How to Make a Epic DIY LEGO Compatible Play Wall
Our lovely friend Karey from @discoveranddream_ has been working hard to renovate the basement of her house into a heavenly play space for her two boys. We were super excited when she said she wanted to include a large LEGO Compatible play wall, and we knew our Peel 'n Stick Baseplates would be perfect for the job!
Need a playroom makeover?
If you answered DESPERATELY, I have the perfect solution for you! A DIY LEGO Compatible Play Wall makes a great space to promote playtime, to be creative, and have fun. I promise, this is worth the time and effort as this is something that will grow with your kids.
Not only is it fun for them to build, but did you know that working on a vertical play space will help build fine motor skills, develops their coordination, spacial awareness, and build wrist extension and control? So many benefits for our kids!
Wondering how I made this? Well, I tackled this project during nap times over a few days and with a little help from my husband, we were able to provide this AMAZING makerspace for our two children.
AND, I’m sharing step-by-step instructions for how to make this in a few simple steps.
Materials Needed (affiliate links included):
- 4 ft. x 3 ft. plywood board
- 1 qt. of paint
- Roller paint brush and paint tray
- Ruler & Pencil
- Creative QT Peel 'n Stick Baseplates - we used 12
- Extremely Strong Mounting Tape (2 rolls)
- Storage Baskets
- Building bricks - LEGO Classic
Instructions:
Step 1: Leave the kids at home (with a supervised adult of course!) and go to your local hardware store to pick up a piece of plywood. Remember, you’ll have to fit this in your car. I went to Home Depot and asked them to cut a thin sheet of plywood into 4 ft x 3 ft.
Pick up some paint, rollers, a paint tray, and strong mounting tape. This mounting tape is the REAL DEAL to attach the plywood to the wall. Very STURDY!
Step 2: Paint the plywood in your desired color. We chose BEHR Caicos Turquoise (MQ4-21) to match the colors in our playroom. Apply 2 coats and let it dry for 24 hours.
Step 3: Now, the magic begins! Clean your surface, lay baseplates down on the plywood for your desired layout (be sure to center) and measure/mark with a pencil the border of the Peel 'n Stick Baseplates. I made about a 3 or 4 inch border around the baseplates on our 4 ft. x 3 ft. plywood.
Step 4: Peel the backing off your baseplate and line up the plate by setting one edge against one pencil line. Now, keep adding baseplates by joining them with building bricks and be sure they line up correctly. Repeat the process with the rest of your baseplates, locking them together with the building bricks each time to ensure a tight fit. When you add a baseplate be sure to apply some pressure so that the adhesive contacts the plywood fully.
Step 5: I recommend you let it sit overnight with the building bricks in place to ensure the baseplates are fully secured.
Step 6: After 24 hours, adhere the mounting tape all around the back of the plywood. My husband and I both had to lift the board up and press hard against the wall for about a minute to secure the board to the wall.
Step 7: Next, let’s talk about storage. I wanted to store the building bricks right underneath my board to keep it all organized. I found these Storage Baskets on Amazon. Measure your desired length to hang the baskets underneath the board. We decided on 5 baskets, but you can use more or less. We also color coded the LEGOs. I have a basket of all shades of blue and another basket for all shades of green. Let’s see how long that will last :-)
Step 8: Drill a nail in each side of the basket. You want it to be secure so the kids don’t pull it right off the wall.
Step 9: Optional: I knew I wanted a fun and colorful wall decal for my playroom and I found an Etsy shop that makes custom wall decals- SingleStoneStudio. They were wonderful to work with, very responsive, and were able to put my idea down on paper. When I received my decal, it came with specific instructions on how to adhere to the wall. You may need 2 people to assist with this.
Then...LET THEM PLAY & CREATE!
This LEGO Compatible wall is such a wonderful STEM activity to encourage your kids to BUILD! I love watching my two boys playing and learning side by side!
Wow! What an incredible job Karey did! We love how she was able to customize it with a gorgeous paint color to suit her playroom decor. We hope your boys enjoy many hours of learning and laughter here. Be sure to follow @discoveranddream_ for great sleep tips (essential!) and for fun creative play ideas.
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Creative QT designs quality + innovative toys that declutter homes and inspire creative play. Founded by parents of five, Adam and Dana Sue Hinkle, Creative QT’s vision is to empower parents and encourage a culture of families that Make Time Together. All products are designed to enrich families’ lives through active, creative play and play based learning. Creative QT products are laboratory tested for compliance with CPSC requirements and are free of lead, cadmium and phthalates so you can play with confidence. So, go ahead … today is the day: be your kid’s hero.
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