DIY Kids Book Storage Bin: A Simple Solution for Clutter-Free Spaces

Look, a DIY kids book storage bin probably isn’t going to change your life. But if I can toss my children’s books in one organized spot at the end of the night, that might be the small break I need at the end of the night before bedtime.

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Why DIY Book Storage Is Perfect for Kids’ Rooms

I think books are truly one of the best gifts for new parents/families. Don’t get me wrong, new parents are for sure going to need that diaper pail, but add a book as a gift as well, and you’ve got a sweet personal touch.

Is dad really into space? Throw in a cute planets book. You’re an out-of-state relative? Feel closer to the new baby by gifting a fun children’s book about your area.

Luckily for us, Eleanor got a lot of books when she was born. We have some IKEA bookshelves mounted on the wall in the nursery, but we still had a huge overflow we needed to store somehow. While I was on maternity leave and feeling like I needed to do something creative or I might just die in the never-ending eat-sleep-change-poopy-diaper cycle, I came up with this quick, cute DIY kids book storage bin in my head and brought it to life during a week’s worth of nap time.

I went with a boho hand-painted rainbow design to match the rest of baby girl’s room, but the best part is you could customize it however you like with different colors or patterns. You could even add some fun wallpaper to the insides. The options for DIY book storage ideas are endless!

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Tools & Materials for a DIY Kids Book Storage Bin

1 piece of 4’ x 4’ plywood
Coffee table legs (I found some at a thrift store, but here are some similar ones)
Paint – again, I used stuff I had on hand but used Aesthetic White as the base color, then a few sample pots of pink paints (I don’t remember the color names, sorry!)
Polycrylic
Wood filler
Tiny craft brushes
Sander
Circular or miter saw
1.5-inch screws

Building a DIY Kids Book Storage Bin

Make Your Cuts

To make it easier (and cheaper), I used one piece of plywood and made all my cuts from that.

Here’s a guide for the measurements and how to cut them to maximize space on your plywood piece:

Then sand all of the pieces really well, and you’re ready to paint. This is the first step in creating your kids’ room book storage masterpiece.

Pre-Paint Depending on Your Design

I pre-painted all my inside pieces because I knew I wanted the rainbows on the inside panels and didn’t want to endure the hand cramps of trying to do it while it was in cube form.

I did a couple of coats of the white paint over the tops, bottoms, and sides of each piece. Once that dried, I set aside the front and back pieces, the two side pieces, and the two dividers. I didn’t initially paint the outside white because I knew I would be adding wood filler over the seams and screws, then sanding them down, so at this point, only the inside-facing pieces were painted.

One note here: If you’re like me and want to do the design on the insides of the cubes, you’re going to do it on one side of each of the long pieces, one side of each of the two side pieces, and both sides of the other two divider pieces.

Add Your Custom Boho Rainbow Design

The boho rainbow theme in the nursery was an accident based on an Etsy printable I got and kept designing the room from. But, once I was in, I was all in and loved it, so I knew that would be the design for this book storage bin.

To do these little freehand rainbows, I used three pink paint samples and tiny craft brushes. I literally just drew a semi-circle with one color and added another one until it looked right. I alternated the color order I used and did some semi-circles in dots using the other pointy end of the paintbrush.

It looked so bad to begin with, and I was like oh lawwwdddd I cannot show this to anyone ever. It’s so bad, and I should relatedly feel bad. I kept going anyway because what else did I have to do? It took about five rainbows before it started to look deliberately imperfect and have the overall vibe I was going for. Custom DIY book bins are worth the effort, even if the process feels rough initially.

Assemble Your DIY Kids Book Storage Bin

Once your rainbow design (or whatever design/paint you’re going with) is dried, you can start to put it all together.

At this point, if you’ve got a Kreg Jig and the ability to do pocket holes, run wild, friend, and do that. At the time I did this project, I didn’t have a Kreg Jig yet, so I just screwed everything in the old-fashioned way.

Here’s a quick mock-up of how the DIY kids book storage bin all goes together:

Lay your bottom piece down flat and hold the two side pieces on either end, butting up against that bottom piece. Put some wood glue along the seam where the two pieces connect and screw them in place from the outside of the smaller side piece into the bottom piece.
Put your long front and back pieces in their place so they sit between the two short side pieces and on top of the long bottom piece. Again, use wood glue and throw in a couple of screws from the underside of that bottom piece and into the long plywood pieces.
Next, add some wood filler to all the visible outer seams, which will be along the bottom at the front and back, and over all the screw holes. Once that’s dried, give it a quick sand and paint the outside pieces.

Add Legs for Elevated Style

The type of legs you buy will determine how they’re installed, but I just lined mine up on the corners and used wood glue, then screws from the inside of the box down into the legs.

Seal and Protect Your Custom Book Storage

You know there will be some grubby little hands grabbing for books to read and scuffing up your handiwork, so give the whole thing a couple of coats of polycrylic, which will make it easier to wipe clean.

Then you’re done! It’s such a cute little piece for a kids’ room, nursery, or playroom and can be customized in so many ways. Plus, it can fit lotssss of books for your little reader!

DIY Kids Book Storage Bin Frequently Asked Questions

How much weight can this book storage bin hold?
Up to 50 pounds when properly constructed with 3/4″ plywood and reinforced corners. Adequate for 30-40 hardcover children’s books.

Can I make this without a circular saw?
Yes. Hardware stores can cut plywood to size. A hand saw or jigsaw works for final adjustments.

Is this storage bin child-safe?
Yes, when built with rounded corners, non-toxic paint, and proper sealing. Sand thoroughly and secure legs firmly.

What’s the best paint for kids’ furniture?
Use low-VOC or zero-VOC paint labeled safe for children’s furniture. Add water-based polyurethane for durability.

How do I clean/maintain the storage bin?
Wipe with damp cloth. Avoid harsh cleaners. Reapply sealant annually in high-use areas.

Can I adjust the dimensions?
Yes. Standard children’s books are 8-10″ tall. Adjust width based on space and book quantity. Maintain 11″ minimum depth.

Is this design wall-mountable?
Yes, remove legs and add L-brackets into wall studs. Ensure proper weight distribution.

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