”. Which I am fine with, as long as they put all of the toys back. I did not make this to have all of the toys all over the yard again. I want them our of sight and out of mind when I am relaxing!
See, How to hide kids outdoor toys, a DIY storage solution is done with some 2×4’s and some simple cuts to the wood. I adore the results and it makes my patio feel like a place for all ages to hang out. Not just a kids zone now.
Although it is often a racetrack.
That is it! I need some tall bar stool to have out here for when we have people over. We have a ton of seating options and this would give us a few more.
I love the results of this. I wish I had thought to create it sooner. How to hide kids outdoor toys, a DIY storage solution was really easy to do, and improves this space so much. It is also much easier for my kids to clean up at the end of the day because all of the toys have a place to go. Which seems to do wonders for my kids, as long as they know where to put the toys they do clean them up. I am enjoying what we have left of summer, and we are outside a whole bunch, riding bikes, going on walks, swimming in lakes, and hanging out with friends and family. We tend to do a lot of entertaining in the summer so I am in my happy place. It is sunny, warm, my kids are home all day, and we have people stopping by a lot. How is your summer going?
Did you see my summer home tour? You can find that here.
I need to do this! Our backyard is the neighborhood kid hang out spot (which I love), but that means it is full of balls, bubbles, frisbees, chalk, etc. This is the perfect way to make it pretty.
That is so awesome you are the kid hangout spot, I love being that way for my kids and their friends too. It can get overwhelming to control the toys though.
That looks great! Simple, functional projects are always the best. Save the crazy stuff for the DIY channel, I always say!
Right?! I like to do complicated stuff, but simple and easy with big results is always great to do.
I absolutely love this! My boys are really handy and could probably build a table like that for me! Thanks for sharing! Now to put them to work! 🙂
How nice of you to have some sons that could make this for you. Lucky you!
That’s smart, and looks great as well.
Your yard is lovely.
Thank you so much!
Oh that is handy! It looks so much neater that way. What a great idea.
Thank you! I needed to come up with a better solution than what I had.
Our summer has been flying by so quickly as well! Love your ‘toy garage’! What a fun way to teach kids to tidy up – and it all looks lovely and neat. This is such a great idea!
Summer is going so fast! This toy garage is really helping keep the toys organized and not all over the backyard.
What an awesome storage solution idea and a great way to keep toys organized. I love that you made it large enough for bikes too!
Thank you!
I freaking love this! I’m totally remaining everything for our outdoor area now!
Thank you! I am so happy you found this helpful!
What a beautiful outdoor space! I love this solution for the kids’ stuff. Your before picture looks just my patio does right now! I also love that you can use the table top for parties too. So cute and functional!
Thank you! I always try to add some function to my home, we all can use more of that.
nifty idea! That is such a cool little alcove you have to create something like that.
Thank you! I have never known what to do with the alcove, but this makes it really functional.
Your toy garage is so cool and I love anything that’s dual purpose. I’m totally envious of your outdoor space because we haven’t had time this summer to add seating to ours.
Thank you Rachel, we are loving our outdoor space this summer. Hopefully soon you can enjoy yours too!
Good idea. A functional project, love it. The space under the table just like a new home for your kids. The table in the green makes a key background for the stuff placed on its surface.
Thanks for sharing great outdoor toy storage solution. My house already crowded with kids toys. It will be a great solution to cover all kids toys.It can also use for yard and garden for outdoor toy storage solution
wow! what a smart and intelligent way to hid kids outdoor toys. I appreciate this interesting thought of ideas. I like it. Thanks for sharing this outdoor toy storage ideas.
Really helpful thought to get rid of outdoor messy toys. I like it so much. It’s a clever way to hide outdoor toys. I will apply it to my kid’s outdoor play area. Thanks for sharing this great idea.
Wow!amazing ideas! I will really helpful thought to get rid of kids messy play activities. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful and intelligent outdoor toy storage ideas.
I’m going to give this a shot. Thanks for all the detailed pictures. What a great idea. Love your yard.