This Viral TikTok Hack for Storing Toy Cars Doubles as Cool Wall Art (I’m So Impressed!)

This might be one of the most whimsical design hacks I’ve seen on my social feeds since the DIY fairy doors — and I’m already tempted to try it myself. Fellow parents of little car lovers, take note: In a now-viral video that’s been viewed 2.7 million times in three days, influencer and mom Shelby (@PrettyInThePines on TikTok) pulled off a clever surprise for her 5-year-old son; she concealed a toy car garage behind a large framed art print of a vintage Porsche 911 that flips open to reveal a car collection neatly stowed inside. Magic! 

“My childhood love of tiny cars met my grown-up love of organization and beautiful art,” Shelby wrote in the caption of her TikTok video demonstrating how she built the hidden “garage.” She added that she had a sizable toy car collection as a kid, so this process “felt extra-nostalgic.”

Shelby didn’t include a step-by-step how-to, but demonstrated how to build it using a wooden toy car garage, a framed piece of art, and hinges (one commenter recommended soft-close hinges to prevent the “door” from slamming on tiny fingers — smart!). In the video, she appears to pair a frame that’s slightly larger than the garage so it fully covers the front and can swing open smoothly, first attaching hinges to the top of the garage and then drilling the frame into them so that the artwork acts as a door that can swing open and shut. 

Of course, you’ll want to make sure the car garage is securely attached to the wall with anchors (if needed) and screws once it’s fully built.

“This is honestly one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen,” enthused one commenter on Instagram. “This is simply GENIUS!!!” raved another. Porsche USA even got in on the fun, commenting on TikTok, “Small cars. Big dreams.” 

If I decide to make one for my own little auto aficionados, I’ll wait until they’re both at least age 4 or 5 — and a bit more trustworthy with things that slam! I’d opt for an inexpensive frame with an acrylic panel, rather than glass, and some non-precious, replaceable art. And because the finished piece is heavier than a typical frame, I’d mount it more like a small cabinet than standard wall art, at a height that’s low enough that kiddos can safely reach and use it on their own. (If you don’t want your kids going in and out of the garage and simply want it for storage, you can hang it at adult-only height and help them get their cars in and out.) 

Commenters also added ideas of their own: “Oooo make a kickstand so it can stay open!” shared one. “Could use Plexiglass instead of real glass and put the little pads you use for cabinets to dull the closure and avoid broken glass,” recommended another. And another noted that you can stay on theme with a piece of art that features a car, writing, “it would be super cute to have a smaller version of the hood of a car (maybe a muscle or sports car).”If you try this hack, no matter how you customize it, you’ll still have the bonus of fewer tiny cars scattered across the floor. Vroom, vroom!