Materials: Lack Shelving Unit, Casters, Interior Door
Description: We had used the Lack shelving unit as a playtable (on it's side) for our 2 year old twins, because it had the perfect height and lots of storage underneath.
When the kids asked for a train table
, I just simply added the caster, for more height (because they had grown) and for the ability to roll it away from the wall so that the kids can play on both side. When they are done playing, we simply roll it back against the wall to have more space.
I painted a standard door from a Home Improvement store and screwed it to the the top of the Shelving unit, patched and painted the holes. The trainset is not glued to the top, so it can be taken apart and the table can be used for other things: cars, dinosaurs, Lego
etc.~ Brigitte, Miami
look like it was born/build this way, at least from your pictures! door and lack melted really very well!
ReplyDeleteMy inner child is wicked jealous. i could have used that for my legos! Instead everything got spread out on the floor to be stepped on later..... yeowch!.
ReplyDeleteThis is much better than the traditional train table that is planted in one spot with the track secured in the same position. We never had a train table for my son but he loved building the track and tearing it apart on the floor. By creating new layouts all the time, he has enjoyed the trains for many years. Your design encourages that kind of endless play
ReplyDeleteI love it!! We don't really have room for a train table but one that rolls away could work really well!
ReplyDeleteExcellent!! What about covering this in a sheet or spots of velcro, or bluetac, to keep the tracks temporarily in place (ie each track has velcro, table has all furry stuff that velcro'd stick to, or other side of velcro)... Blu/blue tack would likelyl be cheaper though. Splendid table, and I love the wheels!!
ReplyDeletelove this design! I already have the lack shelving in the kids room. I am going to add the casters and door. So happy I saw this :). Excellent idea!
ReplyDeleteVery Cool. Can you tell me the final dimensions of the whole table and how much did it run you?
ReplyDeleteAs far as cost, we already owned the Expedit ($59).
ReplyDeletePurchased the unfinished door (30" x 80") for $27 at Home Improvement store and casters for $2.50/each at discount store, plus paint.
Hi, I'm wondering what type of paint you used on the door? And, also, in your price breakdown (comments section) you mention the Expedit from Ikea, but in the post you mention the Lack unit. Is it the Expedit or Lack?
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, love this idea!!!
Sorry, it's a lack unit. Always get the two confused - same kind of design. Used leftover wall paint, finished with spray-on clear coat
ReplyDeleteHi there, LOVE the table! Could you tell me, is it stong enough like this to be used a bench for adults to sit on? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHow did you patch the door knob hole?
ReplyDeleteYou get an interior flush (no panels) slab door from your local hardware store with out the pre-drilled holes.
ReplyDeleteBeing that the door is not solid wood, how is it screwed to the shelf, without going through and last against the strength of toddlers? Typically there is only 1-2 in of framing around the door. The rest is essentially cardboard.
ReplyDeleteWe used a door we already had, so there is already a hole in it for the door knob. I guess We'll leave it and let our kids get creative with at.
ReplyDelete@Eric - As for fastening, we used liquid nails (Loctite PL300).
you could put a small bucket or something in the hole for keeping pencils or small bits of lego in it - saw this on one of the posts for the lack side tables
DeleteLove this! I've scoured the Ikea website for Lack shelves that look like this and all I see are flat, one-piece floating shelves. Nothing that resembles a bookcase with four boxes. I also checked the Expedit section and found shelves that look like this, but they have 5 boxes and are quite long. Sorry for nagging, but I REALLY want to make this work out for my son's room :)
ReplyDeleteAhh, just saw the Lack shelves you used were discontinued. Expedit will do, I think.
ReplyDeleteWhat if you used 3 lack tables ($7.99) turned them upside down and then rested the door on the legs?
ReplyDeleteWe are currently doing this for our son's room. We used the Expedit with 5 square shelves. We got the door from bunnings for $25 with no hole in it. We are painting the top green and putting a car and a train track on top. Pics to come :) Happy Hacking x
ReplyDeleteWhat size are the casters you used?
ReplyDeleteI can't find the Lack shelving unit at Ikea. Is it one piece?
ReplyDeleteThis hack was done 3 years ago. If you read the previous comments, you would know that the specific shelving unit used for this was discontinued. Get creative; there is probably a similar unit at Ikea.
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