A few years ago, I solved my then-elementary-school-aged daughter's ever-growing toy storage problem with an unlikely IKEA product: the TRONES shoe cabinet. It was a simple hack born from necessity, but it has stood the test of time and remains one of my most successful home projects.
This isn't just a "how-to." This is a long-term review of a simple idea that worked, adapted, and grew with my family.
A Flashback: The Original Project
The story began with a classic problem: a kid's room overflowing with colorful trinkets. My solution was to think outside the box—or in this case, the shoe box. Why couldn't a shoe cabinet be a toy cabinet?
My initial review of the TRONES was, let's say, mixed. The quality felt no better than a laundry basket. It was a masterclass in IKEA's philosophy of using cheap materials and clever design tricks to hide the flimsiness.
But its slim profile was perfect for wall-mounting, which was a must. The installation itself was a straightforward DIY job. As the video below shows in detail, the process involved marking the lines with a level, drilling for anchors, mounting the cabinets, and then fastening the adjacent units to each other for a seamless look.
The most satisfying part, for some reason, is always seeing it perfectly level.
For those curious about the original installation, the entire process is also in this video from back then:
The Verdict (Years Later): A Hack That Grew Up with My Daughter
Years after that initial installation, the TRONES cabinets are still holding up perfectly. The most surprising part? There has been absolutely no yellowing or discoloration, a common issue with cheap plastics over time.
But the toys are long gone. My daughter is a high school student now. So, what's inside those cabinets today? School supplies, makeup, and probably a secret or two that I'm not supposed to know about.
It has proven to be a durable, space-efficient, and surprisingly adaptable storage solution. The real proof of success is that it's still an essential part of her room, just in a different way.
And really, that's all that matters.
