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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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September 17, 2012

Organizing Lego Instructions

It’s finally happened.
The Legos in my son’s room have driven me up the wall…literally!

Legos, organizing Legos, Lego Instructions, wall baskets, wall storage
Anyone with Lego-lovers in their home knows that, while these are incredible toys with the ability to develop those fine motor skills and improve problem solving abilities, also knows that they can tend to take over.
Ahem…case in point.
(this is after his room has been “cleaned”)

So, while I have finally come to terms with the fact that I will be stepping on tiny pieces in the dark every time I go into make sure my boy is covered up at night, I couldn’t come to terms with the fact that he was struggling to dig through the mound of instructions which threatened to topple over. 
And when floor space is at a commodity, the only place to go is UP!
I picked up three metal bins (small, medium, large) from TJ Maxx and hung them right up on the wall.
My son and I dug through the Mt. Everest that was his instructions pile and sorted them by size. 
We also thought it would be fun to count them while we were at it and discovered that he has over 
150 sets!!! 
He has now been told that whenever he feels the need to go buy new Lego sets 
he should go “shopping” in his bins first!
But, this mom couldn’t just leave the little tags on the front empty, now could I?

Hmmm…what to do?

How about choosing some Lego pieces, cutting command strips down to size and attaching them to the back of the pieces.
 Then take those pieces and stick them right onto the fronts of the bins!
It’s as easy as one…

…two…

…three!

Now, all I have to do when I walk into his room and see this…

…is look up!
wall storage, Lego organizing

So, what about you?
Would you consider taking your storage solutions “up the wall”?
Thanks so much for joining me today at the Fence,
1553F4F30A9801A6AFB3E9C624118E7B

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21 Comments Filed Under: Good Ideas

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Comments

  1. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    September 15, 2012 at 3:01 PM

    What a cute idea. Glad I don’t deal with those anymore.

    Reply
  2. Cassie @ Primitive & Proper says

    September 15, 2012 at 3:04 PM

    i need this in my life…. now.

    Reply
  3. Kristin @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia says

    September 15, 2012 at 3:47 PM

    Very cool…..I wish I could do that but I think my boys have about 500 sets. They still save up their money and buy them even my 10 year old, drives me crazy. When I step on one….ok, I’ll stop my rant 🙂

    Reply
  4. Fine House says

    September 15, 2012 at 10:18 PM

    Legos . . . always a challenge! You did great. We have ours in bins that I picked up at IKEA, which works OK.

    Reply
  5. Judy says

    September 16, 2012 at 12:24 AM

    We have a bunch of different Lego solutions. The instructions are kept in storage boxes from the container store and kept under his dresser. The pieces are kept in a three drawer organizer, and the little pieces in a storage unit from Lowes that is supposed to be for screws etc but works great for Lego. My big issue is to find where to display all of the completed sets.

    Reply
  6. Jessica Kielman says

    September 16, 2012 at 2:04 AM

    Love this! Mary-Kate is currently obsessed with Lego Friends! May have to make a trip to TJ’s!

    Reply
  7. Pamela says

    September 16, 2012 at 3:19 AM

    Vanessa great idea. I always just throw them away when the boys aren’t looking. Once they have completed the set they never go back to the instructions. They would rather make their own versions.

    Reply
  8. Courtney ~ French Country Cottage says

    September 16, 2012 at 1:59 AM

    Super cute idea Vanessa~ the way you ‘numbered’ them is so cute too.

    Reply
  9. pink*cherub*moon says

    September 16, 2012 at 5:13 AM

    My Grandson, Jamison, has several sets of Legos. He loves the Ninja ones and those that make “vehicles” cars, planes, etc. He started out his little collection being stored in a large tin of mine. Having outgrown that, I gave him a larger plastic box. Now, the little sets and instructions are in the can and the bigger sets and instructions are in the box and most of the time, they are spread all over the kitchen table where he plays with them! Before I vaccuum, I have to crawl underneath the table and pick up the strays. I keep telling him to do that but he doesn’t get around to it. He’s 5, nuff said LOL! They are great toys but they’re so tiny! I’ve used verticle storaqe before and, as you’ve shown, it can be attractive and functional! Hugs, Leena

    Reply
  10. Eclectically Vintage says

    September 16, 2012 at 9:27 PM

    150 sets!! He’s a hoarder after my own heart – I think it starts with legos!

    I LOVE this storage – those baskets are adorable and the 1,2,3 legos make it extra cute!
    Kelly

    Reply
  11. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    September 17, 2012 at 1:21 AM

    What a great solution Vanessa! Love the wire baskets!

    Reply
  12. Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME/Doublewide Decor says

    September 17, 2012 at 2:22 AM

    Never get rid of the legos…my grandchildren play with their parents at my house all the time. I kept the instructions also….So, when they are done playing…get a big trunk…and put them in it…wait a few years…and you will be thanking me!!

    Reply
  13. Aimee - ItsOverflowing.com says

    September 17, 2012 at 2:55 PM

    Oh my goodness…this post made me smile Vanessa! We have the same “cleaned up” look! Love it! The wire baskets are the perfect eye candy for moms!!! Great solution!
    XO, Aimee

    Reply
  14. One bolt short of a toolbox says

    September 17, 2012 at 3:27 PM

    What a great idea, i laughed out loud at the before picture.

    Reply
  15. cherished bliss says

    September 19, 2012 at 12:26 AM

    Ok, so my son all the sudden decided he loves legos. He only has 4 sets I think and I find them EVERYWHERE, step on them constantly so I can only imagine your sons room : ) I have been thinking that I need to organize now before it’s too late. My daughter already swallowed a lego hat. : / (bad mama award?) But I got him the free lego magazine from their website so I might have to do something like this for all those and his little instruction booklets (the ones he hasn’t already destroyed that is) Pinning this for later use : )

    Reply
  16. Hilda @ From Overwhelmed To Organized says

    September 19, 2012 at 4:31 AM

    Great storage solution Vanessa! I love when vertical space gets used and those “labels” are too fun 🙂 My son has a few sets (so far!) but I’ve been looking for organizing ideas. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  17. Aimee - ItsOverflowing.com says

    September 21, 2012 at 4:30 AM

    You know I love this so much! Featuring you tomorrow! XO, Aimee

    itsoverflowing.com | simply inspired home living

    Reply
  18. Nikki says

    September 21, 2012 at 2:38 PM

    This is such a great idea! I think our Lego Study Manuals multiply overnight!

    Reply
  19. Emmy says

    September 21, 2012 at 7:22 PM

    This makes me so happy to read as my sons room is “clean” the exact same way almost every day! So many legos– and now my daughter is getting into them, she loves the Lego Friends sets. Love what you did with the instructions! Stopping by from Aimee’s- congrats on being featured

    Reply
  20. Shannon says

    September 24, 2012 at 8:10 PM

    Cute idea! With two boys, we have legos all over the floor, also. I love the bins~I picked up a set to use for books over one of the boy’s beds. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 37 Genius LEGO Organization Ideas - Kids Activities Blog says:
    June 23, 2014 at 12:31 PM

    […] Instruction Bins – What about all those instruction manuals?  I love this idea to use magazine baskets hanging on the wall to keep them tidy.  Great solution for this clutter from At the Picket Fence. […]

    Reply

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