Lego is one of the most popular toys for girls and boys of all ages and a whole lot of adults as well. Whether a casual fan or a hardcore collector there is one issue that seems to occupy discussion with Lego fans - how to store and organise the stuff!

For young children who play with Lego a simple system is best. This can involve using a large mat that can be played on and then folded up afterwards. The mat can be used to either store the bricks inside it, using a rope to seal up the edges together, or it can be used to funnel and tip the Lego into a large storage box where it can then be tipped back onto the mat when required next.

For older fans who want to get their hands on a particular brick style or color at a moment's notice however this style of storage can lead to frustration. Older collectors will want to separate the pieces either by shape/style or by color. If you separate by color only then you can purchase a series of similarly sized clear plastic boxes to store each of the different colors. These boxes can be stacked easily one on top of the other. Being clear, it is easy to see which is which.

Going one step further you can then purchase storage cases or boxes that have small divisions inside. Dividing the already sorted colors into different styles and shapes then further separates the pieces so that you can know exactly where a certain brick is straight away. If the boxes aren't clear a simple color code or label system can let you know what is inside the box without opening it.

Just a word of warning this last system takes alot of work to maintain and you have to be committed to it. Every model needs to be dismantled and then the individual pieces placed into their particular compartment. You can have an "interim" box where disused models are placed until you are ready to take the pieces apart and sort them fully. Younger children would be better off with the color separation boxes or the simple "mat + box" style.

There are thousands of variations on the simple Lego brick, both in color, size and style and by having a structured organisations system can really save heaps of time when you want to build models.