Remember when we DIYed Clara a play kitchen last Christmas? It was such a hit then—and still is—that we decided right away to expand it. More kitchen = more fun, right?

We realized the set was missing a fridge, a classic kitchen staple, and we had the perfect starting point: an extra cabinet we’d been saving in the basement since our remodel. It came from the Habitat for Humanity Restore (I think it was around $15), and although we had originally considered using it above our real fridge, it became the ideal candidate for a child-sized refrigerator.

The cabinet needed some work before it could become fridge-worthy. First, I removed both doors and added three shelves using a single 10″ pine board from the home center. I installed the shelves with simple screws through each side, spacing them about 7″ apart so Clara could easily place taller play items inside. The wider spacing fits the way she plays and keeps things simple—this project was never intended to be a laboratory-accurate replica, just a fun, functional toy.

To create a boxed, fridge-like appearance and to cover the screw holes from the shelves, I cut plywood panels for each side and glued them in place, clamping them until dry. That small amount of plywood was the only new wood I bought for the project, and it kept the cabinet looking much neater. Once the sides and a top panel were on, the old cabinet started to look like something new.

Before painting, we lightly sanded the doors and cabinet face—just like we would when refinishing real kitchen cabinets. Then we added a magnetic front using magnetic primer. We applied three coats because multiple thin coats gave a stronger magnetic surface than a single heavy coat. The doors got the magnetic primer while the rest received standard primer.

For paint, we wanted the fridge to coordinate with Clara’s existing white play kitchen, so the exterior was painted semi-gloss white. To add a little personality, we painted the interior a light, cool blue using leftover paint. The white exterior only needed one coat thanks to the primer, but the doors required three coats to cover the dark magnetic primer. After painting, I reattached the doors with new hinges and installed long, fridge-style pulls to match her other kitchen pieces.

We considered adding a faux logo with scrapbooking stickers to make the front feel less like a regular cabinet, and brainstormed brand names like “Cool” or “Chilly.” In the end we left the stickers off since they felt a bit cheesy on the clean front and we worried Clara might peel them off during play.

Stocking the fridge was half the fun. Most of the play food we used was already on hand—various Melissa & Doug items and other sets we’d bought previously. We also added a few DIY and thrifted touches: tiny Ben & Jerry’s cartons (emptied and repurposed), wooden eggs and crates, and small takeout containers discovered at the craft store. Sherry even found a little rolling cart at a thrift store for $5; it was already the right color and makes a great mobile produce cart for the kitchen set.

Clara has shown a surprising attachment to play food—she once told Santa she wanted “eggs for her kitchen”—so the wooden crate of eggs felt like a sweet, fitting addition. The cart’s wheels and space for produce and pantry items help expand the ways she can pretend shop, deliver groceries, or stock her fridge.

Budget-wise, this fridge and cart project stayed very affordable. The main costs were minor replacement hardware, a bit of plywood, a few craft items, and the thrifted cart. With most paint and many supplies already in our stash, the total came to roughly $50.75. If you don’t already own a cabinet or spare play food, a similar project might cost closer to $95, but even then it’s a budget-friendly way to add a new centerpiece to a child’s playroom.

One finishing touch we highly recommend is the magnetic doors. They let kids display their own little drawings or notes and add a layer of interactive play that really brings a pretend fridge to life. We can already imagine Clara taping up crayon masterpieces and making shopping lists in her own kid-handwriting.

We’ll share photos and video of Clara finding her new gifts, just like we did last year, so stay tuned for that. The photos for this project were shot in our playroom, whose walls still show the colorful paint from our book shoot—one wall even matches the blue we used inside the fridge.

So, are any of you making last-minute gifts in your workshop? Are your kids as into play food as Clara is? Do you notice how play fruits and vegetables tend to be life-sized while boxed pantry items are often scaled down? If you’re tinkering with a similar build, adding magnetic doors and a few well-placed shelves will make a humble cabinet feel like a real, beloved toy for years to come.

• Cabinet – already owned (maybe $15 originally?)
• Wood for shelves & sides – $14
• Primer & paint – already owned
• New hinges – $5.25
• 7″ hardware handles – $12
• Unused stickers – $5
• Thrift store cart – $5
• Wooden eggs, crates, & takeout containers – $6
• Tiny Ben & Jerry’s cartons – $2.50
• Other play food – already owned (about $30 originally)
• TOTAL: $50.75 (approximately $95 if you need to buy a cabinet and play food)

Under $51 for a homemade fridge and a rolling cart is a great value for a durable, interactive toy that encourages imaginative play. If you try this, focus on sturdy shelving, a magnetic front, and kid-friendly spacing to make the fridge both realistic and easy for small hands to use.