How to Build LEGO-themed Shelves With Display Areas

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How to Build LEGO-themed Shelves With Display Areas

Your kids are really into LEGO? Here is a way to theme their shelves so they look like giant bricks!

Martin Storbeck

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Step 1 of 61

Warning: Don't show the results of this guide to your LEGO-addicted kids. They'll want it in their room immediately!

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So the basic idea of this guide is to turn some corner like this...

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...into a LEGO-themed storage with display areas like that:

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A LEGO-themed storage with display areas.

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Here is a closer look at the doors.

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I had two main goals: more storage and some nice display areas to showcase my latest LEGO projects

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First: Note all measures

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I use an app called 'Measures' to note my measuring. Sounds reasonable, doesn't it?

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Next up: Imagine what it will look like

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Draw it...

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... maybe build it.

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I had a look around and found that doors for IKEA BESTA shelves had the best proportions to resemble LEGO bricks.

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Buy the shelves & assemble them.

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In case you want to add lights, don't forget: You'll need some power (look at the center of the picture, there it is)

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I added IKEA Dioder lights to highlight the display areas

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Lights: Working.

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All shelves hanging.

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Last & most important: The LEGO-doors

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I ordered 60 of these wooden coasters to create the LEGO-doors. Found them on eBay, but bought the seller's homepage http://MidaCreativ.de - that was a lot cheaper (because of no eBay fees).

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The concept is easy: Attach the coasters to the doors ...

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... and paint it in any color you planned.

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The detailed steps for the LEGO doors:

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Get dressed properly for painting stuff. Put on your DIY shirt and some old pants. Keep in mind: You might look like this in the end...

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Just kidding 😉

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First of all, the base colour of the doors and the coasters has to be the same. I bought white doors, so I had to paint the coasters white as well.

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Lay out the coasters on a large piece of cardboard and start painting them.

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Here is what happens.

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When you're done, wait for the paint to dry.

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Meanwhile ... Prepare the door!

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For a 38x59 door the measures are: 10cm from the long side, 11cm from each short side + in the center.

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Put in the screws carefully.

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They'll come out the other end.

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With the screws put in you can easily add the painted coasters to the door.

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But: LEGO has many colours. So let's go on painting!

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Spraypaint the coasters once before you add them to the doors.

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Spraypaint the door as well.

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Do it again in other colours.

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Wait until the paint has dried.!

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Put a little wood glue on the back of the coasters

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Paint it once again and the door is almost finished!

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Spray it with clear varnish as soon as the color has dried. It will improve the lifetime of the color and give it a glossy finish.

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More colors, more fun!

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Whenever you have some finished doors mount them. But before you do that: Prepare to be amazed!

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Here are all my doors attached - except for the last one!

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But it is not done yet. I'm sure you noticed the largest door is still missing. I prepared something special for that one.

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The square door would look awkward as a LEGO brick since there is no 3x3 plate, so I had something else in mind.

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I had a LEGO logo printed on adhesive foil and attached it to the door.

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The doors look really awesome!

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You can use the display areas as a white box as well.

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That train station is still missing a train

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The mini modulars next to the switches. The lower switch turns on the lights in the display areas.

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A lot room for more LEGO!

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...or books & instructions.

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The downside: Costs

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The BESTA shelves & doors varied from 25€ (small+door) to 60€ (large+door&drawer) per shelf. Altogether ~300€

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The wooden coasters came 90cents per coaster. I ordered 60 because my initial planning was a little different.

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The spray paint was 8€ per bottle at the local hardware store, same applies to the clear varnish. I used 7 bottles in different colours plus 2x white and 3x clear varnish.

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The LEGO-Logo set me back 40€ at a local printing store.

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The DIODER lights were 20€ each, I used two packs. The remote controlled power outlet set me back 25€.

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Summed up: ~550€ plus many hours of making & coloring the doors ... Looking at it I must say: Worth every penny.

You're Done

Check out other guides by this author!

Martin Storbeck

Böblingen, Germany

storbeck.me

I'm an IT-Consultant by day, but at night (and on weekends) I become a biker, IKEAhacker and LEGO-enthusiast.

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IKEA Besta Shelves

IKEA Besta Doors

Wooden Coasters

Spray Paint (different colours)

Some LEGO items to display

DIODER lights

Great job!

