How To Build A DIY Mud Kitchen

Learn how to build a mud kitchen for kids that’s perfect for keeping them entertained outside. Here are step-by-step mud kitchen plans for making an outdoor DIY mud kitchen for under $100. They’ll be cooking up nature soup and mud pies in no time.

*Originally published 5/2020. Updated 6/2025*

Hi friends!

Ready to learn how to make a DIY mud kitchen for kids? Last week, I didn’t even know there was such a thing and now here we are! I saw someone mention one on Instagram and I knew immediately that my kids would love one!

What To Cook In A Mud Kitchen

Messy play is so important for kids (read more on The Value of Messy Play here). The mud kitchen is perfect for making things like nature soup, mud pies, rock soup, leaf stew etc out of leaves, grass, dandelions, etc. This is the perfect easy weekend project, especially when the weather is warm.

Mud kitchens are also great for sensory play! Use the sink as a water basin, put ingredients of different textures in various pots and pans, let them explore things that are wet, squishy, slimy etc!

Mud Kitchen DIY

This is one of those times (and there are a lot of them) when it’s so nice to have a handy husband! I spent a few minutes scrolling through mud kitchens on Pinterest, screenshotted a few pictures to show him and asked him if he could build us one and six hours later, voila!

This is obviously not the only way you can build one. You could easily make one with just a board and some cinder blocks or using whatever wood you have laying around, but I LOVE the way ours turned out! Several people asked for dimensions, materials etc so we put together a blueprint and directions for how my husband made ours.

Keep in mind we’re not a DIY blog AND we weren’t planning to turn this into a post so we didn’t do the best job taking photos. But my husband provided drawings for each step of assembly with measurements etc for a little outdoor kitchen plans PDF. Between those and the typed directions below, hopefully you’ll have a pretty good idea how to build one yourself!

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Homemade DIY Outdoor Sink

Can you make a mud kitchen with a working sink?

Our plans include a sink but we don’t have it hooked up to water to make it running water. If that’s something you’re looking for you might like this Outdoor Pallet Kid’s Mud Kitchen with Working Sink!

Mud Kitchen with Pallets

How do I build a mud kitchen using pallets?

Speaking of pallets, we didn’t use them but you could definitely make a DIY pallet mud kitchen. Check out this tutorial for an Easy DIY Pallet Mud Kitchen (using scrap wood and pallets).

Mud Kitchen Accessories + Creative Add-ons For Your Mud Kitchen

Want to accessorize your kitchen? Here are a few ideas:

• Skip the stain and let your kids paint it
• Add hooks for utensils
• Add open shelves to store dishes
• Build a spice rack
• Hook up a working sink
• Attach a chalkboard or paint part of it with chalkboard paint
• Extend the mud kitchen by adding extra storage shelves for pots and pans

Mud kitchen knobs + cooker rings

Stove burners and knobs are one of most fun additions. You can make the burners different sizes for different pots and give them knobs to turn them on and off.

What mud kitchen tools and utensils do kids need?

Stock your mud kitchen with all sorts of fun tools and equipment. Keep an eye out at garage sales, thrift stores and dollar stores for things like:

• Pots
• Pans
• Muffin tins
• Plates and cups
• Spoons
• Ladles
• Spice jars
• Pitchers

and more!

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How To Build A Mud Kitchen For Kids

Materials For Outdoor Play Kitchen

• (7) cedar 2x4s
• (8) 6′ cedar fence boards
• 1.25-inch deck screws (approx 54) and 2.5-inch deck screws (approx 50)
• exterior stain (a great way to use some up if you have it laying around! We used what we had leftover after staining our screened porch)
• sharpie
• Rubbermaid 10 gallon plastic tub 

Dimensions:

Frame: 2 feet tall x 4 feet long (depth is dependent on the container you’re using for your “sink”)
Tub: We used a 10-gallon plastic Rubbermaid tub. Measuring just under the lip, it was 14.5″ wide x 20.75″ long. (We had to cut off the handles to make it fit down in the frame which was a pain so we recommend looking for one without handles.

Directions For How To Build A DIY Mud Kitchen

**Scroll down for a link to a free PDF blueprint and printable directions**

Step 1: Assemble the frame for the cooktop using 2x4s.

• Cut one 2×4 in half for the long sides, which will be almost exactly 48″.
• Measure just below the lip of the tub you’re using to get measurements for the opening for your sink. Ours was 14.5″ wide x 20.75″ long.
• Cut the 4 shorter pieces of your frame to the length of your tub.
• Drill pilot holes and then use 2.5-inch deck screws to build your rectangular frame with two pieces in the middle to hold the tub between them.

Step 2: Add legs.

