If you’ve ever trodden barefoot on a piece of Lego, you’ll know the importance (and pain) of keeping your child's building blocks neatly contained. The better organized their collection, the less hassle for you and the more likely they are to get creative.
Having organized many a family home in their time (and as parents themselves) our panel of organizational pros have shared their successful Lego storage solutions, as well as some simple sorting strategies to get you on your way. We’ve thrown a few of our own into the mix, too.
It’s all too easy to get carried away by lovely-looking toy storage ideas but our experts remind us to keep practicality in mind. If your Lego-sorting system is too tricky to maintain it’s impossible to keep tidy and there may soon be tantrums, from the children and adults alike!
The best Lego storage ideas
Professional organizer Lauren Saltman, founder of The Organized You, says the first step towards incorporating successful Lego storage into your kids' room ideas is to ask them what they would want.
‘Would they prefer their sets kept together or stored all in one big bin? Would they like them organized by color or by shape? Choose a system that works for them otherwise you’ll forever be the one tidying those tiny bricks away!’
Once you’ve established which organizing strategies work best for your child’s Lego collection, you’re well placed to pick from the following list of storage ideas.
1. Categorize into bins and baskets
Organizing pieces by color, type and size is a simple lego-sorting system that kids can stick to, and units with removable open storage bins, like the Nael Kid Toy Organixer from Wayfair, make it even easier – children can find the piece they need easily, and put it back in the right place when they're done (you'd hope anyway).
If you're using lidded bins (which we'd recommend you do if you've got crawlers and toddlers in the house), professional organizer Michelle Urban, founder of The Organized House, recommends using clear versions.
'Kids can see what's inside without having to open every container, or asking you to find it for them! You can encourage independence further by storing your system somewhere accessible, such as on a low shelf or under a play table'.
Punteha van Terheyden, head of Solved at Homes & Gardens says, 'I have a wide, shallow plastic lidded container on wheels filled with all of my daughter's Lego, which is easily accessible as it's under one of our living room couches. She can pull it out easily herself, and it's easy to see what is where as it's not too deep.'
She recommends the Sterilite wheeled latched storage box from Amazon, which comes in a pack of four, adding, 'We used the other three under the other sofas and they're each filled with themed activities: drawing and coloring, reading, and puzzles.'
Not a fan of transparent storage? Try these stackable brick boxes, available from Walmart and designed by the LEGO brand itself, pictured above. They’re a little pricier than bog-standard bins, but the quality and design is worth it in our opinion. They also come in a variety of colors, so you can categorize what's inside that way, or simply add a label onto the front so little ones know what goes where. Plus, they look awesome!
This six pack of stackable shallow but long storage boxes have easy pull handles and smooth underneath so will slide out easily on carpet. If like Punteha you can fit yours under a couch or bed, it's a brilliant use of dead space whilst the see-through plastic will make it easy for your little ones to identify the box of Lego they need.
2. Divide into drawers
Shallow drawers are great for storing Lego, but you’ll need to invest in some decent dividers if you want to keep an orderly collection. These iDesign organizing trays from Wayfair are great for keeping smaller bricks contained, while an adjustable divider makes space for larger pieces, and all those ‘extras’ – think lightsabers, car tires, helmets and funny-shaped Lego wigs... (if you know you know).
If you’ve got the space, Michelle suggests investing in a drawer storage rolling cart from Amazon, rated 4.6/5 stars by Amazon customers and we think it’s great value for money.
‘It’s great for keeping your Lego collection all in one place plus it’s portable, meaning you can move it around the house – handy if you’ve got siblings who like to play in each other’s rooms or if you prefer to tuck it away when not in use. When it comes to organizing drawers, assign each a specific category, such as "bricks," "wheels," or "mini-figures," to maintain order’, Michelle says.
The perfectly-proportioned activity table features a double-sided wooden board with a 15” x 15” LEGO® compatible baseplate (available in four colors) on one side and a racetrack on the other, with generous storage space hidden underneath. Crafted from birch plywood it looks lovely in kid's rooms and makes for a practical addition thanks to eased edges and a stain-resistant finish.
3. Use everyday organizers for custom storage
Creating a bespoke Lego storage system that works for your child doesn’t need to cost the earth – think about everyday organizers you use for other items around the house and how they could be adapted to suit their Lego storage needs.
Transparent cutlery trays and jewelry boxes sit neatly on tables and desks, while a Lazy Susan makes for easy (and fun) access to different colors, for example. Investing in this 8-piece clear cosmetic bag set from Walmart is handy for when your kid’s want Lego-on-the-go.
You can also utilize space in your mud room, living space or hallway, as well as repurposing screw-top jars, wide-mouthed Mason jars and even Tupperware for an easy Lego storage option.
This wide-mouthed Mason jar is dishwasher safe and with half a gallon capacity, is a great option for packing Lego to take somewhere with you. Or, you can use these to store Lego by color or piece style. This listing sells these in multiple of 1, 2, 4, and 6 so you can shop a few for uniformity.
