AIBU to not have a clue how to organise all this LEGO - Lego mums come in!

[millionaireshortie]

We don't have masses of Lego but both kids are getting into it and I'm going to sell some of their old toys to invest in more and ask relatives at Xmas too. What's the best way to organise and present it so they are easily inspired to play? Until now it's all thrown in one box and I think it's overwhelming for them. We have Lego ideas books but they don't have the pieces to make anything in there!

Also where can you get the regular building bricks? Everything seems to be sold in sets which once you've made it that item can't really go towards making much else?

Any Lego tips gratefully received!!!

Will post pics of our Lego collection in a sec...

No help on the storage front as we just chuck it in boxes but you can buy the bricks anywhere like Argos, Amazon, Smyth's etc just Google Lego classic bricks

You can buy any bricks you want if you can get to a Lego store - you get to fill up different size 'cups' for a price .
My grandson is into Lego , so he has some of THESE for all the 'fiddly' types of stuff, then the big Classic boxes are filled with the basic bricks

This is our Lego storage.. it's two ikea units with drawers joined together and they use the top as Lego table

Drawers are both sides

For big blocks: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00AZL79UI?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

For fiddly small pieces: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01F3NFZGM?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

We've got two of each. It takes ages to sort, but its worth it once organised. Don't sort by colour, sort by shape/function.

Sorry, THIS one for fiddly bits: www.amazon.co.uk/Oypla-Drawer-Storage-Organiser-Cabinet/dp/B07K7KBLW4/?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

For every day I kept in it in open tool boxes that could be filled and carried about.

watching with interest, DD8 is really into Lego at the moment and I'm struggling to keep it organised.

Chuck it all in one big box. Except the tiny bits which are in a slightly smaller box which lives inside the big one. Don't bother with fancy organizing because you'll end up having to redo it very regularly as they get put back in the wrong place (unless you like that sort of thing)

We tried sorting ours by colour but I found it was never getting tidied away as it was too much work. I changed to two boxes on wheels instead that can be stored under our couch. People go in one box and all the other bits go in the other. Much quicker to tidy away.

We have a huge drawstring bag that opens out to a playmat that conains it all. Mine arent interested in sets, they just like to build what they want so no need to sort it all.

www.amazon.co.uk/Sycle-circle-Portable-Organiser-Drawstring/dp/B07CZNW15W/ref=asc_df_B07CZNW15W/?hvlocphy=9044978&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvadid=256160500079&hvpone&hvlocint&hvpos=1o1&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=aud-545671390501:pla-466161222153&hvrand=293081959267404091

A big trunk for big pieces overflow and dumping the inevitable overspill across all of the house.

The Really Useful 8 drawer unit for sorting some bits into themes. I don't attempt to sort all of it, it is many hours of work!

The themes are:
Vehicles
Panels, doors, windows
Large random
People, animals, plants, accessories
Small random for the tiny ???? stuff
Angles (eg roof tiles)
Blocks
Base plates
Flats and tiles

There is a bit of overlap, but generally the categories work well and when I have spent an afternoon sorting, the kids do get revived because they can find what they want better, and the small stuff filters down to the bottom of the trunk.

DDS Lego sets are in individual clip box Tupperware with the instructions.

Then she has a big old Lego box that was mine with all the basics n odd n ends of stuff we've accumulation over the years. Works well for us

We have this which lives under the sofa - only about an inch high, so slides underneath easily. Kids can easily rummage for the right bits, so no need for emptying boxes everywhere, and so easy to tidy up - just chuck it all in, and it's hidden away. Super cheap too. Credit to (now ex) husband for thinking of it; I suppose he wasn't completely useless after all www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/pets-at-home-dog-crate-replacement-tray-x-large-black?size=x?&istCompanyId=7255ccad-a1fc-4729-af31-478f79e5071c&istFeedId=84fabe95-ef22-40cd-8182-fa00a033ea14&istItemId=ititmwpxx&istBid=t

I did try and sort ours into different boxes but it didn’t work out well so it’s now in one big toy box, we do have over 20 years worth though

I bought a big Ikea table from gumtree with a shelf under the table. I then glued base plates on the table and put a multitude of Ikea wicker baskets on the shelf for storage. It’s still a bit untidy but better.

All stored in a big box with lid. From time to time kids will seperate into different colours, people etc and eventually it ends up back in the big box!

They have sets some have been broken up and mixed into main collection. They understand if they are broken up they will more than likely never find all the pieces although I have all instructions if they want to..........

Most of the time they like making their own creations with whatever pieces they have.

Ds2 has 4 massive plastic tubs under his bed they are split into different categories and stored in the tub. Yes one of those tubs is just a mass of bricks for nothing or tiny individual sets.

You can get small cabinets that fit to the walls for figures. DS7 is really into his figures...he's sorted into superhero groups etc and knows exactly what goes where. The rest is in a storage box under his Lego table. :)

Shallow underbed trays work well, I think ours were IKEA. Better for rummaging than square boxy tubs. Lego shops do pots of pick and mix pieces for 12 quid. Maybe there is one near you? We've one in Birmingham.

Nah, one big box is fine.

Scrabbling around for hours trying to find the best piece, trying out different ones, stretching their imagination for the less regular pieces, trying out different shapes, sorting by colours = all really great ways to learn and play.

We have something like this, using Ikea children's storage. We have one base unit (9 drawers with lids) and one wall unit (6 drawers with lids).

We sort on colour in the bottom 9 drawers (some colours share, eg pink and purple) and each kid has a top draw to store part finished projects. Also up at the top is drawers for wheels and people accessories.

We built wooden frames around base plates and put the people on those on the wall between the base and wall units.i don't have a picture of the finished project! Will try and remember to do one tonight!

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=lego+storage+ikea&client=safari&hl=en-gb&prmd=simvn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiEx6x2L7jAhVbURUIHYHBAlkQQ_AUoAnoECAwQAg&biw=375&bih=553&dpr=2#imgrc=C84HKEYFU-QYBM

As babysharkah said above. Makes tidying up much easier.

We’ve gone for a couple of underbed really useful storage trays. they’re large but shallow and stack together. We have one with all the flat base pieces and regular bricks and another with all the interesting bits - wheels, windows, funny shaped pieces. We also have another one that fits underneath the armchair downstairs as I felt my kids were missing out on doing Lego with other people around by only keeping it in their bedroom. That has a mixture of pieces in it.