Cliford John last month

cool

Rebeckah Qian last month

I was looking for something to put my LEGO sets, and this may be the way to do it best. Thanks for the inspiration! Great idea and great job.

Normen Möller last month

Wow! Lov it :))

Tina Wright last month

It will be a few months, but I'll definitely document to show you the process! You should be working in architecture or some form of interior decorating..

Jenny Cook last month

I'd really love to see that!!

Martin Storbeck (author) 2 months ago

Using this to do a girly themed wall for my niece. Thank you so much!

Jenny Cook 2 months ago

sieht echt gut aus. Klasse Arbeit! Lego rockt

André Sielemann 2 months ago

Great work! Can't wait to make it for my kid.

Joseph Kane 2 months ago

Wow, so awesome!

Masha P 2 months ago

Excellent

Peter D 3 months ago

Brilliant guide and so easy and helpful. Funny too :) well done !

Anna Corry 3 months ago

My friend loves and is doing your idea

Joseph H 3 months ago

Awesome. Worth it !

Shuli Briggs 3 months ago

So much awesome!

Gav Govinden 3 months ago

It's awesome!! Shall try it one day.

Angie Ng 3 months ago

@ Pia: Yes, I used the Wikipedia LEGO logo to get it printed on adhesive foil

Martin Storbeck (author) 3 months ago

@ Yamit: I bought the coasters from MidaCreativ.de - very good quality, fst delivery

Martin Storbeck (author) 3 months ago

OMG I want to do this!!! How did you do the logo? Adhesive foil???

Pia Holden 3 months ago

Can you advice the coasters supplier's contact info??

Yamit Meiryeger 3 months ago

Freakin sick man

Savan Sok 3 months ago

A truly out of the "box" idea!

Karishma Agrawal 3 months ago

Fabulous, I love it!

Kirsten Ledwidge 3 months ago

amazing ;) you're so creative ;)

A sanchez 3 months ago

So creative, I really thought it was cool.

Dom Stevens 3 months ago

Amazing! Great job!

Monica Mina-Zamora 3 months ago

Amazing, I'm from Belgium so finding that stuff will be a challenge ;-)

❤ Maya 💚 3 months ago

This is so great! Congratulations!

Enna Bazarte 3 months ago

Love it!! Very Talented! :)

Jeannie Collins 3 months ago

great work!

Javairia Rafiq 3 months ago

In case anyone builds this on his own - please message me and send pictures! I always love to see that it is actually helpful for your own projects, not just to showcase mine.

Martin Storbeck (author) 3 months ago

looks pretty awesome！

Kai Long 3 months ago

Love it😍

Sanae Taka 3 months ago

Wow!

Shauna Martens 3 months ago

Love it! And your guide is so helpful! :D

Ayesha M 3 months ago

Absolutely awesome!

Garrod Fernau 3 months ago

That looks so cool!

💜 ❤💋ℓᗩυrᗩ💋❤ 💜 3 months ago

Hey Therese, you can look at most of my home on Snapguide, I think it is ... functional ;) the ideas just come to me, this one was born when I was redesigning my moms workplace.

Martin Storbeck (author) 3 months ago

A true artist. Where did you ever get this idea? I must say. I am amazed. That doesnt happen very often. I bet your Home look wicked cool :D

Therese W 3 months ago

Loved it!

Jorden Martin 3 months ago

Wow! Absolutely amazing! Thanks for sharing.

Crystal Helton 3 months ago

Hey Stacey, it doesn't have to be IKEA, you can use any shelves with doors as long as they have a 2:4 / 2:3 /2:2 ratio, so they'll look like LEGO in the end.

Martin Storbeck (author) 3 months ago

Really cool! I don't know if I have that kind of dedication to make something like that, not to mention we don't have Ikea in Northern New England :(

Stacy Burton 3 months ago

Ingenious!

Ben Niemann 3 months ago

Awesome!

Laurel Feinman 3 months ago

OMG! You just made us grown ups wanna be kids again! Love love love this! :)

Linda O. 3 months ago

Nice work!

Csir Em 3 months ago

What an amazing guide! And great looking T-shirt :)

Brittney Riley 3 months ago

Thanks a lot, glad you all like it. @Mila: go build it, was easier than I thought...

