I was recently browsing the Online LEGO Shop in categories I normally don’t visit. One of these is LEGO storage items. I usually ignore this section of the LEGO website because, in my experience, items in this category are geared towards helping little kids to tidy their toys and not particularly useful for adult LEGO fans. However this time I got intrigued by a new sorting and storage unit I haven’t seen before. I actually liked it so much I ordered two sets right on the spot, and they arrived just a couple of days ago. I thought to share with you what I think of them. 🙂
The LEGO storage box sets I’m talking about are the ones pictured above. Currently they come in two different styles, featuring either LEGO Friends or LEGO Legends of Chima. I got two sets of the LEGO Friends storage units because, as a girl myself, I was smitten by that “Building girlpower” logo. Plus I actually don’t have that much girly LEGO and I thought it would be funny to store my spaceships, armies, and castles in these LEGO Friends boxes. 🙄
Each set of these LEGO storage boxes includes 3 boxes with lids; a large one, a medium one and a small one. They are all the same length and width, and only the depth is different, so they are easily stackable. All three of the boxes are 14 inches (35 cm) wide and 11 inches (27 cm) long. The large box is 9 inches deep, the medium box is 6 inches deep, and the small box is 3 inches deep.
There is also a storage-tray included that you can place in any of the three LEGO storage boxes, plus there are 9 sorting cups (3 larger ones and 6 smaller ones). The sorting cups can neatly fit on the storage-tray, and of course can be removed when you are working on building projects and you want to spread them out.
The official description of these LEGO storage boxes is as follows: Organize your LEGO pieces by color, shape, size, theme, or any other way you like with this fun and colorful sorting system, decorated with characters and scenes from the LEGO Friends (or LEGO Legends of Chima) fun-filled world! Each set includes 3 sturdy plastic storage boxes with lids and a sorting tray with 3 large and 6 small sorting cups. Save your creations or loose bricks in the bigger boxes, while keeping instructions and little pieces safely stored in the smallest one!
- Features 3 storage boxes (large, medium and small) with snap-on lids
- Includes removable sorting tray with 9 cups (3 large and 6 small) for little pieces
- Sorting tray fits into all 3 boxes
- Cups can be rearranged or removed from the tray
- Large box measures over 9″ (22cm) tall, 14″ (35cm) wide and 11″ (27cm) long
- Medium box measures over 6″ (15cm) tall, 14″ (35cm) wide and 11″ (27cm) long
- Small box measures over 3″ (7cm) tall, 14″ (35cm) wide and 11″ (27cm) long
The LEGO storage boxes, the tray and the cups are all sturdy plastic with a bit of flex to them, so I doubt these will ever break under normal use. The colors are nice and bright, matching standard LEGO colors (or in the case of the LEGO Friends boxes, LEGO Friends colors). They are made for LEGO by Room Copenhagen, the same Danish company that made the previously released LEGO storage heads and LEGO storage bricks. You can find the storage bricks and head on Amazon. Here is the link: LEGO Storage Head & LEGO Storage Bricks on Amazon
I store my loose LEGO elements in drawer units, so I didn’t need storage boxes for those, however for my LEGO creations that I don’t have room to display and for LEGO instructions I use storage tubs. Of course I could use any generic storage box, but I prefer them to be LEGO themed and also to have a uniform look. I have been using the largest LEGO storage boxes made by Iris, and I absolutely love them, however it is impossible to find those any more, and if they do show up on the secondary market they cost a fortune. So I have been looking for another LEGO storage system I could use, and expand on when needed.
I have already transferred all of my instructions and LEGO creations into the large and medium storage units, and I’m really pleased with them. The medium storage unit is pretty much the same size as the large box made by Iris, so yeah, they can fit a lot of stuff. I’m keeping the smallest unit, the storage tray and cups for working on current projects.
