Why We Decided To Make a DIY LEGO Table
LEGO had officially taken over our house! My 8 year old son has built up quite the LEGO collection and continues to be passionate about collecting and building LEGO. However, we needed to come up with a good LEGO storage and work space solution as we were slowly running out of places to put all the LEGO. We tried to store it all in bins but then all of his creations would get crushed and ruined so this wasn’t working. I was also finding half finished creations sitting all over the house because he didn’t have a work space to keep his mid-build projects. So, my husband and I did some brain storming and came up with an awesome DIY LEGO table and storage zone in our basement. It came together quickly, affordably, and can be replicated in your home too!
Table of Contents
What To Expect In This Tutorial
Before I explain what we did that works so well for our LEGO situation, I want to let you know that this is not a “build your own table” tutorial. This is for parents who aren’t looking to take on a huge project but want a simple solution for their kids LEGO storage and building needs. I also think this project is better for kids 6 and older. Any younger than this and they really just want their LEGO on the floor, ready to take apart at any moment. After 6 years old, they become more particular about their LEGO and tend to want to display them and have a fun spot to build them.
Materials and Tools Needed
Materials:
- Wood glue
- Table that is 48 ” wide and 24″ deep on the top
- Optional: 4 Casters if your table doesn’t come with them
- Pre-cut 1/4 ” pressed board that is 48″ x24″ from Home Depot or Home Hardware
- 8, 10″ x 10″ LEGO or generic brand base plates
Tools:
- Drill is helpful
- Measuring Tape
- Level
Additional items to create the LEGO nook:
- 2 IKEA LACK Floating shelves 43 1/4″ x 10 1/4 “
- Utility Cart
- Any chair
Step-by-Step Instructions
Simple DIY LEGO Table
Instructions
- Build your desk. Follow the instructions to build your desk. If you decide to buy a second hand desk and want to add casters onto the bottom that is a great option too. The caster allow you to move the table around to accommodate more kids around the LEGO table. It is also helpful for when little LEGO pieces fall and you need to retrieve them. The table we bought came with caster already on which was great. You can also not put casters on if you would prefer.
- Measure where you want your baseplates to go on the pressed board. I had 4 inches remaining on the left and right sides and 2 inches on the top and bottom. Next glue them down with wood glue. Placing heavy books and/or holding them together with LEGO pieces is helpful. This makes them all look even, ensuring there aren't large spaces or bumpy areas. Allow to fully dry according to the wood glue instructions.
- The reason 1/4 inch pressed board is the best for this LEGO table is that it is heavy enough to stay on the table but light enough that you can take it off if you ever want to use the table as just a normal table. Next you simply place the dry pressed board and LEGO base sheet on top of the built table.
- And that's all folks! Simple, versatile, effective, and looks really cute!
Additional/Optional Instructions
- Add the IKEA LACK shelves above the table. Here your little one can display all their creations without worry of them getting lost or destroyed in the house.
- It is a good idea to have a place to store all the "creative", loose LEGO pieces. Here we converted a utility cart into a portable LEGO brick holder.
Before & After
Cost Breakdown
- Table $0-180
- LEGO Base plates (generic) $26
- Pressed board $15
- Wood glue $7
Total for table: Range $48-$228
- Cart $57
- Shelves $19.99 each
Time Cost: 2-4 hours
In the grand scheme of things this table was very affordable and it only took us an a couple of hours to complete the entire LEGO zone in our basement.
Are We Happy With Our DIY LEGO Table?
Yes, and here are the pros:
- It has been so nice to have all the LEGO in one spot.
- It is also nice to have it up and off of the floor for once.
- My son actually spends quality time sitting and building in this area. If he needs a break, he just leaves it all on the table and goes back to it when he wants to.
- It is easier for me to tidy. I am not constantly trying to collect all the LEGO around the house anymore.
- It is very versatile. We can move it around the basement for more kids to fit around it. We can also remove the LEGO top and use it as an extra desk or table in the basement when needed.
Cons:
- Being in the basement, he doesn’t like to go down alone sometimes. If I were to make this set up again, I would maybe do it in his room or an office where he can be closer to us.
- I would still like to figure out a better way to store the loose LEGO. The utility cart is good but we don’t have a good color system. However, this seems to only bother me! My son loves it and that is the most important thing!
Building this little LEGO table turned out to be such a fun project, and it’s already brought so much creativity into our home. I hope it inspires you to make a space where your own kids can build, imagine, and play. If you try something similar, I’d love to hear how it turns out!
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