the ultimate lego table
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Our lego fanatic (aka Burke) had a Lego Table on his Christmas wishlist. Of course, they are $150 (and totally DIYable), so we decided to make one ourselves instead.
Making the Lego table itself is pretty self explanatory- assemble a small table (we got a white IKEA Lack table for $8), gorilla glue four Lego base plates to the top (be sure to add legos to all of the seams so that the spacing is correct- pushing the base plates all the way together makes for the wrong spacing).
My favorite part of this project, however, were the ‘extras’ we added on each side.
On one side, there’s a row of hanging buckets- perfect for storing project leftovers (or waiting-to-get-to’s).
And on the other side, there’s a magnet strip, complete with magnetic tins for extra lego storage. I think these tins will eventually become ‘homes’ for all of Burke’s lego guys (providing a way for all of their ‘accessories’ to stay with them and also protection from our littlest lego afficianado, Piper Jane).
The lego table has been one big giant hit with the cousins (today, they made a castle and a dragon and a dragon-fighting army). It is so fun to watch.
And since the total project cost was less than $50 (including the table, the base plates, the magnetic strip and the hanging bins), we are loving the savings as well!
Do any of you know a Lego fanatic? Does this obsession stop any time soon (Burke is four)?
My son is 11 and still loves Legos. We have bins and bins of them. Some are from when my husband was a boy. He’s always coming up with new creations.
Kelly, so not for awhile, huh? Your comment made me remember that my dad (who is almost 60) still has a giant bin of legos. 🙂 Love that. 🙂
Hey Kirst .. Happy New Year! Hugs to Adam and the kiddos!
Dylan, Dustin and Caurie have been seen playing with our gigantic box of Legos well into their teens (don’t tell them I told).. Dylan has even made movies using them … They are the best toy. I love your table!
Love you,
Kedran
Kedran, that is awesome. I won’t tell. 🙂
And I am totally with you- they’re the best toy ever! Even moreso as I am reading how long they might stay in the rotation. 🙂
LOVE YOU TOO! Happy New Year!
Hey! Love this! I was wondering what the dimensions for each base plate is. Are they the 8×8? Or 15×15? Thanks in advance!
I think they’re 10×10 sized (is that an option?). Hope that helps!
The obsession NEVER stops! My son is 35 – he got legos for Christmas again this year! Going to keep these table directions may need it to give him for next year – LOL
Haha! I love this!
And, honestly, Legos are the only ‘kid game’ where I can outplay the kids. 🙂
I LOVE this! Legos are such a awesome toy. We too have tubs and tubs of them. Sean and his friends just used them a few weeks ago to build cars and video crashing them into each other! Such a timeless toy!
Totally agree- TIMELESS! And ‘big kids’ playing with legos seems to be the theme. My dad still has his own lego stash too. 🙂 Happy New Year Chrissy. 🙂
One additional question….. where did you find the hanging buckets?
Ikea! 🙂 The magnetic strip and magnetic containers are from there too. 🙂
Love the table kristin, i am trying to build one for my daughter, and was wondering where did you get the rail for hanging buckets, checked ikea, but seems not to find the right size.
Thanks
Hey Sophie- yes, we used the one from Ikea (the grundtal one), but had to cut it down so it’d match up with the LACK dimensions. I think my husband took off one end of the rail, removed and chunk of the rail and then reattached the rail. Hope that helps! 🙂
I love this table! I want to make one! I have a few questions. I found all the items on Ikea but my table is a little bigger and was wondering if could give me the measurement of the part you screwed into the table for the bar with the hanging containers. I just want to make sure it fits before I order it online! My son’s are going to love this! Also did you use the magnetic knife rack with the containers?
Hey Alex, just saw this! We just moved overseas and the lego table is now in storage, so I can’t measure for you- sorry! And yes, we used the magnetic knife rack and with containers!
Hello,
i love your table and found most of the stuff you used on ikea .
i will also use the magnetic containers but on the website they mention :”Containers with a magnetic back that you can easily place on a metal surface, except on GRUNDTAL magnetic knife rack.”