4. Store sets together
‘Some kids only want to build exactly what’s on the instructions. If that's your child then you'll want to keep their sets stored individually, along with the manual. Small stackable bins are great for this – make it easy for children to find what they need by cutting out the image from the original box and sticking it onto the front’, says Lauren Saltman.
Another option is to use AUSTARK mesh zipper pouches from Amazon. They come in different colors for easy tidying and are a great space-saving option as you can slot several together into a drawer, onto a shelf or within a cubby hole.
‘Using a binder with clear plastic inserts to hold each manual is another great way to keep them handy and contained. If your kids are old enough, all the manuals can be downloaded in PDF form from the Lego website, handy for getting rid of paper clutter’, adds Lauren.
5. Make the most of hidden storage opportunities
Ideally you’d leave as much of the floor clear as you can when organizing a kid’s bedroom, so they’ve got space to play. Easier said than done we know, but turning your attention to less obvious small space storage ideas, such as inside wardrobes or on box-lined shelving is a good starting point. If your kid’s collection is vast, professional organizer Meaghan Kessman recommends rolling bins under the bed.
‘These clear stackable bins from The Container Store come in a variety of shapes and sizes (with removable dividers and wheels) so you can customize storage to suit your space.
Slide them conveniently underneath to keep Lego pieces and half-finished projects easily accessible yet safely out of sight. It’s a smart way to maximize space without compromising on organization, perfect in childrens' small bedroom ideas, or underneath a sofa when organizing a playroom’.
Give your Lego minifigures pride of place in this cute display cabinet – there's room for 16 to sit behind easy-open transparent doors. Stack up multiples in different colors (there's four to choose from) or mount to the wall to free up surface space for playing.
6. Corral into cubbies for a future-proof solution
When it comes to organizing toys of any kind, futureproofing is certainly something to consider; cubby-style storage, such as the Wade Logan® Lakrisha bookcase from Wayfair, pictured above.
This style of freestanding storage is particularly popular as it can be easily adapted as your child’s preferences and needs change. The open boxes that fit snugly inside (opt for soft side designs to reduce the risk of accidents) are just as practical for Lego now as they will be for sports equipment, books and school supplies in years to come.
7. Choose stylish storage for communal spaces
While we’re all for a bit of color when it comes to kid’s bedroom storage ideas, you might want to take a more pared-back approach to storing Lego in communal living spaces. Storage ottomans are handy for hiding large builds, while stylish baskets keep bricks contained.
Recommended by shoppers for their good quality - and good looks – Loon Peak® Backsten Seagrass Baskets from Wayfair blend in with any decor and the lidless design makes tidying quicker and easier, too.
‘I tell my clients to leave an empty basket in each room of the house that their kids can throw loose Lego pieces in throughout the day. It keeps things tidy, prevents lost items and introduces children to chores, encouraging them to put things back in their rightful place at the end of the day’, says Michelle.
This nifty little drawer unit features a LEGO-compatible base board on top so kids can display their creations without sacrificing build-friendly surface space. Each of the three drawers can be fully removed for easy rummaging and features a Lego plate clip on the front so you can use a brick to categorize what's inside. Neat proportions make it a great desk addition.
8. Mount a pegboard for storage – and style
What do you do with half-finished Lego projects? Mount a pegboard on the wall and store everything you need on there, that’s what. We’ve tried this hack at home and can vouch for it – kids love the freedom of creating their own storage system and it looks pretty cool, too.
'The Azar Displays 70-Piece Pegboard Wall Organizer Kit from Target can be customized with hooks, trays and baskets to contain the pieces they need for each project. wall mounted storage baskets also work well. Either way, mount a shelf nearby so you’ve got somewhere safe to store half-finished projects and display finished creations’, says Michelle.
This nifty little peg board comes with multiple hooks, pegs and containers in various shapes so you can set up in a configuration suitable for your Lego storage needs.
FAQs
How do you keep Lego tidy?
It’s an ongoing challenge, we admit, but sensible storage, an easy-to-maintain organizational system will give you the best chance to keep Lego collections neat. It's also good to have an agreed process for tidying in place with any kids who are old enough to take some of this on so it becomes a family effort.
There are a few savvy tools you can use to help things along, too.
For efficient tidying, Meaghan swears by the Pick Up Bricks toy cleanup vaccum from Amazon, while Michelle recommends the Lay-n-Go 2-in1 portable drawstrings toy storage organizer and play mat, also from Amazon.
‘Kids can spread out their Lego on the mat, and when it’s time to tidy up, simply pull the drawstring to transform the mat into a convenient storage bag. Transport ongoing projects between rooms or even take them along on playdates’.
So you’ve got your kid’s Lego collection under control, but what about the rest of their stuff? Toys and clothes, school equipment and crafting supplies , the list goes on and on.
We’ve shared some top tips on how to organize a home with kids in mind to help you contain the chaos, or stand a chance of it, at least – good luck!
