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Matschküche Kinder

Mud kitchen Build it yourself: IKEA DIY in just 5 minutes!

The ‘ mud kitchen’ is a mini sandpit for playing with water and sand – a must-have for children this spring! This small sandpit with a lid is particularly handy for small gardens and balconies. Find out now how you can build your own ‘ mud kitchen’ using IKEA boxes in just 5 minutes.

Accessories for the DIY ‘ mud kitchen’

What do I need for a ‘ mud kitchen’?

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1. KNAGGLIG chest from IKEA

Of course, you can also use boxes other than the IKEA KNAGGLIG*. The important thing is that it’s roughly the same size (46x31x25 cm) so that the TROFAST box fits inside.

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2. TROFAST box from IKEA

The TROFAST boxes* are available in three different sizes. We recommend the 42x30x23 cm size.

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3. Limmaland adhesive films

Designed to fit the TROFAST lid.

Mud kitchen Build in 3 simple steps

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Step 1: Basic structure made from IKEA boxes

Your DIY mud kitchen is based on simple wooden and plastic boxes from IKEA. Our tip: You can also use beverage crates instead of wooden boxes!


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Step 2: Stick the design film onto the lids

Stick the custom-fit stickers onto the lids of the IKEA TROFAST boxes. The stickers are weatherproof and UV-resistant, ensuring maximum fun!


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Step 3: Fill the boxes with water and sand

And there you have it – the ‘ mud kitchen’ is all set up! You can now fill the plastic boxes with sand and water. Add a few moulds – and let the fun begin!

3 reasons to choose your mud kitchen

  1. Children love the mini sandpit with a lid as a way to keep themselves entertained in the fresh air, whether in the garden or on the balcony.
  2. Playing with the ‘ mud kitchen’ encourages creative thinking and supports a healthy immune system – a brilliant Montessori toy for outdoor play.
  3. Whilst your child is happily playing with the little sandpit featuring the mud kitchen, you can sit back, relax and enjoy the sunny days.

Mud kitchen DIY: for a small city balcony

You don’t need a big garden for the ‘ mud kitchen’. Our IKEA hack fits even on the smallest balcony! And it’s easy to take along to Grandma and Grandad’s or to the playground.

Mud kitchen DIY

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Mud kitchen decorate

If you’d like to go a step further, you can build a splash guard for the ‘ mud kitchen’ using individual side panels from IKEA’s KNAGGLIG boxes. For the ‘ storage’ to hold play accessories, hanging baskets or hooks from IKEA are ideal; you can simply attach them to the ‘ mud kitchen’ as you wish.

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Magic sand for the mud kitchen

Don’t have any real sand? No problem! It’s so easy to make magic sand using flour and oil!

Go to the magic sand DIY


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More than 10,000 happy children are already playing with the Limmaland

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’, whilst their parents relax in the garden or on the balcony.

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The stickers for the ‘ mud kitchen’ are brilliant. The children are certainly having a great time!


High-quality product which retains its adhesive strength and colour intensity even after a year of outdoor use.


Super stickers for the mud kitchen. Arrived quickly, look good and our daughter really likes them.


Great product. I bought it for my daily skincare routine. It’s really easy to put on and stays in place really well. The children love it too. Thanks for this brilliant idea!


Build your IKEA ‘ mud kitchen’ now!

Choose your favourite design, including the ‘ DÄCKEL’ for the TROFAST box :

What is a ‘ mud kitchen’?

A ‘ mud kitchen’ is a mini sandpit for children. In this sandpit, available at mud kitchen, children usually play with sand and water. They can use little moulds to make sand cakes – just like in a traditional sandpit.

Why is a ‘ mud kitchen’ a good idea?

mud kitchen encourages and supports children to play outdoors in nature. Playing in the mud kitchen offers the chance to develop social skills and helps children to learn actively through play, whilst above all having fun.
Playing with mud and sludge has numerous benefits:
  • encourages creative thinking
  • improves cognitive functions
  • helps build a healthy immune system
  • Playing with the mud kitchen makes children happy

How tall should a mud kitchen be?

If you stack two drinks crates or IKEA crates on top of each other, the sandpit with a lid will be the perfect height for playing and getting muddy whilst standing up. This is comfortable for your child and allows them to really let off steam whilst playing in the mud!

From what age is the ‘ mud kitchen’ suitable?

Most manufacturers recommend the ‘ mud kitchen’ for children aged 3 and over. However, many children as young as one year old already enjoy playing extensively with moulds and sand. Our tip: start with the mini version of the ‘ mud kitchen’ and expand it over time!

How long do children play with the mini sandpit with a lid?

As the ‘ mud kitchen’ is a seasonal toy, it remains interesting year after year. Many children continue to enjoy playing with the ‘ mud kitchen’ right up to primary school age.

*All links marked with an asterisk are affiliate links that direct you to the IKEA website or to the websites of other advertising partners.