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80102919/
so i am having hard time finding the magnetic strip for these containers do you have any suggestions ??
Thanks a lot
Hey Dalia- I think I used the grundtal knife rack and it works fine (unless there is another at IKEA as well).
Hope that helps!
Hello! I have an almost 4 year old who is asking for a lego table and your idea is perfect and adorable!! I am going to “borrow” your idea for Christmas, but had a question….the rail that you used for the hanging buckets I am assuming is the “Grundtal” Rail ($7.99) but it is longer then the table is wide. Did you cut it or use a different one so that it fit perfectly on the table? Thanks for the great idea!!!!
Katie 🙂
Hey Katie- yep, we used the gerundial rail, and I think we did cut it down (it was a couple years ago- haha!). That lego table got SO MUCH USE- hope your experience is the same. 😉
My son is nine and there is no end in sight to his Lego obsession. He’s moved on to the ones with robotic features, but still loves anything with minifigures. Good Luck! Love the table idea. I need big bins at this point though. Oh check out the lay n go. It’s at the top of my storage wish list.
Ginger, I love this! We have big bins as well (need to keep the ‘sets’ separated, right?). I love the lay n go- good tip. You could TOTALLY make one, I bet. I wonder if there’s a tutorial somewhere??? 🙂
Thanks for stopping by.
I actually bought a lack table for just this purpose, but never finished the project because base plates are $20 (+tax) around here. Curious where you purchased yours!
Hey Tanya- I got mine at the Lego store (it was $24 for all four). I saw them on Amazon as well, but they were cheaper at the Lego store. Hope that helps!
It never ends and just gets more and more expensive as they want the really big kits. The Lego company is a marketing genius since they developed animated cartoons to go along with certain sets. My son and daughter both love Ninjago. I have a 900+ piece set to help my son put together today!
Every time I am in the Lego store, all I can think about is the marketing genius that they have going! 🙂
And we have Lego’s EVERYWHERE as well (I am certain it’ll just get worse too). 🙂 Totally worth it, though- definitely my favorite kid toy.
ps- Burke got the Lego Jail set for Christmas- only 700+ pieces, but he’s 4. So that means that me and Adam got to play Legos for awhile. 🙂
Oh, and I love the Lego table idea, but I know it would not stay organized at my house. Legos are literally in every floor in our home!
So cool! I loved playing with legos as a kid but haven’t really gotten the ‘real ones’ yet since I have my 2 year old around too…just got them some wooden blocks for Christmas and those seem to be doing the trick. But when it’s lego time, I’ll definitely be remembering this project! Awesome.
Kristin, love this! Lego’s are definitely my favorite ‘kid toy’ to play with Burke- I bet Em would love them too! 🙂
I love your table! I had my husband make the same one for my 6 year old son for Christmas. I like that it is a little smaller and SO much cheaper. I like the hanging bins on yours. Great idea!
Krista, so much cheaper, right? So fun that you guys made the same thing for Christmas!
Vincent is 3 and lego OBSESSED. We cannot leave the house without a Mandalorian {star wars} lego man in his hand. When he visits his nanny, he plays with the same lego his dad and his dad’s brothers played with. I think Lego is probably one of the greatest toys a kid can have! It makes them have an imagination, instead of telling them what is supposed to happen
Totally with you!
And I love Legos like you do… 🙂
I have four boys, 14, 12, 7 and 5 and our house should be made of lego’s we have so many. Your sons obsession will not end any time soon – my 14 yr. old just spent $200 from Christmas to buy a robotic truck – it just keeps getting bigger and bigger. I’d like to see storage solutions or lego bookcases – ways to display them on future blogs. Wish I had thought of making our Lego table years back – would have saved me some $$$$! Thanks – great job – and have fun!
Carrie- I love it that your boys still love Lego’s (and am laughing at the investment to come). And YES wouldn’t storage be great??? I’m sure there are some tutorials out there… or that we could figure out how to DIY some. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by!