• Front legs are 24 inches, back legs are 48 inches to extend up and make the backsplash.
• Front legs go inside the frame and the back legs go outside the frame.
• Attach the front legs, then have someone hold it level while attaching the back legs.

Step 3: Make the lower shelf frame.

• Cut two 45″ pieces of 2×4 for the front and back. 
• Cut three pieces that are three inches shorter than your side pieces for the cooktop. Ours were 17.75 inches since the sides to our cooktop were 20.75 inches. You can also just measure the distance between the front and back legs and subtract 3 inches.
• Drill pilot holes and use 2.5 inch deck screws.

Step 4: Attach the lower shelf frame. 

• Attach lower shelf frame to the back of the front legs and the front of the back legs about 6 inches from the ground using 2.5 inch deck screws.

Step 5: Add cedar top, shelf top, and backsplash with fence boards

• Do the bottom shelf first. Measure from the outer edge to outer edge sides of the shelf frame. Cut 3 cedar fence boards to that length. Evenly space boards and attach with 1.25-inch deck screws to make a shelf.
• Do cooktop next. Cut 3 cedar fence boards after measuring from backsplash to front edge of 2×4. Start closest to tub on both sides and work out. There may be a little overhang on the outer pieces. 
• For backsplash: Use fence board as a spacer when installing. We did 3 cedar fence boards and then a 2×4 level with the top

Step 6: Add 2×4 topper on the backsplash

• We added another 2×4 across the top, connecting it to the 2×4 running horizontally across the top of the backsplash and the top of the back legs.

Step 7: Sand the cooktop

• The cedar fence boards are rough sawn so we sanded them until smooth with 120 grit paper and a power sander. 
• Hubby also rounded the edges and corners. Smooth surfaces are easier to keep clean and allowed us to draw “burners”.

Step 8: Draw the “burners”

• Draw cooktop burners by tracing circles and painting them black. 

Weatherproofing the mud kitchen

Step 9: Stain

• We used leftover stain from our porch to seal the wood. 
• We also added a coat of exterior grade polyurethane to the countertop area to hold up better against mud and water. In addition, the black paint for the burners won’t accept the stain so the poly helps seal it in.

Step 10: Add the details

• We made knobs out of a leftover 2×4 to “turn the burners on”
• Add hooks, baskets etc if you want to!
• After we took the picture, we also added a cheap brass hose bibb to look like a faucet over the sink. (It was $5)
• Furnish with old pots and pans, pie tins, tupperware, old spice containers, spoons and ladles. Thrift stores and garage sales are great places to find supplies.

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Since we didn’t have the best step-by-step photos to share, my husband sketched out a visual of each step of the process to help show you how we measured, where we put our screws etc.

CLICK HERE FOR A FREE BLUEPRINT PDF and PRINTABLE DIRECTIONS

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DIY Mud Kitchen FAQs

What age is a mud kitchen suitable for?

The best thing about this mud kitchen is that young toddlers can use it and older kids still find it fun. My youngest was 2 when we built ours and my oldest still plays with it occasionally at age 10!

If you take care of it, a mud kitchen can provide years of entertainment for your family.

How much does it cost to build a basic mud kitchen?

This one cost us just under $100 to build!

What are the best materials for building a mud kitchen?

We recommend using cedar as your wood because it’s naturally resistant to decay without any chemicals and it smells good. Cedar 2x4s can be a bit expensive but cedar fence boards are cheap so it balances out. Use whatever outdoor stain you’d like, plus some polyurethane for an extra layer of protection.

How do I protect a mud kitchen from weather?

We live in Ohio and we leave ours out year round. Staining and sealing it when you build it will help, but you will likely need to restain it every couple of years. You could also throw a tarp over it in the winter when it’s not getting much use.

What’s the best location to place a mud kitchen in the yard?

Totally up to you. We’ve had ours on the driveway, and on our brick patio. If you’re using a lot of water, the ground under it will get saturated and muddy so take that into consideration, and make sure you find somewhere flat!

Can a mud kitchen be used in the winter or cold climates?

Sure! Bundle the kids up and let them play outside all year round. They’ll be able to find different natural elements to use no matter the season and you don’t have to worry about keeping the pots and pans looking pristine. Snow can be a fun addition too. You can even add some paint to color the snow!

How do I make a mud kitchen safe for toddlers?

When they’re little, use smaller pots and pans and consider plastic items so they won’t hurt if they drop them onto their feet. Keep an eye on them around the sharp corners if they’re just learning to walk. In the summer, try not to leave a sink full of water for several days as it can be a breeding ground for mosquitos.

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DIY Outdoor Mud Kitchen For Kids

Hope this helps! Happy playing!

IKEA Hack Mud Kitchen

PS. Do you love IKEA? Check out this Mud table as an easy IKEA hack.

–Lindsay–