This storage bin unit is my absolute favorite part of my kids playroom because of how FUNCTIONAL it is! The boys can just throw their toys in the bins, everything has a place, and being able to actually see the floor of the playroom makes me happy. Everybody wins! I bought and re-did these over a year ago so figured it was time to dedicate a post to them. I tend to get a lot of the same questions and plan on answering them all here!
Where to Purchase
So these bins are part of the Ikea Trofast series and I love how many options they give you to fit your needs and space. I chose two frames and set them side by side to look like one single unit. The frames come in either black or white for $45, or you can get the pine frame like I did for $80 and either keep it natural (still so pretty!) or go the extra step and paint/stain it yourself. There are four different bin sizes to choose from and five different colors (white, pink, orange, green and yellow). They range in price from $2-$5 each and I chose the second to largest size in all white. My storage unit cost me just over $200 and it's 100% worth every penny.
Staining the Frame
First off, while these bins ARE solid pine, they come with a tinted clear acrylic lacquer so keep that in mind when you paint or stain them. The first time I tried staining them I applied the stain (I used Minwax in Dark Walnut) then rubbed it off pretty quickly to make sure the color wasn't darker than I wanted. Well, the stain wiped right off and it wouldn't hold. I had to re-apply the stain and leave it on for over a day for it to set. If I had to do it again I would recommend sanding them first! And if you apply paint I would apply primer first. It's also much easier to paint/stain all the pieces before putting it all together.
Customizing the Bins
At $4 each, the bins cost me less than $50. I cut the shapes/designs out of matte vinyl myself with a silhouette machine. Some of the smaller pieces didn't stick as easily but for those I just had to go slow and hold one side down as I applied it. I haven't had any fall off yet! If you don't have a way to cut vinyl, you can use stickers or search vinyl decal on Etsy and you can have someone make you something custom!
While I ran into a few issues (staining the wood and certain vinyl decals not sticking as well), I'm so happy with the way these turned out and they've held up incredibly well considering the beating my boys have given them! I would definitely recommend them as a storage option for anyone looking to de-clutter their kids mess. I hope I was able to answer most of your questions, but if not please let me know!
