Storage solutions: Skyehigh013
Posted by Huw,
Today we feature Skyehigh013's collection:
As a TFOL (Teen Fan Of Lego) my collection is spilt into two parts: Pre-dark-age (2009-2014) and Post-dark-age (2019 to now). Luckily as a child my dad was quite invested in my Lego, so he spent time helping me organise my collection (I assume so it was not on the floor).
Many of the sets me and my siblings played with got dismantled or changed into unrecognisable monstrosities, so much of my free time recently has been spent reviving many to their old glory. I am now at a point where my collection is somewhat neat and tidy, so I thought I might share how I organise and display my Lego.
My collection is quite small and in stasis as I am currently finishing my last year of high school so not as much of my time can be spent tinkering on MOCs and reviving old sets. Therefore, my collection is quite out of the way but can be accessed, with some effort, when need be.
Firstly the “playroom” is where most of the Lego is kept, especially from my childhood. Here we have shelving (from Ikea I am pretty sure, but it has been a while) on which most of my sets are displayed or the pieces are stored.
Harry Potter sets (the 2010-2011 run), Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit, Pharaoh's Quest and some random sets are the main ones I still have on display. While most of my Creator, City and Lego Movie sets have been taken apart or are in my vehicle storage.
The main way I sort lose parts is with stackable containers (originally for nails and stuff I think) and larger assorted boxes.
Here is the bulk of my sorted Lego with smaller elements stored in the large containers with dividers on the left and the medium-sized pieces in the individual, stackable containers on the right.
I have four different types of divided containers, clockwise from the top left: A Lego Dots packaging to hold tiles, with separate spaces for prints, stickers and sizes; Minifigure box with removable boxes containing everything needed to make minifigures; Plates and Studs are in the next one which has tabs that slot into the container so it can be the exact size it needs to be; Miscellany in a container with a set layout.
I find the container I store minifig parts in to be the most effective as I can just take out the segments I need and not have to clutter my space with the extra parts.
These are the shallower stackable containers that store medium-sized parts such as: round bricks, plants, masonry bricks and vehicle accessories. There is also a larger size I use for larger pieces, but they all stack together which is helpful for configuring an easily accessible storage space.
This section contains all my larger parts like bricks, large plates, doors, and wheels. The blue containers are deeper than the ones previous mentioned but the same height, while the yellow ones are much larger do not stack with the blue ones.
The container I store 1x bricks in is 10696 Medium Creative Box. Separators are easily accessible and the 32x32 baseplates fit on their side, however the shelves are not tall enough for a 48x48 baseplate which is stored on top of the unit. On top of the shelving unit is also separate shoe boxes for 2x bricks, roof pieces and technic parts (did not get a photo as it is a mess up there!).
The sets I have bought since my dark age are currently displayed on my dresser in my bedroom, while various other models are displayed in other parts of my room. I also have most of my vehicle sets stored in a large plastic tub which I can easily bring out for family friends’ young children to play when they visit.
Hopefully, you enjoyed this look at how I sort and display my Lego, sadly I can’t name many of the products I use as most were given to me by my father many years ago.
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17 comments on this article
It's always a good start to go with a stackable system whether they are toolboxes or storage towers.
Nice collection of sets!
It's very interesting to see a TFOL collection especially as that Bookshop modular is a hint that things are about to get serious! Your organized and accessible Lego is like the root of many of the vast collections we have seen over the past weeks. Thank you for participating in the series!
Great storage, very nice perspective and congratulations to your dad for helping you start out.
You're going to go a long way with Lego building, Lily.
Keep us posted with your creations!
Thank you, now this is a lot more relateable!
You know your collection is getting serious when you have an increasingly growing pile of brick separators which every now and then requires finding a larger tray to store...
Still loving these storage articles - HUW - Can you remind me how we can submit our own articles for you to look at please.
Secondly, I would still love to see some articles on keeping Lego clean and dust free - Call me a saddo!
The storage containers with the removable orange trays are great and are a bargain at Bunnings.
I have 4 or 5 of them and a couple of double depth ones the same footprint and they all stack neatly.
One for minifigure parts and accessories and the rest contain all manner of technic elements.
I must admit the kids helped me sort them!
@easter_house said:
"Still loving these storage articles - HUW - Can you remind me how we can submit our own articles for you to look at please.
Secondly, I would still love to see some articles on keeping Lego clean and dust free - Call me a saddo!"
I just sent an email to helpdest(at)brickset.com and attached my word doc and images, Huw got back to me fairly quick and it was sorted.
@Skyehigh013 said:
" @easter_house said:
"Still loving these storage articles - HUW - Can you remind me how we can submit our own articles for you to look at please.
Secondly, I would still love to see some articles on keeping Lego clean and dust free - Call me a saddo!"
I just sent an email to helpdest(at)brickset.com and attached my word doc and images, Huw got back to me fairly quick and it was sorted. "
Thanks - Will do the same!
^^ Yes, that's how to do it!
I like the Deloreon in middle earth. XD
Nice to see a fellow TFOL’s collection. I too have a random selection of older sets from young childhood, mostly from a small selection of themes, that I’m trying to piece back together.
Those orange and black storage organisers are by a company called Tactix I believe, they look very similar and are available at Homebase in the UK.
I've found Tactix have the best storage imo but I can't seem to find the ones I want as they all seem to be out of stock at my local Homebase stores.
Great to hear from a fellow TFOL. For me this article seems to be the most relatable one yet. Thanks Lilly!
I've been enjoying these Storage Solutions series of articles more so than anything else Brickset has ever done. I hope that you never discontinue this series. I feel like my Lego room is finally ready to show after getting it all together. My weekend plans are to take pictures and write up an article to submit my storage solutions. Keep them coming!
I'll call having bookshelves loaded with Lego's from top to bottom a fine collection. Good job my friend.
Your first pic already did it for me! Seeing these sets of the 2010 era: harry potter, lord of the rings, and especially pharaoh's quest, which you don't see very often in these kind of posts.
i bought all 6 sets of pharaoh's quest only last year (secondhand) and still need to build the pyramid, i'm looking forward to it, and seeing here on display is reminding me of that. thanks for that! nice collection and well organized!
This is the one most like my own collection that I have seen so far and its probably not that surprising
as I am a TFOL myself.
I especially love the lord of the rings section which I have recently been trying to boost in my own collection with the recent addition of the pirate ship ambush. :)