Build your toddler a play kitchen

I love a kid-sized kitchen and the creative ways that my children can stay focused with their pretend desserts and imaginary pasta dishes (while I make a real dinner they may or may not even taste).  I have been soooo close to purchasing a miniature kitchen for my boys the past couple years, but something always stops me. Usually price. And the fact that they have five-days a week access to pretend stoves-and-sinks at preschool.

Here are a few DIY play kitchens as inspiration for you as you plan the big gift under your toddler’s tree:

From Ohdeedoh, start from Ikea components

Photo by Virginia, from Ohdeedoh

I spotted this DIY play kitchen last year on Ohdeedoh and hoped I would make it myself; it was created for less than $50 using all Ikea components. Brilliant. The dishware is from Green Toys — made from entirely recycled milk bottles obtained in California — so that’s pretty awesome too.

Ikea shopping list:

• Rast night stand (~$15)
• Panna placemats (~$8 for 4)
• Attest knobs (~$8 for 4)
• Grundtal towel bar (~$15)
• Grundtal hooks (~$2)
• Metal mixing bowl of any kind (~$2 on Amazon)

Full instructions and sketch on Apartment Therapy Ohdeedoh

From Giggleberry, upcycle a retired TV hutch
I first saw this child’s kitchen on babycenter and my jaw fell wide open. A set of handy grandparents made this kitchen for Milla using an old TV unit (found on Craigs List for $30) as a foundation. Stunning. I applaud their imagination and perseverance on this one. See the full instructions and pictures on giggleberry.

Refashioned for Milla on Giggleberry

From Rambling Renovations, total DIY

For hard-core DIY’ers, you may want to veer away from the Ikea components and pre-existing furniture and really over-achieve. More power to you. Chloe’s folks from Rambling Renovators followed the instructions from Grace’s Play Stove at Ana-White.com and embellished with a magnetic hinge for the oven door and a little LED light to glow when food is cooking.

Chloe's Play Kitchen from Rambling Renovators

Need more inspiration to create? A few honorable mentions of awesome DIY play kitchens go to La Force Be With You (for their nightstand into pink power kitchen), At Home Alterations, and Family Fun kid-sized kitchen.

Wanna just buy one outright? I don’t blame you, I got tired just writing about all these awesome projects. Two super cute (gender-neutral) play kitchens on amazon are Melissa & Doug’s corner kitchen (more compact) and Kid Craft red retro (more deluxe). I also encourage you to be on the hunt in your local Craig’s List for a complete kitchen set. We scored a fab train table that way.