2. Bright Painted Rainbow Storage Bench
For a playroom that celebrates color, a bright painted rainbow storage bench is pure joy. This design is a basic rectangular box bench on the outside, but the front panel features hand-painted rainbow arches in cheerful primary colors. It is the kind of piece that makes kids run into the room just to see it.
Materials include one sheet of ¾-inch plywood for the main structure, a smaller piece of MDF for the front rainbow panel, exterior wood screws, child-safe acrylic paints in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple, and a clear water-based sealer. A 1×2 board can be used for the lid rim. You should set aside about three to four hours, plus drying time for the paint.
Start by cutting the plywood into a simple box shape with a hinged lid. Cut your MDF panel to fit the front, then sketch out your rainbow arches with a pencil. Use a bowl or plate as a guide to get even curves. Paint each arch in its color, let dry, then seal everything with two coats of water-based polyurethane for durability against sticky hands and spilled juice.
To make it last through the toddler years, add felt furniture pads on the bottom corners so it does not scratch the floor. You can also paint the back panel in a coordinating color, in case it ends up in the center of the room instead of against a wall.