My Lego fanatic (the eldest of my three sons) is 30 and living in Dallas, a long way away from us. Every time he comes home, I notice some Legos (being saved for grandchildren) have gone missing. He was married last September, and my husband found a bride and groom Lego cake topper. The photographer had a fit over it and included it in several pics. Minutes before he was married, he was putting Legos together!!! I also need to add that he earned degree in Building Science from Auburn University and works in that field for a large firm in Dallas. You can’t provide a better toy for your children or grandchildren than Legos!
Elaine, I love this so much! I’ve seen those bride and groom lego guys before- what a great idea. 🙂
We are Lego fanatics in this house! I am going to make this Lego table!What did you use for the bins? My seven year old loved the magnetic strip idea for this lego people. I am so excited to get started on this!
Hey Shona, fun to find other lego fans! 🙂
The bins are from IKEA (I think Grundtal is the name?). Glad you’re making one too!
So excited to make this for my boys! Thanks for the idea! I hope this helps keep those pesky Legos contained!
Becky, not sure if I can help you with the Legos-everywhere problem (we still have that for sure!). But perhaps the Lego table makes it less of a problem- haha. 🙂
Kristin, love the table exellent idea. Trying to make one for my daughter and i was wondering where did you find the rail, i search ikea, can’t find the right measurement.
Thanks
Sophie
Hi Kristin, love the lego table would love to make one for my g sons bday i live in ontario where can i purchase the lego board ? thanks
Katie- we got ours at the Lego store, but I saw them online as well (probably your best bet if you’re not by a store). 🙂
Love the hanging baskets, great idea.
as to your question…
my cousin in close to 40 and he is still buying, collecting and building Legos. But at least my kids get his hand-me-downs 🙂
Haha, love the hand me downs! 🙂
Hi.. We were just gonna make this today and I had a quick question about using gorilla glue. Doesn’t it swell and expand?? Wat gorilla glue did u exactly use?? Will appreciate your reply. TIA
I love it that you’re making one of these right now!
We actually used Liquid Nails Construction Adhesive (just asked my hubby and he gave me the specifics). I will have to update the tutorial. 🙂
I am so going to do this for my 7yr old. Hope its not too small for him :\ he has ADHD & I think this will be a great way to get him to learn to focus. Thanx for the great idea!!
Love that Jennis!
Jennis,
My son has ADD and Legos have been a lifesaver. He was about 5-6 when he started playing with Legos. My husband and I were amazed the first time we saw him put an entire set together in one sitting. He is 13 now and still plays with them, but now he builds customized mock-ups of historical battles. The last Lego boxed set he put together was about 3 years ago. It was the largest Minecraft set Lego makes. I can’t recall how many pieces it had, but I remember paying well over $300 for it and the age range was 14-16 years old. It only took him 2 days to finish it. The only bad part is the cost because he would finish a set so quickly that we had to buy 3-4 sets at a time to keep him occupied.
Hi, Wondered what size ikea lack table you got. Is it the side table? Is there a certain size lego plate or are they standard size? Will I need four to fit the side table? Thanks a bunch!!
Can’t seem to find the rail and hanging buckets anywhere.
Hmmm, they’re called Grundtal I believe. Hope that helps!
What size ikea table and what size lego plates? Do I need 4? Thanks
Hey Lori- it’s the LACK side table. And yes, 4 Lego plates. 🙂
Well, my cousin’s husband has a room full of Legos, so I’d have to say the obsession may or may not ever stop. I know tons of kids who love Legos, and they are perfect for any age. I’m pretty sure my brother and I played with them until we were at least in high school. The table is awesome, I will definitely have to keep this in mind. I have some budding Lego fiends at home, too. Thanks for the how-to! (And really, Legos are awesome toys, because they build imagination, encourage creativity, and they also happen to help with some fine motor skills and following directions; patience, persistence, etc. The list just goes on. So I’d just say sit back and enjoy!)
Love all of this! I agree- they really are fabulous toys!
I’m 31 and I still play with Legos.
