Stop Toys From Hiding Under the Couch!
Did I post yesterday? Yes. But today I walked into the living room to discover blocks everywhere and my 1-year-old kicking them under the couch.
And I snapped. I MUST END THIS MADNESS! NO MORE HIDEOUT FOR YOU, LEGOS! So out to the garage I went to see what I could come up with.
And, folks, this might be the cheapest and easiest solution to any problem I’ve ever delayed fixing. 🤦♀️
Gathered materials:
- Spare 1×2
- Leftover black spray paint
- Brad gun and 2 inch nails
Step 1: Measure the length between the front feet of the couch. I didn’t want to see the board from the ends of the couch, so I measured from about the center points of the feet. Mine was 74 inches.
Step 2: Cut a piece of 1×2. In the garage, I measured 74 inches on a spare 1×2 and used the miter saw to make 1 simple cut. (An entire project that requires only 1 cut! Again, I’m kicking myself that I didn’t do this forever ago.)
Step 3: Lay out the board. I balanced it on our recycling and trash bins.
Step 4: Paint the board. Using leftover black spray paint, I painted the front, top, and bottom of the board. I went with black so it would hide in the shadows under the couch. But I didn’t bother painting the backside since it would be lost to sight.
Step 5: Dry. After painting, I brought the 1×2 into the house to dry because it was so cold out in the garage.
Step 6: Flip your couch. Once the 1×2 was dry, I flipped over our couch and held the board in place. I had some help.
Step 7: Attach the 1×2 to the couch feet. I used a brad gun to nail the 1×2 in place. It only took 2-3 nails on each end. You could also use a screw if you wanted – my brad gun was just faster. Be sure to attach the board at the bottom of your couch’s feet so there’s no gap between the board and the floor.
Step 8: Return the couch to its place. Once the board was attached, I flipped the couch back into place. Now all that was left was a test run of knocking toys under the couch…and it worked! The blocks and toys hit the board and couldn’t be lost under the couch anymore!
Now I suppose I should clean my floors. lol
See you next time!
Enjoyed the project?
Suggested materials:
- 1x2 furring strip (Lowe’s)
- Spray paint (Lowe’s)
Comments
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Sue Blackman on Jan 06, 2023
Years ago I rolled up a black bath towel to stop dog toys from doing the same thing. Your idea looks more professional.
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Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
Why didn't you block the sides, too? My son would have had that figured out in a minute flat, when it came to cleaning up after playing. He's in his 30's now, so it's not a problem anymore. He loses his toys under his own sofa. lol
How did he deal with the frustration?
Or stuff a pool noodle under there?
There is always the sides of the couch. How did you resolve that?