If your home is anything like mine, LEGO cars seem to multiply overnight. They race across tables, line up on shelves, and occasionally crash-land under the sofa.
We have countless built pieces on display, a drawer full of minifigs, and even a container dedicated to LEGO wheels.
Why so many wheels? Because, by far, LEGO vehicles outnumber everything else. The thing is, my son rarely finishes a build and leaves it be. He very much likes to play with his LEGO creations, so a permanent display isn’t really an option.
So when I saw Nicole’s (@simply.aligned.home) brilliant IKEA pegboard hack, turning the SKÅDIS system into a wall-mounted LEGO car display, I was instantly intrigued.
Could it really be as simple as a few SKÅDIS pegboards and hooks? It certainly seems to be! What do you think?
Create a Quick and Easy LEGO Car Display
What You’ll Need
- IKEA SKÅDIS pegboards (the size and quantity depend on your needs)
- IKEA SKÅDIS hooks
- IKEA SKÅDIS connectors
- LEGO pieces
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- LED rope lights
- Appropriate screws and hardware for hanging
- Basics — screw gun, drill
1. Hang the Pegboards
Mount the pegboards on the wall using the included rail and appropriate hardware for your wall. Since your kids (or you) will likely be removing and replacing LEGO pieces, it needs to be secure. Use the connectors to link the pegboards together.
2. Attach LEGO Bricks
Nicole used hot glue to attach a few small LEGO bricks to the board to use as mounting pieces. She then said the smaller vehicles simply snapped into place.
3. Use Hooks to Hang Cars
The SKÅDIS hooks, spaced appropriately, turn into an easy way to hang certain cars. Kids can take the vehicles down to play and hang them back up easily.
4. Artistic Touches
Nicole added a cool tire-tread effect across the bottom corner of the pegboard installation. She also wrapped LEDs around the boards to provide a cool, color-changing backlight. These are optional steps, of course, but they certainly add to the overall wow-factor.
Price for this hack: $76 (for three 30″ x 22″ pegboards, two 5-packs of hooks, and two packs of connectors)
Time for this hack: About 15 minutes
A LEGO Car Display That Works for You
Overall, I think this is a clever idea. One of the great things about pegboards is that you can rearrange the setup easily using different accessories to accommodate changing needs. After the initial installation of the boards on the wall, everything else is tool-free.
I think if I were to recreate this hack, I’d likely skip the hooks and look into the SKÅDIS shelf to display smaller pieces. It even has a small lip to prevent the vehicles from rolling over the edge.
Actually, as I’m writing this, I’m seriously considering hopping onto IKEA’s site and placing an order. I also think the various SKÅDIS containers could work to hold a few minifigs if you want to swap out your drivers for your display.
You could also glue LEGO strips on the shelf to create small scenes. There are all sorts of fun, easy ways to hack cool, cute LEGO shelves. I also love this LEGO cart, because my son builds in his room, the den, and even the kitchen, so it’s a great way to keep bricks organized on the move.
Carefully Consider the Glue
As for gluing the small LEGO pieces to use as mounting bricks, what do you think? I don’t trust hot glue enough in this scenario. I feel it would break down over time or simply pop off the board after removing the cars a few times.
So, if you plan to do this step, perhaps try super glue or a heavy-duty adhesive to ensure the mounting bricks stay in place. What would you do?
Watch the hack come together, and follow Nicole (Simply Aligned Home) @simply.aligned.home for more fun ideas.
Got an IKEA hack of your own? We want to see it! Submit your project here or tag us on Instagram @ikeahackersofficial.