5. Cottage-Style Window Seat Toy Box
If your playroom has a window, you have an opportunity to create something truly special. A cottage-style window seat toy box turns that often-forgotten nook into the most loved spot in the room. It is essentially a built-in look without the built-in price tag.
Materials include 1×12 pine boards for the main box, 1×3 trim for the front face, foam padding and fabric for the cushion, and your choice of paint or stain. A piano hinge is ideal for the lid. Plan on a full weekend for this one, especially if you want to get the cushion upholstered just right.
Measure the width of your window and build the box to fit snugly from wall to wall. This gives it that custom, intentional look. Add trim across the front for a more polished appearance, and top it with a custom cushion made from 2-inch foam wrapped in a fun, washable fabric. A sunbrella-style print or a soft pastel linen works beautifully.
To make the cushion, cut foam to the lid dimensions, wrap it with batting for softness, then pull your fabric tightly over the top and staple it to the underside. A non-slip shelf liner on the bottom keeps it from sliding around.
This design is wonderful for reading nooks. Add a small bookshelf next to it, hang a tiny garland above the window, and you have created a space your child will quietly disappear into for hours.