Storage solutions: VAEllen22
Posted by Huw,
The Weaver Family, aka VAEllen22, explain how they keep everybody's LEGO tidy:
We are a family of 4 avid Lego fans. I am the dad and the primary parts organiser as I was also the one who choose to acquire so many parts. Lego has always been a part of my life. My older brother received his first Lego set, 590, the same year that I was born. Growing up we had a decent collection including a town setup on two tables, totalling roughly 3’x6’, with space sets on the floor under it. In the mid 90’s I entered my dark ages and luckily my mom put them all in storage. Those sets were pulled back out of storage once our little co-builders were born.
My wife also grew up with LEGO and her parents still have many of those sets in their basement playroom. She is very understanding of my obsession, while also making sure certain boundaries are established. This is actually her account on Brickset which she setup to help track our collection, but I now use.
We have two little co-builders. One is eight years old and the other is six. I will blame them for why the collection looks messier than any other collection posted. They are also the reason why it has taken me a month to take all the pictures and write this so that is why it seems things are moving around in the pics. The oldest excels at the fine motor skills required for LEGO. When he was just four years old, he spent several hours helping me with my big crane, 42009. Our collection is primarily organised for their play and I wanted to focus on a few of those aspects. We have about 70,000 pieces total with about 45,000 of those available and sorted to build MOC. It takes up part of a playroom which is a loft on the upper level of our house.
Our little co-builders are heavy into their MOC phase and I have organised the pieces with that in mind. Our family is currently working on a 3-story museum with exhibits so you’ll see that in the pictures.
There are two keys to our storage system that I have not found in other posts. One is a large “To Be Sorted” bin because there are many times when we need to clean up quickly, and we do not have the time to sort. It also allows the little builders to not have to worry about getting the pieces back into the right bin but let dad deal with it (less incorrect sorting that way).
The other is the large bin of “Vehicle Parts”. The little builders LOVE making vehicle MOCs and this bin gives them everything they need to get their base design started. Be it car, truck, helicopter, boat, or some combination of all. Also, when I began sorting pieces the level of different vehicle parts was mind boggling and almost made me stop sorting. There was no way to keep my sanity and have each vehicle part be organised. Hence, the bin of “Vehicle Parts” was born and it is often the first bin the little builders grab.
We sort by part type, not colour as they are focused more on function than consistent colour scheme. We use several types of bins that we have collected over the years. The variety of bin sizes has helped by allowing for large collections to be in one bin while also allowing for smaller bins for finer sorting where needed.
The large clear bins with white tops were purchased by my mom at The Container Store 25 years ago when I entered my dark ages. They are great other than the deafening noise made while digging in them.
The zip-loc bags are treasured sets from my youth that I want to keep as sets. You might spot a 497 Galaxy Explorer in one of them.
The coloured containers in the slide out stacker were purchased by my wife about 10 years ago. The understanding at the time was that the entire Lego collection would be kept in these bins.
We have a chest with small pullout trays for minifigure accessories. All those tiny things that would get lost in larger bins and are also easily categorised.
But most of the specific organising occurs with the smaller plastic containers with red lids. These are Rubbermaid TakeAlongs. The type of food storage containers that are re-usable but you are not heart broken if you loose them or give them away. We can get 9 of them for about $12US so we found them to be an economical option. They stack nicely and seem to be the perfect size for our collection.
And finally, the shelving is from IKEA which almost seems standard in these posts. We went with Hemnes as they match the rest of the shelving in the house. The play table was a $15 find at a local yard sale, and we add the blue folding table when the adults a doing enough building that we want to be up and off the floor.
We have a house rule that all Lego stays in the Lego Loft but there are a few exceptions. I work from home full time as a structural engineer specialising in heavy steel, so I keep my cranes, 42009 and 42042, in the home office and visible on video calls. And the Apollo Saturn V is on display in the basement.
We have a moratorium on buying more Lego pieces, but one has not been placed on buying better storage. Motivated by other collections I just bought some art supply boxes and hope to organise all the small technic pieces. That is, if my 8-year-old can put them down long enough for me to sort them.
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27 comments on this article
Lovey collection and great that’s it’s so family and child orientated.
Also, ‘moratorium’. Has to be a contender for word of the day! But that needs lifting asap!!!
"...the level of different vehicle parts was mind boggling and almost made me stop sorting."
I feel you on that. And that applies in general parts as well. Too many new molds so too much sorting (or not).
This looks a bit like our storage: a couple of big plastic tubs, some small parts organizers, slide out containers - generally a variety of containers... (well, minus the clean floors - and, minus the only one room - and, minus the parts actually being in the bins where they belong ;-)
Even that large building your kids made looks just like the kind of thing my kids build :-)
Having a table like that might help with the clean floors though, hmmm, I might have to start looking for something similar.
What's in the tray labelled 'crazy people'?
Really nicely written, thanks for sharing!
