We’re Calling It: Lego Decorations Aren’t Just For Kids Anymore

When you consider Lego decorations, the first word that might come to mind is childish. That was Dani Klarić’s first instinct too. After all, it was only ever something her brother played with when they were both kids. Then, as an adult, she met her current boyfriend—a fully grown man who she claims is obsessed with the little plastic pieces. But Dani finds his passion “cute” and when they moved in together during the pandemic, he brought his massive collection of Lego sets with him. 

As an interior decorator in a healthy relationship, Dani wanted the shared space to be a reflection of both of their design styles. “I really wanted to make him feel included, and Legos were a huge part of that,” Dani says while detailing how she purchased some clear shelves, and Lego brick shelves, to display both of their sets. “When I did that and found a way to style the Legos, I fell in love with it. I thought it was such a fun way to decorate your house.”

Dani is just one of many designers and content creators using Legos as statement pieces in their homes. A quick perusal of the “lego decor” tag on TikTok reveals Lego hangers, a Lego coffee table, some hanging shelves that look like Lego blocks, and the modularized blooms of the Lego Botanicals collection. There’s even a Lego rendering of Van Gogh’s The Starry Night done through a recent collaboration between Lego and the Museum of Modern Art—which was actually the first set Dani made after she began going to the Lego store with her boyfriend. 

These days, Legoscapes litter Dani’s colorful and eclectic home in Miami. She has sets from the Botanical collection along with pieces like the popular Lego shelves. Dani has even used the Lego coffee table in one of the retail spaces she designed for a client. To her, they function like any other decorative statue might, except just a bit more nostalgic and fun. 

“I think [Legos] work the same way as a piece of art,” says Jessica Ayromloo, principal owner of Ayromloo Design. In fact, Jessica states she’s not at all surprised Legos are experiencing a bit of a comeback. It definitely makes sense with the resurgence of kitsch in the design world, which can be seen in other trends like baguette lamps or even subtle wiggles in the shapes of furniture and rugs. Jessica specifically points to contemporary artists like Jeff Koons and Kaws, who have popularized design toys in the high art world, as contributing to the rise of slightly kitschy toys like Legos finding a home in the interiors space—and in the larger world of fashion and streetwear. “It’s an inexpensive, fun way to add something interesting to your home that’s maybe, like, a conversation starter,” Jessica adds.

It’s also a bit of a nod to the fantasy rooms we all dreamed of having as kids: the swinging bed in Raven’s room in Disney’s That’s So Raven, or the gummy bear chandelier in Carly’s room on Nickelodeon’s iCarly. Dani even says some people compare her own home to Carly’s room.  

Using Lego decorations and other toys as design objects also works even if your personal style errs on the side of simple and understated. TikTok creator Bao Nguyen explains that when it comes to furniture, she likes to play it safe and sticks primarily to neutrals. But she colors outside the lines with her accent decor, using Lego sets and different toys, like her Brickheadz collection, to elevate her space.

Jessica and Bao also call out the fact that it’s decor you get to craft yourself. As you know, building Legos can be tough. (Bao’s pro tip is to give yourself plenty of time to do it.) It’s especially hard when it comes to rendering something in Lego form that doesn’t easily match with the shape of Legos themselves, like flowers. But for Bao, that’s exactly what makes Lego decorations so special and what brings them to life in our own homes. Take the Starry Night set, which is inspired by Van Gogh’s famous work of art that is known for its graceful curls and swirls—this is somewhat ironic for anyone who knows the rush of pain from stepping on a Lego block. But it’s that modular and 3D quality that brings sets like these to life in a way that’s distinct from the original.

“It’s smooth plastic yet it has the graphic texture of the circles that connect, which kind of gives it a texture. It could almost be like a textile in a way,” Jessica further explains. “It can take on so many different characters. You could clad a surface in Legos if you wanted to. They’re very versatile.” 

Design elements aside, there’s a note of nostalgia at the core of this Lego decor movement. For Dani, not only do the sets bring more character to her home, but they also remind her of her childhood and building sets with her brother. Those memories along with the character are part of what she says makes her space feel homey. And while Bao loves the playfulness that Legos and other toys bring to her home, they also fulfill pieces of a childhood dream that a lot of us have devoted our whole loves to making come true. “I never really had all the money to buy all the toys I wanted when I was young,” she concludes. “When I was a little kid I never thought I would go out and do this. Now I have the money and the space to do it. I feel like a little kid.”

Shop Lego Decorations of Your Own

LEGO® Ideas The Starry Night

$170 at MoMa Design Store

$170 at Lego

LEGO® 8-Stud Brick Shelf – White

$30 at LEGO

LEGO® 8-Stud Aqua Light Blue Storage Brick Drawer

$40 at LEGO

Wooden Desk Drawer 8 – Dark Oak

$240 at LEGO

LEGO® Succulents

$50 at LEGO

$50 at Target