Whether you’re a LEGO expert or are just now tapping into this exciting world of creativity, you’re in good company. Because when it comes to LEGO, we find ourselves in a new wave of creativity, mastery, and, well, just plain fun.
And, if you’re ready to take your LEGO hobby to the next level, you’re going to need the right setup. Just like you would with any other hobby, you need a place to store your materials, design new projects, and work in peace.
And that is where your brand new workshop shed comes into play. In this article, we’re going to talk about the ways that a storage shed in your backyard is the perfect option for a LEGO studio.
Creating a dream workspace
There’s something so satisfying about pouring your full attention into a build. As a LEGO enthusiast, you know what we’re talking about. Some people practice meditation. You build miniature worlds. The process brings the same sense of calm, clarity, and creativity.
But...not if you’re fighting for a space. If you’re sharing your workspace with your family or pets, for example, you know how frustrating it can be to try to keep your focus and not lose any pieces. A project that should bring you relaxation just becomes stressful.
That’s why having a storage shed with both storage and workspace is so ideal. You’ll get the tranquility that you need to get in that creative zone, and you’ll always know exactly where all of your blocks are.
To make this happen, you’re going to want to set yourself up with a large desk, and plenty of shelving. Plastic bins of different sizes are key to keeping your LEGO brand new, and when those bins are transparent, you’ll never have to guess which bin is hiding the set of materials you’re looking for.
LEGO is ideal for outdoor storage
Because LEGO is made from durable plastic, they make the perfect item to have in an outdoor shed. After all, the advice that we would generally give our customers about water damage and pest control doesn’t really apply with LEGO. They’re not perishable and they won’t attract critters.
The only concern when it comes to storing LEGO in a garden shed is the heat. While the material used to make LEGO is incredibly strong (and design improvements have only made them more heat resistant), some LEGO enthusiasts have shared that after many hours inside a hot car, their blocks lost some of their hold. Not enough to throw out the blocks altogether, but noticeable.
Solutions are pretty simple. You can make sure that your backyard shed is shaded, or install a cooling system. It’s also a good idea to ventilate your shed with windows. But again, if your region isn’t known to have high temperatures or the hot season is relatively short, you’re set. Your LEGO won’t change a bit.
What size shed do you need?
One thing you - and probably your family - might have noticed is that a LEGO hobby is always growing. Just take this example from LADbible of a man in the UK who has 5 separate storage sheds for his collection of over 1 million LEGO blocks.
Even if you don’t have quite that many blocks in your collection now, you want to give yourself plenty of room to expand. Your loved ones would much rather see one large, beautiful shed than multiple small sheds that you keep growing out of.
Here’s a good way to figure out how big of a shed you’ll need for your perfect LEGO workshop. First, take stock of all of the LEGO you have and measure how much space they will take up when they’re in their plastic bins and stored on shelves. Add in the dimensions of your work table and the area that you think you’ll need to move around comfortably - keep in mind that the recommended space for an office setting is 10 square metres per employee.
Now, add space for 5 to 10 additional boxes. And, add more free space. After all, you’re not an employee working in a cubicle - you deserve to give yourself more breathing room.
If you’re in doubt about the perfect size shed for your LEGO workshop, give us a call. We’ll walk you through the decision so that you know exactly what size shed is perfect for your backyard. Plus, we really like talking about LEGO, and we’re more than ready to geek out with you over your current and future projects!
To get back to the main word of advice, though: always choose a bigger option than you think you’ll need. You’ll appreciate the extra space, trust us.
What other elements will make your LEGO shed complete?
We already mentioned the need for a large work table and plenty of storage shelves, but there are a couple of other must-haves when it comes to your shed.
First is lighting. You don’t want to have to stop working just because you’re losing sunlight, and actually sunlight alone might not be enough to protect your vision when you’re working with small pieces. So, get yourself a great lighting system. You can take a look at our post on lighting options for your shed, here.
Next is comfortable seating. You may have a vision of yourself propped up on a stool, working away at your masterpiece, but we want to make sure you don’t walk away with back and shoulder pain. Invest in a supportive chair to save yourself from any discomfort.
Finally, an ideas board. This is an easy one. Simply hang up a board, cork boards are great options, where you can pin up your instructions for easy access. This is going to prevent your workspace from being covered with paperwork. The entire space will look cleaner and more organized.
It’s time to start creating!
With your very own LEGO workshop, you can spend hours working on the hobby you love. No more fighting for a clear surface for your projects. No more searching the house for your missing pieces. And no more stepping on those painful, painful LEGO pieces that your dog knocked off the table.
If you found this article helpful, or you want us to back you up when you’re trying to convince your family that you need a backyard shed for your LEGO, feel free to share!
