For many, Lego inspires creativity – but it also means clutter. You know you’ve got too many Legos when you suffer the “ouch” of stepping on a block in the middle of the night. There’s good news: the right storage setup will help without getting in the way of play. 

Which “Lego Level” are you currently at? 

• Level 1: Weekend Brick Warrior – a few sets, casual building, manageable mess.
• Level 2: Semi-Pro Plastic Architect – the collection is expanding, builds are more ambitious, and loose bricks are multiplying fast.
• Level 3: Supreme Brick Overload – pieces are everywhere, it feels like you’re swimming in Lego, and a storage solution is a serious need. 

Original Lego boxes look great, but wear out quickly. No matter what your Lego Level, it’s worth transferring bricks into something sturdier. Drawer towers with pull-out bins are especially handy for storage. Hardware organizers designed for nails and screws also work surprisingly well for Lego – find them at your local home improvement centre. 

If sorting every piece feels unrealistic, try the “dump and play” method – use a large tarp on the floor, spread it out for playtime, and when the building is done, just gather the four corners and pour everything back into a container. 

A fabulous option is a Swoop Bag. These are designed to lay flat so builders can see all their pieces, with a raised edge to keep everything contained. When playtime wraps up, a simple pull of the drawstring transforms the whole thing into a storage sack for fast, easy clean up. Check out swoopbags.com – the larger versions can hold up to 17 pounds of Lego – which is both impressive and slightly alarming.

And if even that isn’t enough, it may be time to part with a few pieces. Donate gently used bricks through Lego Replay or to local libraries – many run weekend Lego building programs and are happy to accept donations. 

…Or get a bigger (real brick) house. I can help with that.