The Best Shelving Units for Displaying LEGO Cities (And How to Customise Them)

When you’ve put hours of effort into building your LEGO city or creation, the last thing you want is for it to gather dust or be tucked away in a box. Displaying your creations in a way that showcases their beauty while keeping them safe is just as important as building them. The right shelving unit not only adds a touch of style to your space but also keeps your LEGO city organised and easily accessible. Here’s a guide on the best shelving options and how to customise them to make your LEGO stand out.

1. Top Shelving Options: IKEA Shelves, Floating Shelves, and DIY Solutions

Finding the right shelving unit is essential when it comes to displaying your LEGO. Before considering what types of shelving, it’s important to consider size. Remember, a baseplate is 25cmx25cm, so if you wanted a modular building with a new road plate in front you will need at least 37/38cm deep. If like me, you want to add a wider road with gutters and some façade style buildings behind you will be looking for around 50cm or two baseplates wide.

Here are some popular options that can cater to different needs and spaces:

IKEA Shelves: IKEA offers a wide range of shelving units that are perfect for displaying LEGO sets. Their Kallax and Billy series are both functional and stylish, providing ample space for your LEGO creations while also fitting into most rooms. The Kallax units, for example, come with square cubbyholes that are ideal for organizing LEGO sets, and the Billy bookshelves offer adjustable shelves to accommodate different sizes.
Floating Shelves: For a minimalist and sleek look, floating shelves are a great choice. They are mounted directly onto the wall without visible brackets, giving your LEGO city a clean and elevated presentation. Floating shelves can be arranged in a variety of ways to create a dynamic display, whether you go for a row along one wall or stagger them to add visual interest.
DIY Solutions: If you’re handy with tools, building your own shelving unit can be a rewarding project. DIY shelves can be tailored to fit your exact needs and preferences. Whether you’re designing something custom.
Garage Shelving: What I have used is metal garage shelving from the local hardware store. The benefit to garage shelving is that it is easy to assemble, wider and can handle more weight that other store-bought shelves. It is amazing how quickly the weight of LEGO can add up and start to bow shelves.

2. Customising Your Shelves: Adding Lighting, Adjustable Heights, and Protective Barriers

Once you’ve chosen the perfect shelving unit, it’s time to make it your own. Customising your shelves can take your display to the next level. Here are some ideas to enhance the look and functionality of your shelving:

Add Lighting: Lighting can bring your LEGO city to life, highlighting details and adding atmosphere. LED strip lights or small puck lights placed under shelves can illuminate your display, creating dramatic effects and making your LEGO creations pop. opt for warm white lights to bring a cozy feel or coloured LEDs for a more vibrant and dynamic display.
Adjustable Heights: Some shelving units come with adjustable heights, which is especially useful when displaying different-sized LEGO builds.

3. Maximising Display Potential: Arranging Sets and City Layouts Efficiently

Once you have the right shelving and customisation, it’s time to arrange your LEGO city. Efficiently organising your sets and city layouts not only looks impressive but also helps you make the most of your display space.

Create Layers: Use multiple shelves or levels within a shelving unit to create depth and dimension. Arrange taller buildings or skyscrapers on the upper shelves and smaller structures on the lower ones. This adds visual interest and ensures that your city looks dynamic from all angles.
Themed Zones or Neighbourhoods: If your LEGO city is large, break it down into themed areas (e.g., residential, commercial, industrial). Use smaller shelves or sections to organise different parts of your city. This will give your display a more organised feel and make it easier to navigate visually.
Keep It Dynamic: As your LEGO city grows, you’ll likely want to make changes and additions. To keep things fresh, try rotating the layout every few months or adding new sets and features. This keeps the display exciting and allows you to continually explore new arrangements.

What I chose to do

As mentioned earlier, I chose to use garage shelving for my layout. In the past, I used Billy bookcases, but I found them too restrictive for what I wanted to achieve. While they were great for displaying individual sets, especially character builds, they just weren’t suitable for my city layout. With Billy bookcases, you can only fit one baseplate deep and up to three baseplates wide—if you modify them with washers or spacers: otherwise, it’s just two and a bit. This setup didn’t allow me to achieve the level of detail I was after.

So, garage shelving was the solution for me. I managed to find a single unit that’s 200 cm long (8 baseplates) and 60 cm deep (just over 2 baseplates). This extra space lets me include roads and finer details, giving the city a more complete look.

Final Thoughts

Displaying your LEGO city is an art in itself, and with the right shelving units and a little customisation, you can create a space that both protects and showcases your creations. By arranging your sets thoughtfully and making the most of your space, your LEGO city will shine—literally and figuratively. So, grab your tools and get ready to bring your LEGO city to life with a display that’s as impressive as the build itself!