How to Make a Lemonade Stand

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Learn how to make a lemonade stand for kids in just an afternoon! This tutorial is quick and easy, and will give your kids hours of creative play. Use the stand as a pretend market, shop, or anything you can imagine!

kids playing in lemonade stand
kids playing in lemonade stand
diy lemonade stand for kids

Making opportunities for my kids to have creative play is one of my favorite things to do! As a maker, if I can make them something that they truly love and will get tons of use out of, I’m happy. That’s why we wanted to figure out how to make a lemonade stand for them!

They love to play shop, market, store, and lots of similar games. So I wanted to give them a modular space that they could use to fill with those creative ideas. This DIY lemonade stand does just that! You can paint different signs like lemonade, market, ice cream, bank, and so much more. And let them fill the stand with whatever they see fit.

Psst — before you make the lemonade stand, check out our Pineapple Lemonade recipe! Perfect for a lemonade stand or any day.

how to paint a lemonade stand

The Best Paint for a DIy Lemonade Stand

It’s a very simple DIY and super fun + fast to create. I also found the perfect paint for a quick and pretty project like this one in Beyond Paint! I love it because the formula is low VOC and odor (safe for people and pets!), and because it’s really tough but goes on like a dream.

Beyond Paint doesn’t need any mixing or stirring, so the application is so fast. And the drying time between coats is just 2-4 hours, so you can have this thing built and painted in an afternoon. I also love that the colors go on to the wood with a really opaque look, so you’ll need minimal coats to complete this project.

How to Make a Lemonade Stand

Materials

Make Time: 3 Hours (Plus Drying Time)

Construct It

  1. Start by deciding on a configuration for your boxes. I liked the idea of having a countertop that is multi-level, because our kids are varying heights. Arrange the crates to your liking.
  2. Screw the crates together. For each point of contact between boxes, use four screws spaced in a rectangular arrangement for maximum security.
  3. Use a drill to drill a 1″ hole on either side of the top of your lemonade stand. This will be where the dowels go through to create an awning.
  4. On the next level beneath your holes, you’ll drill an indentation into the wood crate. Be careful not to drill all the way through. This will be where the bottom of the dowels rest. Be sure the indentation lines up exactly with the hole above it.
  5. Cut two wood dowels to the height you’d like for your awning. Cut another wood dowel that’s the distance between the holes on the top of your lemonade stand, plus 4 inches.
  6. On the first two wood dowels, you’re going to cut a slot into one end of each. We achieved this by drilling a 1/4″ hole into the end of a dowel, and then using a band saw to slice down both sides of the drilled hole and cut away the excess. Do this on both dowels.
  7. On the third dowel, slice off 2 inches on each end of the dowel. Drill a 1/4″ hole into both ends of the long piece, and one end of each of the short pieces. Then reattach the short pieces to the long piece using dowel pins.
  8. Once you put the side dowels into the hole, you can place the top dowel on them and the dowel pins should rest in the slots of the dowels to create a framework for the awning.
how to make a lemonade stand
how to make a lemonade stand
how to make a lemonade stand
wood dowel
wood dowel

Paint It

  1. Now comes the fun part! Prep your Beyond Paint by pouring some into a paint tray. Use a 1/2 to 1/4″ nap mini roller and get some paint on your roller. Start painting!
  2. We decided on a fun pattern, and painted every other slat on the wooden crates Bright White and Buttercream. Use your imagination!
  3. To achieve our look, paint the entire exterior of the lemonade stand Bright White using your paint roller. Allow everything to dry and go back for a second coat in 2-4 hours if needed.
  4. To paint your awning, cut a piece of fabric that’s the length of the inner edges between your two standing dowels, and about 12″ tall.
  5. Fold the fabric accordion style and on one end, cut an arch so that when you unfold it you have a scalloped edge.
  6. Lay your fabric down flat and mask every other scallop, taping the fabric to your paint surface. (A scrap of cardboard works well!)
  7. Use a paint roller in the Poppy paint to paint every other section of your fabric. Beyond Paint works really well on fabric too!
  8. Allow to dry. Fold the top edge back and leave a 2″ seam allowance. Either sew a straight stitch or attach with a line of hot glue to create a pocket where you can slide the top dowel through.
  9. Add the dowel and hang your awning.
  10. Paint a fun sign using a scrap piece of wood or cardboard! Drill two holes in the top edges and tie it onto your lemonade stand with cotton rope.
how to make a lemonade stand
how to make a lemonade stand
beyond paint roller
masking for striped awning
striped awning
painted awning for lemonade stand
painted lemonade sign

Have Fun!

