How to organize lego is the most frequently asked question I get when people find out I'm a home organizer. Lego can be the bane of parents' existence from the sound of shuffling while they’re building to stepping on a rogue piece that hasn’t made it back to the container. The truth is there are a million right ways to do it, the key is finding what’s right for your family. 

Part of it will depend on the size of your collection. If it’s small and growing you can start by organizing by brick category, by colour, or by set. The bigger the collection  I recommend going by brick type and colour. You want to have smaller specific containers rather than large containers filled with a few different types because you and the kids will be able to find the piece they need so much easier. Read here to find out the theory behind this from a lego master.

I like to plan ahead when thinking about organizing so my recommendations are good for small to large collections so that you’re not having to reorganize or buy new containers as the collection grows. And as always they can be reused for other things if they loose interest in Lego. Creating a space for lego isn’t just about storing the pieces, you also need a place to display the creations plus a space to create. 

Create a Dedicated LEGO Space

Set up a dedicated area for building and storage. This doesn't have to be complicated, a table with a couple of chairs will do the trick and allow for plenty of space to create. Another idea if your child likes to sit on the ground while building is a coffee table like Lack from ikea. It’s great because it has a shelf underneath where you can add baskets for existing projects, that way they can place half built things or pieces they need at the end of the day instead of leaving a mess around the room. Either way baskets for partially built masterpieces are essential so that pieces don't go missing and the visual clutter when they’re not building is kept to a minimum.

Lego Display

This can be quite simple, A book shelf, floating shelves or a repurposed china cabinet. Anything can be used to display your lego creations. Utilize the full space on the shelves by adding shelf risers so you can have many items on different levels

Storing your blocks

You’ve probably heard me say it before but the trofast system from Ikea is my favourite container for toys, 1. because you can get different sized bins, 2. because you can’t see whats in the bin from the front, goodbye visual clutter!, and 3. they slide in and out easily. 4, they are flat on the top which can make a great space for displaying or creating.

The small containers should be separated by brick type. The typical is bricks singles, 2x2, 4x2 etc, plates, slopes, snots, technics, characters, doors and windows and house accessories and wheels and car accessories.These small containers are great because they are not deep which means you can see more so they can find the pieces easily. A more portable option is scrapbooking bins. They are stackable and make it easy to transport from room to room to create.

Label Everything

Labels make it easier to find what you need and keep things organized. Use:

• Printed Labels: For a professional look.

• Dry-Erase Labels: If you’re likely to change the contents frequently.

Establish a Maintenance Routine

Regularly sort and clean your LEGO collection to keep it manageable:

• Daily Cleanup: Spend 5-10 minutes tidying up after building sessions.

• Monthly Maintenance: Things are inevitably going to get put away in the wrong bin so re sort once a month to get them back to normal.

What’s your favourite way to organize Lego? Tell me in the comments

Happy Organizing

Jocelyn