A play kitchen is the perfect space for young children to learn and grow. Whether they're making mudpies outdoors or fixing 'tea' in their own corner of your kitchen, boys and girls both benefit from having a space to experiment with cooperative, imaginative play (and bake a few biscuits of their own...). Here are a few DIY ideas from some of our favourite handy bloggers to get you started on building your own play kitchen from scratch.

DIY Play Stove Top

© Coffee & Vanilla

The best thing about this perfect rainy day craft is that you can make it using items you likely already have around the house. Old newspapers, a handful of bottle tops, and a bit of paint and PVA glue are all you need here to make this magic little cooker ready for its debut. Blogger Margot also provides the tutorial for how to make those smart newspaper coasters for the hob here, an excellent activity for little fingers eager to get in on the DIY action.

See the full DIY here: Coffee & Vanilla

Simple Outdoor Mud Kitchen For Kids

© Messy Little Monster

If you aren't a master carpenter, don't fret: use your imagination! Two stacks of old crates make an enchanting worktop for a weather-friendly outdoor mud kitchen. We love the approach taken by blogger Louise to this kitchen for her son, Harry. The DIY chalkboard sign from an old table is the perfect project to make the space feel personalized and just a little bit fancy. The rest of the kitchen was formed almost entirely out of bits and bobs the family already had, making this a great budget option. Families with limited lawn space, take note: Harry's mud is made from one sack of fresh soil placed next to the crates-- add water and a few petals, and it's flower soup time before you know it.

See the full DIY here: Messy Little Monster

Childhood Joy! Make Your Own Toy Kitchen

© The Spirited Puddle Jumper

This sturdy toy kitchen is destined to become an heirloom in blogger Becky's family. Made from a pair of repurposed nightstands, the details here are not only authentic, but built to last. The real taps and the sink made from a dog's bowl are especially brilliant additions, and Becky provides step by step directions so you can recreate the look. As for the finishing touches? We love how that cheery gingham curtain matches the festive red pots and pans. It's a keeper.

See the full DIY here: The Spirited Puddle Jumper

A Mud Kitchen and A DIY

© Hidden Cupcakes

This outdoor kitchen made by blogger Tracey Lynne is equal parts DIY and a lesson in how to repurpose old furniture. That gigantic rack, with space for innumerable hanging pots and pans? It's a former cot rail turned sideways-- just add a few s-hooks and Bob's your uncle. The restaurant menu chalkboard is a former headboard. The table and chairs are made from tree stumps. Lastly, the cooker/storage unit is crafted from an old nightstand treated with a bit of elbow grease. You'll find instructions for making a similar cooker here as well. The dinner bell--so you'll always make it to the table before your supper gets cold--is a lovely finishing touch.

See the full DIY here: Hidden Cupcakes

Play Kitchen with Shelves

© Alice Apple

For a little kitchen corner with a mighty retro, kitschy feel, we highly recommend visiting Alice Apple, who designs vintage-themed patterns, for some inspiration. We love the colourful, floral backsplash and can't stop oohing and aahing over the wee crochteted cakes. A simple small cooker topped with a repurposed and repainted shelving unit, plus a few bright utensils goes a long way towards creating the nostalgic play space of your dreams.

See the full DIY here: Alice Apple

Outdoor Play Kitchen

© Sunny Day Today Mama

What do a broken mini-fridge, a broken clock, an ice cube tray and an empty bucket of Maltesers have in common? You can find them all in this outdoor play kitchen! Sunny Boy's kitchen is overflowing with odds and ends that are perfect for him to explore with: clothes-pegs, plastic bowls, cutlery, a mortar and pestle, teapots, cutting boards, spatulas, spray bottles, even a restaurant menu. We loved the strategy of collecting knickknacks for the kitchen for a while so that it's fully stocked when construction begins.

See the full DIY here: Sunny Day Today Mama