I’m so glad we figured how to make a lemonade stand the easy way! I can’t say enough how fast and fun this project is, and how many hours of play our kids have already enjoyed with it. It’ll be perfect for a front yard lemonade stand when the time is right, too! xoxo

how to make a lemonade stand
diy lemonade stand
girl with lemonade stand
kids with lemons
kids playing in lemonade stand

This post is sponsored by Beyond Paint. All ideas and opinions are my very own. Thank you for being supportive of the partners who help keep Lovely Indeed rocking!

how to make a lemonade stand

How to Make a Lemonade Stand

Yield: Lemonade Stand
Active Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Cost: $35

This easy to create lemonade stand is a total hit with kids!

Materials

  • Beyond Paint
  • 5 Wood crates
  • 3/4" wooden dowels (3 dowels at 6' each)
  • White fabric
  • Dowel pins
  • Masking tape
  • Screws
  • Cotton rope or twine
  • Small piece of scrap wood or cardboard

Tools

  • Mini paint rollers
  • Drill
  • Saw
  • Scissors
  • Sewing machine OR glue gun

Instructions

    1. Start by deciding on a configuration for your boxes. I liked the idea of having a countertop that is multi-level, because our kids are varying heights. Arrange the crates to your liking.
    2. Screw the crates together. For each point of contact between boxes, use four screws spaced in a rectangular arrangement for maximum security.
    3. Use a drill to drill a 1″ hole on either side of the top of your lemonade stand. This will be where the dowels go through to create an awning.
    4. On the next level beneath your holes, you’ll drill an indentation into the wood crate. Be careful not to drill all the way through. This will be where the bottom of the dowels rest. Be sure the indentation lines up exactly with the hole above it.
    5. Cut two wood dowels to the height you’d like for your awning. Cut another wood dowel that’s the distance between the holes on the top of your lemonade stand, plus 4 inches.
    6. On the first two wood dowels, you’re going to cut a slot into one end of each. We achieved this by drilling a 1/4″ hole into the end of a dowel, and then using a band saw to slice down both sides of the drilled hole and cut away the excess. Do this on both dowels.
    7. On the third dowel, slice off 2 inches on each end of the dowel. Drill a 1/4″ hole into both ends of the long piece, and one end of each of the short pieces. Then reattach the short pieces to the long piece using dowel pins.
    8. Once you put the side dowels into the hole, you can place the top dowel on them and the dowel pins should rest in the slots of the dowels to create a framework for the awning.
    9. Now comes the fun part! Prep your Beyond Paint by pouring some into a paint tray. Use a 1/2 to 1/4″ nap mini roller and get some paint on your roller. Start painting!
    10. We decided on a fun pattern, and painted every other slat on the wooden crates Bright White and Buttercream. Use your imagination!
    11. To achieve our look, paint the entire exterior of the lemonade stand Bright White using your paint roller. Allow everything to dry and go back for a second coat in 2-4 hours if needed.
    12. To paint your awning, cut a piece of fabric that’s the length of the inner edges between your two standing dowels, and about 12″ tall.
    13. Fold the fabric accordion style and on one end, cut an arch so that when you unfold it you have a scalloped edge.
    14. Lay your fabric down flat and mask every other scallop, taping the fabric to your paint surface. (A scrap of cardboard works well!)
    15. Use a paint roller in the Poppy paint to paint every other section of your fabric. Beyond Paint works really well on fabric too!
    16. Allow to dry. Fold the top edge back and leave a 2″ seam allowance. Either sew a straight stitch or attach with a line of hot glue to create a pocket where you can slide the top dowel through.
    17. Add the dowel and hang your awning.
    18. Paint a fun sign using a scrap piece of wood or cardboard! Drill two holes in the top edges and tie it onto your lemonade stand with cotton rope.

Notes

Making opportunities for my kids to have creative play is one of my favorite things to do! As a maker, if I can make them something that they truly love and will get tons of use out of, I'm happy. That's why we wanted to figure out how to make a lemonade stand for them!

They love to play shop, market, store, and lots of similar games. So I wanted to give them a modular space that they could use to fill with those creative ideas. This DIY lemonade stand does just that! You can paint different signs like lemonade, market, ice cream, bank, and so much more. And let them fill the stand with whatever they see fit.

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