In summary I would say that these are the most useful LEGO storage boxes that LEGO ever released and is currently available. Again, I do like the Iris boxes as well, but since the large ones that are most useful to me have been discontinued, I pretty much lost interest in them. If you liked the Iris boxes, and looking for a new system to store your LEGO, I highly recommend these. They are available at the Online LEGO Shop here: LEGO Sorting & Storage Systems
The included storage tray and cups are a very thoughtful addition, and are great for separating out small parts within the storage boxes, as well as for sorting and storing LEGO elements while working on a project. My only negative feedback about these boxes is that the lids don’t snap on (even though it says so in the official description). They kind of just sit on top of the boxes. Even if not completely secured, a bit snugger fit and reassuring snap would have been a welcome addition.
Another thing I hope for in regards to these LEGO storage units is that they will be available in more themes and colors. As I have mentioned, currently you can only get LEGO Friends or LEGO Legends of Chima themed boxes, which is fine, but more themes would be welcome: LEGO City, LEGO Star Wars, LEGO Ninjago, The LEGO Movie… to name a few. It is not a big deal if they don’t make more as the main thing is that the boxes are very useful, however it would be nice to have them in other themes and colors. If not, I will just get more of the LEGO Friends ones.
How about you? How do you like these new LEGO sorting and storage boxes? Or what is your favorite LEGO sorting and storage system? Do you like to use official LEGO boxes, or just use whatever you find? How do you store your LEGO instructions, loose LEGO elements, and already built LEGO creations? Feel free to share in the comment section below! 😉
You might also like to check out the Care & Feed of LEGO section for more storage and display ideas or select from the following related posts:
- BrickRack – LEGO Display for Minifigs & More
- LEGO Minifigure Display & Storage Ideas
- Building a LEGO Room – A DIY Project
- Building a LEGO Closet – A DIY Project
- LEGO Minifigure Display – A DIY Project
- LEGO Minifigure Display Cases with Style!
- The Ideal LEGO Room: Build a LEGO Wall!
- What is the Best Way to Store Your LEGO?
- What is the Best Way to Sort Your LEGO?
- LEGO Organization: the Portable Solution
- LEGO Storage: LEGO Sort & Store Head
The Container Store in Charlotte, NC has a lot of awesome bins for LEGO storing. They also have those brick boxes. I myself use these ECR4Kids 10-Drawer Mobile Organizer, Assorted Colors
, 1 of these Akro-Mils 10144 D 20-Inch by 16-Inch by 6-1/2-Inch Hardware and Craft Cabinet, Black, and 1 of these Stanley 014725 25-Removable Compartment Professional Organizer
That Acro-Mils one is very nice and used by many LEGO fans. It is very useful for loose elements. So is the small carry case with compartments. I haven’t seen that tall mobile organizer before, but it also looks great. Especially with the color-coded drawers. 🙂
Interesting, though I would like it if they sold extra trays and cups so you could add a set to both boxes if you wanted to. I think it is a good system, but Lego should add more themed versions like you said, or a least a few plain colors with an original Lego theme so you didn’t have to choose a specific style. Also, when you put the tray in the large box, does it just sit in the bottum, are does it rest on top leaving room to keep things underneath? Thanks :).
Strider, my guess is that as this storage system becomes popular people will be selling extra trays and cups that they don’t need. Also, I think if you buy more than one set, you will end up with plenty of trays and cups. I got two sets, so I got two trays and 18 cups and I’m probably set for life. 😉
In regards to your question, they tray fits into each box and rests on the top (you can still put the lid on of course), so there is pleny of room underneath. Like for example you can store your MOC inside the box, and keep the minigis and more delicate accessories on the tray. Or, if you are using the storage box for storing all your LEGO, you can keep the larger elements in the box, and the small and unique parts on the trays or even separated out in the cups. I think it is a great system. 🙂
those storage containers that where shaped like LEGO bricks was awesome! 😎
Yeah, they are quite fun. Especially as you can stack them as regular LEGO bricks! 😀
SAY WHAA?!? THAT’S AWESOME!
but really guys if you don’t want to spend any money (or look really cheep 🙄 ) just put your LEGO bricks in shoe boxes, if they can all fit in shoe boxes. 😀 that’s what I do! but on the down side they get stuck in the folds of the box so yeah.
oh yeah, not to make you guys jealous but soon I’m going to the LEGO store in Disneyland! (well, the place near Disneyland.)
