A primary method for displaying LEGO sets for kids is to arrange them on open shelves, such as those found within a bookcase. This allows the sets to be easily seen and admired.
Utilizing Open Shelves
Displaying LEGO sets on open shelves within a bookcase is a popular and effective approach. This method offers several benefits when showcasing builds for children:
- Visibility: Open shelves allow kids (and adults!) to clearly see the details of each finished LEGO creation.
- Accessibility: Depending on the height of the shelves, kids can easily access their displayed sets for play, though placing more fragile or display-only models higher up is advisable.
- Storage and Display Combined: Bookcases serve a dual purpose, holding books or other items while also providing dedicated space for LEGO displays. Our IKEA BILLY bookcase storage collection has plenty of ideas for creating bookcase displays you'll love, demonstrating the feasibility of this approach.
Organizing Your Display
To create a visually appealing and child-friendly display using shelves, consider organizing the sets based on different criteria as suggested:
- By Theme: Group sets belonging to the same theme together. For example, all Star Wars sets on one shelf, LEGO City on another, and Ninjago together. This helps create cohesive sections that are easy for kids to navigate and appreciate by category.
- By Colour: While less common for complete sets, arranging sets with dominant colours together can create striking visual patterns on the shelves. This works well for sets that share a similar colour palette or for displaying collections of smaller, colourful builds.
- By Size: Placing larger, more impressive sets on prominent shelves and smaller models around them can help utilize space effectively and draw attention to key pieces in the collection. Grouping by size also helps ensure sets fit neatly on the available shelf space.
Practical Tips for Kids' LEGO Displays
When setting up displays for children, keep these practical tips in mind:
- Accessibility: Place sets that your child frequently plays with or wants easy access to on lower shelves. More delicate or high-value display pieces can go on higher shelves, out of immediate reach during general play.
- Safety: Ensure the bookcase or shelving unit is securely anchored to the wall, especially in areas where kids will be interacting with the display. This prevents tipping hazards.
- Dusting: Open shelves can collect dust. Consider displaying sets in a way that makes them relatively easy to dust periodically, or think about adding doors or glass inserts to the bookcase later if dust becomes a major issue.
- Space Management: Avoid overcrowding shelves. Leave a little space between sets so each one can be appreciated individually and to make it easier to remove or add sets without damaging others.
By using open shelves and thoughtful organization methods like sorting by theme, colour, or size, you can create attractive and functional displays for LEGO sets that kids will love to look at and interact with.
