Easy DIY Toy Train Storage & Display!

My son LOVES Thomas the Train.  Loves him!  He has a bunch of trains and tracks, and tons of bridges, and it all gets out of control…quickly.  The bridges don’t fit in the train table, and the trains fall out.  We needed some train storage.  I thought that the colorful bridges, accessories & trains were cool to look at and would make good decor when not in use.  So, I decided to use a blank wall in my son’s bedroom to display his collection & build some toy train storage.

***NOTE – if you have a climber, this toy train storage method is probably not the best solution for you.  My kid doesn’t really climb stuff.  He’s actually been listening when I say “don’t ever climb and/or hang from this shelf.  Ever.”  We told him that he has to ask an adult to get down a piece for him.  He’s done that pretty well for the last 3 years.

Now that we’ve got that PSA out of the way, lets see what I did!

Supplies & Planning

All I used for this toy train storage project were 3 LACK Floating Shelves & 4 Mosslanda Picture Ledges from IKEA.  You could also use these Amazon picture ledges and floating shelves. These are pretty easy to find something similar at any big box store.

I first figured out my spacing, and decided that everything fit better with 15″ between the LACK Shelves, and 4.5″ between each Mosslanda Ledge.  Then, I left a little more space between the last shelf and the first ledge because Rocky is a crane, so he’s a bit taller than a normal train set.

Installation

To install the toy train storage shelves, I marked my space and hung the LACK shelves first starting at the top and working down to the bottom.  That way, I only had to vacuum once.  Then, I made sure my toy train storage shelves were all level across, but also level vertically with each other.  I didn’t want one sticking out further to one one side than the other.  After that, I mounted them according to the directions in the instruction booklets. All in all, it took me just a couple of hours to get everything installed and decorated.  Instant Gratification!

I was able to fit just about every bridge, accessory, and sign on the toy train storage shelves, and I staggered them and made a cute display!  My son loves it!  It’s nice to fill a blank wall with stuff we’ve already spent money on, you know?  Those trains and accessories are expensive!

The picture ledges are perfect for toy train storage.  This isn’t his complete train collection, he still has some under the train table, but its a good amount.  He likes to put his favorites on the wall, where he can see them, and they are easy for him to grab.  They would also work great for small cars, action figures, or any other small toy collection your kids want to display.    The ledges are wide enough to put the trains two deep on the racks if you want to.

Now, the 4 little bins under the train table hold all of the tracks, “unpretty” accessories, and overflow trains.  We got our train table many years ago at Target, and it is no longer available.  However, I found some similar train tables with storage like this gorgeous one with lots of storage, this reversible top table with one small storage drawer, this train table comes with a train set, and this Melissa & Doug train table.

I love how this unused space is being fully utilized for something practical, but it also provides some much needed interest or art for this space.  My son loves it, and everyone that comes in his room loves it!

This is a very versatile storage system that can grow with your kid.  You don’t have to store trains on it, you could do books, decorative items, Hot Wheels, Legos, action figures, the possibilities are endless!

Total Investment

All in all, this toy train storage project cost about $105 for the shelves & ledges.  The Mosslanda Picture Ledges were $9.99 each.  There’s a smaller 21″ version that sells for $5.99.  We use those for books on the other side of his room.  The LACK Shelves are $14.99 each.  Screws and anchors to mount these pieces to the wall are not included.  I had those on hand, but while you’re at IKEA, you could pick up a Fixa set for $7.99.

The Amazon versions are more expensive than the IKEA, but I remember the days of not having an IKEA close by, and sometimes Amazon is all you have. 

Here’s a pinnable image for you!

What do you think of my DIY Toy Train Storage?  Do you have a creative storage solution for your kid’s stuff?  What’s your favorite way to store all of those trains and accessories that seem to multiply quickly?  Tell us in the comments!

Be sure to check out how I customized my son’s closet on a budget with a sweet IKEA hack!

Check out all of the Stacy’s Savings Total Home Makeover posts here!