Yes, shue-boxes are great! Both the carboard ones and the plastic ones. You can tape down the edges of the carboard ones so small pieces don’t slide under. But yes, it is a very practical system to use for storing LEGO. The LEGO store in at Disney is my favorite! It was recently redesigned completely and now can fit even more people. I really like the displays! 😀
It is in downtown Disney, and they had a giant manta ray sculpture at one point
The last time I was there they had a giant purple dragon. 🙄
I like the themed boxes but for storage purposes I don’t think they as practical as say those Stack On Boxes that I found. Those are just amazing. I do like the brick shaped boxes though I think I’d use them less for brick storage than maybe storing stuff around my house and using them as a sort of Lego themed house decoration. In regards to further sorting helps, when I started sorting pieces into my Stack On 60 drawer cabinet I found that determining the pieces that are in each drawer was kind of tricky so I downloaded thumbnails of the different brick types from Bricklink.com and printed them on sticker paper to stick on the front of each drawer, it actually works out quite well.
Kim, yes, printing out little labels for the drawers is a great idea many LEGO fans use. Some people also just tape one of the elements in front of the drawer. Of course that only works with the smaller parts. I also use the drawer system for loose elements, but for storing MOCs that I don’t have room to display, and for work-in-progress projects, the storage boxes are great. Also, the PAB cups are a fun way to sort stuff and they can stack. 😉
I don’t know about these. I technically have no room for these anywhere, so… 😕 . All my spare parts are kept in different bins and bottles (including 4 PAB bins) sorted by their category, which I make up. Like my Flats Box, which contains all my plates w/ a stud area of 8 studs or less. That is made out of Lego pieces though. I have quite a few different types, so it’s hard to get them enclosed w/ such few wall segments…not sure drawers will help.
Anyways, I’m just waiting until after 7:00, don’t ask me why, I’m not telling yet. 😉
So… what were you waiting for? 🙄
I was waiting for 7:00 b/c my TV Guide takes me 2 weeks ahead, but I checked it and it did not show Wednesday 2 weeks from now. 🙁 😕
Hint, hint: What is on Wednesday at 7:00, that we all know? 😉
I see… so still no Ninjago? BTW, Chima was moved over to Saturdays from this week on. Have a post ready with the new schedule and episodes for tomorrow.
I love the idea of the storage boxes!
these would be perfect for my kids room
Angela, yes, they are quite nice.
These seem usefull, I can put some sets in ziplock bags in the big one, instruction booklets in the medium one and use the small one for building/sorting.
Yes, that’s a good way to use them. I own three of these storage systems (so 9 boxes in total) and use the large and medium boxes for storing MOCs that I don’t have room to display, and the smallest ones for sorting and storing loose pieces while I build. BTW, the sorting tray and the little cups can fit in any of the boxes.
Also, since I wrote this article I discovered that in Europe they have other designs and colors for this system, not just the Chima and Friends ones sold here in the USA. I have found a Ninjago themed one and one with classic LEGO colors – that is actually my favorite, but it is not available here.
Oh the sorting tray can fit in all boxes(+1 reason to get that ‘set’) and that classic lego color is interesting too. I have a feeling I will buy the Buildable Brick Boxes and this set from s@h very soon 🙂
I have looked at the buildable brick-boxes myself as I really liked the look. Ultimately I decided against them because although they look great on the outside and are very sturdy, they are poorly designed as storage units. First of all, the top is hard to remove. Secondly, the internal storage space is very small because the bottom is elevated. Even the largest one has very little storage space. Also, there are cravices inside the storage area where small plates and accessories can get stuck. I would suggest that you first visit a local store that carries these and check them out in person before deciding to buy. 😉
I think I can work around the cons of these bricks by turning them into a marble-like 2×4 Brick MOC. Of course this would be without elevated bottom and with a lid. Also I think I can easily find a way to fil these crevice or at least block them.
As giant LEGO bricks they work great! I have seen people build whole castles with them. 😛
I haven’t seen pictures of that yet but I can imagine that people who do that already have a huge collection themselves to make more of these buildable bricks. Sadly, my LEGo collection is wayh to small for that kind of awesomeness.
Goal for 2015 Buy more PAB cups filled with the beloved plastic brick.