How to Organize LEGO, Shopkins, and More

Does it ever seem that the smaller the toy, the more the kiddos love them? We're at our wit's end trying to corral and contain all the LEGO, Shopkins, clay charms, and doll accessories. We know the unique torture of stepping on a LEGO and never again want to spend an hour looking for Barbie's lost shoe. To keep all those tiny toys in one place, we offer up this list of storage solutions. Organized, catalogued, and mostly out of sight.

When we received this Shopkins carrying case as part of a Christmas gift, we were of the opinion it was one of the greatest inventions ever. Perfect for bringing their collections everywhere they go—from trading events to a friend's house—this storage case also doubles as a play scene.

Sure, it's a great storage container for LEGO, but with the addition of a versatile LEGO plate as a lid, the construction and play possibilities just got really interesting. They'll build for hours and be able to store all the loose pieces underneath their creation.

We're pretty sure that we know our tyke's collection of minifigures better than we know our own family tree. And we're thrilled to finally have a good way to keep and protect the rapidly growing army with this perfectly sized display case.

They'll spend hours organizing and playing with their many LEGO Friends sets and accessories with this cool butterfly organizer. The sections open to feature plates that allow for play before storing everything.

Need storage for clay charms? No problem. Still have an avid rainbow loomer? Elastics heaven. Have any number of craft supplies like pompoms or tiny stickers that like to get away? This case has got you covered. Organization overload! (Except there is no such thing).

Oh so good for small, colourful objects. Line up a row of them and create your very own LEGO Shop. The littles will love being able to keep their collection where they can see it, and you'll love that all those little bits are neatly contained.

Why not store LEGO…in LEGO? The kiddos love the look of the extra big brick/storage cube, and we have to admit that we like it too. It's awesome how the whole system is modular and connects together to offer expandable storage—oh so very LEGO!

We've found the perfect thing for them to store all of their Star Wars vehicles, action figures and micro machines. This storage set is great for fans and may even inspire them to put their toys away.

Yeah, we're using a travel cosmetics case to organize the kiddo's collectible collections—why not? It's got a ton of zippered compartments, it can hang up, and it folds compactly for travelling. Perfect!

This canister reminiscent of an apothecary would be great for extra small LEGO pieces or a bulk order of gumballs. We might order one for the bathroom for our cotton balls while we're at it.

They still adore the movies. They have a whole town full of the characters. And now they can store them all thematically with a Mack carrying case, keeping everyone safe and tidy.

Sometimes the storage bins and baskets offend our design sense even more than the toys themselves. But with this lovely enamel utility tin, we're happy to have our organizational solutions on display. Great for a shared space or gender-neutral bedroom, these containers are also sturdy enough to last through kid-induced wear and tear.

When the kiddos have built the LEGO sets and refuse to take them apart, the result is an organizational dilemma. We find it best to invest in some good plastic bins with easy to open and close lids and to keep the whole collection in there. Smaller sets go in bins that slide under the bed, whereas larger tubs are required for taller, more elaborate constructions.

With so many different yet complementary colours and designs, it will be a cinch to remember what box houses specific pieces (Playmobil pieces, anyone?). They look gorgeously modern and don't scream ‘storage'.

One mom's cosmetics organizer is another's LEGO caddy. The adjustable compartments are perfect for tailoring a tool bin to meet all the needs of a young LEGO builder. Organize by size and colour and make it easy to find specific building blocks with this versatile find.

Oh, what to do with the ever-growing collection of Beanie Boos? They practically require their own condo—and that's basically what this storage unit is. Pile them in to keep them curtailed. Add on an ‘addition' as the Boos multiply.

The best solution we've come across for storing all those outfits for a MapleLea or American Girl doll? Get the plastic family member their own laundry bag, one per doll to keep track of all those clothes, PJs and other accessories. They look nice and can tuck into a closet or hang from a hook.

When storing small toys in common areas like the living room or office, we want the solution to blend in with the rest of the décor. Cue this contemporary organizer that looks great and functions to keep kid stuff out of sight.

This sweet hamper will look awesome no matter what rooms it graces. And that's a good thing, because we have about a million uses for it. From stuffies to diapers, we love hiding things we don't want to see.