Martin Storbeck (author) 3 months ago

It's so cool

Kali Phelan 3 months ago

I'm obsessed with this! I want it in my house NOW! (:

Mila Suzich 3 months ago

Cool!

Jenny Oberhand 3 months ago

Oops, continued: like the like button ;p

Adam Cowan 3 months ago

P.s- snapguide needs a favourite feature... Like maybe a star shape button that turns yellow after pressed, kinda lil

Adam Cowan 3 months ago

I really cannot talk. Why are you so cool. I wish i knew that answer 😁 lol

Adam Cowan 3 months ago

Too cool, great job!!! 😃

Graciela Buendia 3 months ago

Really cook love it

Aeisha Lee 3 months ago

Very cute

Bina K 3 months ago

Love it!

Traisoon Phongket 3 months ago

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You're welcome.

Martin Storbeck (author) 3 months ago

I should thank you. This has definitely been the highlight of the week

Adam Cowan 3 months ago

Thanks buddy. There's more to see at the end of the guide!

Martin Storbeck (author) 3 months ago

O.o i just got in from school... Then got blown back out the door by this pure AWESOMENESS!

Adam Cowan 3 months ago

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Showing off, haha. Great job.

Jonathan Arteaga 2 months ago

Cool

Adam Cowan 3 months ago

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No problem! If I ever have a baby boy ill definitely take influence on his room design from this!

Paula Rapsiewicz last month

Hey Sara, yes, two screws, that's all it takes. IKEA describes how to in the instructions, it is really easy!

Martin Storbeck (author) last month

Thank you Paula! Hope I can inspire others!

Martin Storbeck (author) last month

This is an amazing idea btw! Heads up for the imagination Martin :)

Paula Rapsiewicz last month

Obv lool u don't just put them there and expect magic to hold them up hehe... You use nails and a screwdriver n screw them onto the wall... When you buy the shelves they will include the screws

Paula Rapsiewicz last month

You screw them onto the wall?

Sara Walker last month

Errrr... correct. Instructions come with the shelves

Martin Storbeck (author) last month

You screw them on lol

Paula Rapsiewicz last month

How do you keep the shelves from falling?

Sara Walker 3 months ago

Be first to comment on Step 19.

The shop was called midacreativ.de

Martin Storbeck (author) 3 months ago

Do you have the link where you bought them?

Elodie Lo 3 months ago

Cool, I have to find a store and have a look for it

Martin Storbeck (author) 3 months ago

Yes, i think maybe :P

Enna Bazarte 3 months ago

These are 1cm thick, can you get foamy tha thick?

Martin Storbeck (author) 3 months ago

Dont you think foamy would work as well?

Enna Bazarte 3 months ago

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Nice!

Enna Bazarte 3 months ago

The snapguide team was so kind to send it to me as a thank you for my input on the apps and all the guides I made

Martin Storbeck (author) 3 months ago

Where did you find the "snap guide" t shirt? I'd love one!!!!!

Shayna Rothenberg 3 months ago

Awesome!

Linda O. 3 months ago

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So cool i wished I will achieved It thanks So much

Khadidja Keita 3 months ago

I put the screw through the back of the door so it came out a little on the front. The coasters had little holes in the middle, so I could simply put them on there

Martin Storbeck (author) 2 months ago

How did you screw the coasters on? Or how did you get a screw on the coasters?

Rahaha G 2 months ago

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So cool... They look like plastic

Adam Cowan 3 months ago

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w-o-w! great job!

Nestle Angeles 3 months ago

Slowly & steady

Martin Storbeck (author) 3 months ago

Breeeeeaaaatthhheee

Martin Storbeck (author) 3 months ago

😱 Cant talk... Paralysed... *faints*

Adam Cowan 3 months ago

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looks great ;) my lil boy would love this... can you share the name of the company and their info for the lego print? I truly appreciate it.. ( this would be an awesome birthday surprise for my lil boy ( storage area rocks ( ;) ) thanks

A sanchez 3 months ago

Aaah

Adam Cowan 3 months ago

Took the Wikipedia LEGO logo and called a professional advertisement printer in my town, mailed him the file, two days later it was done.

Martin Storbeck (author) 3 months ago

Where can you get stuff like that :p

Adam Cowan 3 months ago