This is awesome! I’m super excited to start making a larger version for our kids for Christmas. Thanks!
How did you attach the “extras?” Thanks!
Hey Beth- we followed the IKEA instructions for attaching the hanging bar and magnet bar on a wall, but just attached them to the side of the table instead. Hope that helps!
Hello! Unless I’m missing something, I still can’t seem to find the size of Lego plates I need to get. Are they the 10×10 or the 15×15? Thanks so much!
Hey Joanna, they’re the 10×10 ones!
Thanks so much!
Was wondering how much you spent for the whole thing including the glue?
Hmmmm, the LACK table was $8 and the lego plates were $20 ($5 each). We had the gorilla glue on hand (I think it’s $3 or so, though) and the buckets/magnets/bar were leftover from a project we did in my studio (I think they’re on IKEA’s website?). So $30 without the hardware. Hope that helps!
Hi. I’m trying to figure out cost but I see that the hanging buckets themselves are $9.99 each, that is without the magentic Grundtal rail ($9.99 for the 31 “, $7.99 for the 23 “). So without the table, and lego plates themselves and just doing one side of this (not including the magnetic rounds you have on one side) if I wanted to do a few baskets and the rail, I’m thinking that is already at least $50). I’m just trying to figure out because in your original you said this cost about $50 total to make?
Thank you!
Hey Tara! I can’t remember exactly what the prices were (I made this a few years back), but if you did it now it looks like it’d be about $85 ($10 for the rail, $30 for three buckets, $9 for the magnetic rack, $8 for a three pack of magnetic containers, $8 for the table and $20 for a 4 pack of baseplates on amazon). Hope that helps!
I love this table & wish we had built this years ago. My son is now 14.5 and still loves Lego. He is hoping to exhibit at BrickFair and I hope we can make that commitment of time. Good Luck with your kids – Lego is a great hobby for life!
I love this- it IS such a great hobby!
This is a great looking table! I am making one just like it. Where did you purchase those buckets? I found these but they are a bit smaller than I would like. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10271091/?query=102.710.91 Thanks!
The buckets are from IKEA as well- http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10202088/
Hope that helps!
Oh wow, I’m so in love with this. I love the idea of the rail on the sides too. I managed to find all of the items on ikea luckily (from uk) and they are safely stored in my shopping list. I can’t wait to go buy everything. There are size options for the rail , so I think I will buy the 40 cm as I don’t think I could pull of cutting the rail. I plan on surprising my son for his birthday and have him walk in after school to find it. Thanks from a big excited kid! 😀 xxx
Oops I’ve seen the flaw in my previous plan. It would be too short, but I found another rail that is 55cm. Not sure if it will still need to be cut.
http://m.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/art/50072645/
In response to your question, my 25-year old son set up Lego scenes when he was visiting home before his deployment to Afghanistan. Also, my 29-year old son-in-law still collects, and builds with, Legos. So, I don’t see you getting past this “phase” anytime soon. I keep the Legos easily accessible, and the 25-year old Army officer is my youngest child!
Millie, I love that so much! Your Lego investment has been a good one! 😉
I’d have to second that! When the Legos are gifted at Christmas, my son and son-in-law, 32 and 37, are right in there with the kids, ages 13, 4, 3, 2, all building away and having a great time doing it! It’s something you’ll keep forever.
Jean, I love this so much! My dad always asks for Legos for Christmas (STILL) so that he can play with the grandkids. 😉
Hello,
I love your Lego table! Where did you get the rod you used to hang the buckets?
Also, where did you get the buckets?
Thanks so much,
Melissa 🙂
Both from IKEA Melissa! 😉
Where did you find hardware for the sides?
Hey Lee, I found the hardware at IKEA. Hope that helps!
Hi, where did you get the ‘extras’? Home Depot?
Hey Jen, I got them at IKEA. Hope that helps!
Where did you find the hanging buckets?
Thanks
Hey Meagan- I found them at IKEA! Hope that helps!
Great idea! Will make this lego table for my son ! Thank you