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Original poster

how do you all store lego?

54 replies

leftmydignityatthedoor · 28/10/2011 15:53

Ds is turning 5 at xmas and is getting a lot of disney cars lego. How should I store it? I envisage tears about lost pieces and his younger sister trying to eat small pieces.

Help!

OP posts:
stickylittlefingers · 28/10/2011 15:57

plastic ikea boxes. But not so sure about the younger sister problem, younger siblings with older children's toys is a problem - just keep an eye, or don't let the older ones have toys with small parts.

reckoner · 28/10/2011 15:58

ikea boxes

girlywhirly · 28/10/2011 15:58

To store my DS Lego, I bought a wide shallow plastic box with a lid, the sort you can put under a bed. It is easier to see the pieces you want when they are spread out a bit rather than on top of each other. Also stops the need to tip it all out onto the floor/table to find bits.

Pancakeflipper · 28/10/2011 15:59

storage crates with lids.

We used to just play lego on the dining room table when his younger brother was at an age of eating everything. And hope nothing fell on the floor.

VivaLeBeaver · 28/10/2011 16:17

Old biscuit tins, tupperware boxes, all in collapsible plastic crates. I photocopy instructions as well as these seem to get lost a lot.

Original poster
leftmydignityatthedoor · 28/10/2011 16:23

At home it'll be in his playroom. Its just at xmas when we are at grandparents we won't be able to keep dd away from the wee pieces.

Like the idea of an underbed storage so you can see what you have in there. Should I store different sets in separate boxes / bags or is there no point?

OP posts:
twolittledarlings · 28/10/2011 16:33

I got 16kg of Lego off Ebay and now I colour coordinate them in ikea shallow boxes with lids on shelves in the cupboards. Its so useful if wanting to find a particular piece.

All the Harry Potter sets, the 3 in 1 Creator Houses sets and the Fire Station sets, I keep in bags in original boxes as when my girls are sick of them, will sell off on Ebay.

Pancakeflipper · 28/10/2011 16:38

You colour co-ordinate Twolittledarlings?

That would never work in my home as I am a meanie and make my 6 and 3 yr old help with the lego clear and they would laugh in my face at such an instruction. Though I am considering a separate box for wheels, windows/doors/people etc..

suburbandream · 28/10/2011 16:40

A friend of mine has all the instructions in an A4 file which I think is brilliant but I am too lazy and disorganised to do this! DH tries to get the DCs to keep all the sets in the original boxes but they are at the age where they are enjoying creating their own things so it's really hard. We got a lot of random lego from a church fete once, so we have all the bricks in a big storage box, the people in an old ice-cream tub and a "useful bits" box of all the odds and sods.

nickelbabe · 28/10/2011 16:42

Big plastic box, normally (it's always been in there)
But my big sis bought me a proper lego storage brick last birthday and it's perfect.
obviously it doesn't fit all of the lego in, so I'm getting another one this christmas (and one of the heads)

yes, i am talking about my lego, not a child's.
Child will get duplo when it's old enough, but not allowed to touch my lego.
Blush

Lotkinsgonecurly · 28/10/2011 16:45

I love the idea of colour coordinating the lego bits! Brilliant. We keep all the instructions together in a folder and everything else just gets lumped together in various plastic boxes.

KatieScarlett2833 · 28/10/2011 16:45

IKEA black net hangy up from ceiling to almost floor thing. Was cheap and takes up no floor space

It has spaces for DC's to put their hands in to retrieve satans plaything lego

sevenoften · 28/10/2011 16:47

I have the best system ever!!

You really want to be able to spread the pieces out so you can find things, but if you have a large collection this requires far too many boxes. So we have a flat sheet that all the lego goes onto. You can spread the pieces out as much as you like - plenty of room. At the end, pick up the corners and lift so the pieces all fall into the middle. Then it all goes into one large (deep) plastic box - the sheet is like a liner in the box, and the ends just drape over the top. No pieces left to tread on and make you scream, and only takes 10 seconds to put away.

Ta-da!

TeWihara · 28/10/2011 16:47

Plastic boxes with lids.

There are 7 boxes Shock waiting in the attic for when our DC are old enough. One big one with basic bricks and then six more with specialist bricks in for different themes (eg, boats, space etc). Idea is that we will start with the main box and then bring out the 'expansion' packs for future birthdays/christmas' if they like playing with it.

I doubt my anal organisation will last when the kids get their hands on it!

AurraSing · 28/10/2011 16:49

We have clear storage boxes too.

Twolittledarlings, I'm impressed with your storage system. I have tried numerous times to separate the different bits out but it never lasts longer than a couple of days. Ds seems to think the system involves leaving Lego anywhere he feels like - it's even in the bathroom. It's as if it's only me who cares.

nickelbabe · 28/10/2011 16:49

I do coordinate various bits - like all the rooves are together, all the "household stuff", all the people, all the funny looking bits, etc.
I have little chinese takeaway cartoons, and little tubs.

TeWihara · 28/10/2011 16:50

With the duplo we have at the moment we have a box of bricks and a box of windows/people/cars etc, and it stays that way pretty easily.

I guess this is less easy with older children though...

pinkhebe · 28/10/2011 16:52

we have several old tool boxes with the compartments for storing screws etc. Then the general lego is sorted within an inch of it's life!

Starwars lego is made and put on shelves, all other 'character' lego has it's own box - really useful boxes are good for this as they stack neatly.

DH is in charge of lego sorting though Grin

CaptainNancy · 28/10/2011 17:04

Could we have this thread moved to 'good housekeeping'? I think it will be of great use, not just for christmas... Smile

molepom · 28/10/2011 17:21

If you have lego spread out all over the floor, use a dustpan and brush to collect them to put back in the boxes.

The sheet idea is better though (makes note to pop into second hand shop tomorrow for sheet)

Pigleychez · 28/10/2011 17:21

My friend has a homemade version of this for all her DS's Lego. Very quick and easy to tidy away!

I can try and get some info about how to make it from her if your interested.

justcallmemummypig · 28/10/2011 19:10

in debenhams they sell a big lego brick shaped box think it was £25 looked great

twolittledarlings · 28/10/2011 19:36

Not only do I have 7 boxes of Legos in colours, blue, red, black, grey, yellow, white/cream, green but I have little ikea boxes - one for figures and special bits , one for doors/windows and one for wheels and one for orange/brown.

Also in each large box, I have 2 little business card boxes holding either one stud lego or two stud lego.

It all sounds a bit over the top but its so easy to clear up. When their friends come round, I take all the boxes out and they each have a base and have a competition in building say a house or a park etc. Afterwards, they just take everything apart in put back in boxes and I just shove back in their shelves.

Original poster
leftmydignityatthedoor · 28/10/2011 19:43

Thanks guys, the sheet is a great idea :)

OP posts:
Original poster
leftmydignityatthedoor · 28/10/2011 19:54

Pigleychez - a homemade version of what?

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