I also have a bin of vehicle parts, but that's only because I don't have quite enough to justify separating out the wheels, wheel axles, steering wheels, mudguards, windscreens, propellers, tracks, seats, engine parts and such just yet. But once I do, I'll still group them, no reason not to.
So many classic base plates... But where are all the classic town sets?
"We have a moratorium on buying more Lego pieces"
Oh, for your fortitude...
Nice, honest, realistic storage; thanks for sharing :-)
That pie stall must make some fine pie for all those folks to be lined up like that. Is that the crazy people?
Oh, how I want that grey motorbike in the vehicles bin! I recommend you keep your windscreens separate so they don’t get all scratched up in there.
I am also officially jealous of your 81001 FORMA Shark.
I think I'm going to steal your idea for the 45 degree side bin bays in the first photo, as little fingers can see and take what they need without having to move the bins from the shelves and empty everywhere. Looks like a great area to amuse kids on play dates with 45,000 pieces will they ever leave.
Very well written article, i am loving all these different storage solutions. Some based on different building styles. Love the fact you have kept your lego from your childhood. And love the fact the kids are now involved. I still have my sets from childhood and have so many fond memories of building vehicle mocs and thinking if only i had more of a certain piece. How different building mocs is today with nearly every lego element available in large supply.
Your room looks like it is action oriented. Using those little Rubbermaid containers is an excellent idea, and I owe you a big thanks on that as I have about 50 of those in my basement. I used to send my son off with a cooler of homemade frozen dinners whenever he came home from university for long weekends. He just graduated and all those empty containers are now sitting in the basement. Nice to be able to put them into use. Thanks very much!
@TerryWright said:
"
What's in the tray labelled 'crazy people'?"
Hagrid, Gollum, a few Friends that have made it into the collection. Basically, anyone who doesn't fit the standard minifig profile. But I'm now realizing the label could be interpreted many ways.
@blackdeathgr said:
""...the level of different vehicle parts was mind boggling and almost made me stop sorting."
I feel you on that. And that applies in general parts as well. Too many new molds so too much sorting (or not)."
All the different little parts/molds in the new sets is one reason for the moratorium. I'd go crazy trying to piece out and sort too many of the new buildings. I'm a classic Lego guy who likes standard flat brick walls and it doesn't need too much added detail. I have grouped some of these new building bricks in a "textured bricks" bin to simplify life.
@Lego_lord said:
"So many classic base plates... But where are all the classic town sets?"
Some are in the bags, but the rest got parted out. My co-builders are just not into the simple buildings of my youth. We still have all the instructions so they could be re-assembled again. Also, when I was younger we bought many lone baseplates to help build out the town. I now cherish those simple baseplates with streets lined by studs.
@namekuji said:
"That pie stall must make some fine pie for all those folks to be lined up like that. Is that the crazy people?
Oh, how I want that grey motorbike in the vehicles bin! I recommend you keep your windscreens separate so they don’t get all scratched up in there."
I LOVED those motorcycles when I was young and even had the motorcycle shop 6373. Still have at least 5 of them. Thanks for the advice on separating the windscreens.
The ‘crazy people’ bin was the thing that jumped out at me too, so I’m glad someone already asked about the contents.
@GeordiePaul said:
"The ‘crazy people’ bin was the thing that jumped out at me too, so I’m glad someone already asked about the contents."
I'm laughing at how "crazy people" is the bin everyone is zeroing in on. Not "animal parts" or even the entire bin dedicated to light sabers.
@vaellen22 said:
" @TerryWright said:
"
What's in the tray labelled 'crazy people'?"
Hagrid, Gollum, a few Friends that have made it into the collection. Basically, anyone who doesn't fit the standard minifig profile. But I'm now realizing the label could be interpreted many ways."
Ha! Thanks. :D
Now this is the way Lego is supposed to be stored: easily accessible to little builders! Your loft is a great balance of storage, building space, and play space. Thanks for sharing it!
I've been trying to tell my daughter that Friends is "crazy people" for years now, but the avid Friends builder just rolls her eyes in an "Oh, Dad..." kind of way...
LOL, i have the same "to be sorted" bin. For ex.... my son used the pcs from the Frozen Palace 41148 so Mr. Freeze could trap Robin. As awesome as that was you can see how the palace may never go back together and Dad's going to have to let it go. Now, when he wants to switch themes we will just dump what's on the table into a "to be sorted" bin Armamageddon style. It maximizes his play time and makes the sets look really nice when their isn't too many mixed themes on top of each other.
I appreciate sorting by part instead of color. When you're looking for the perfect piece, it's easier find the right color in a box of multi-colored pieces rather than stare into a box of white pieces looking for the one specific piece you have in that color.
I love your collection and storage solutions! I use the red lid Rubbermaid containers as well!
@vaellen22:
Hagrid has no filter between his brain and his mouth, judging by the amount of times he remarks that he should have just said whatever key information he provided. Gollum has split personality disorder and talks to himself. And have you looked at the Friends minidolls? Whatever interpretation you go buy, it seems to work.
"Slopers" is my new label for roof pieces of any kind, just plain fun!