Materials: Vika Amon table top, Trofast storage boxes, EKBY JÄRPEN EKBY TÖRE desk top shelf
Description: After we moved our office from the largest bedroom in the house to a small office space we no longer had room for our two desks, so we choose to build an activity table for our son using one of them.
We decided to use Ikea Trofast storage boxes under the table for storage thinking it would be easy to buy runners for them. Although plastic runners were available a few years ago Ikea no longer sells them. Because of this I ended up having to build my own runners out of timber to get the boxes installed and sliding under the table top.
I started the construction of the activity table by attaching new coffee table legs from Home Depot. They set the table at a good height for my son to kneel and play at the table. Once they were attached I found the middle of the table and proceeded to attach the DIY Trofast runners I had previously built out of timber, starting in the middle and working my way out. I had to be very precise with my measurements here to make sure the boxes wouldn't bind while sliding them in and out. I finished the runners for the boxes by putting a small piece of timber at the back of the runners to stop the boxes from sliding all the way through.
After the main table was finished I then followed the normal Ikea directions to install the desk top shelf and brackets for the Lego display shelf.
See more of the LEGO activity table.
~ Bill Hutchison, Australia
This is a fabulous idea for storage. It sounds and looks like it took a lot of work, but the results are great.
ReplyDeleteIt took me a little while to get it all together and get the storage boxes sliding smoothly, but it worked out great and my son loved it for his Lego.
DeleteIt certainly made cleaning his room easier too with all the Lego off the floor ...
Hi! did you screw the runners to the bottom of the table, or did you glue them?
DeleteJust wanted to say that today I went to ikea to find the plastic runners that are used on the trofast shelves, and they directed me to the returns and exchanges desk, where the guy gave me two for free. They said they often have random hardware stashed back there from things that are returned broken.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great idea Tammy, I wish I had thought of that. I might need to look into that option when I'm looking at building him a new one now that we are back in Australia.
DeleteThanks for the tip.