Does Lego make a table?

Lego is one of the most popular and iconic toy brands in the world. Generations of children and adults alike have enjoyed playing with the colorful interlocking plastic bricks that allow for creative construction and imagination. With a wide variety of Lego sets available, from buildings to vehicles to scenes from popular movies, one may wonder – does Lego make tables as well?

The Origins and History of Lego

The Lego Group was founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Christiansen in Billund, Denmark. Originally a small carpentry workshop, in 1934 Lego began producing wooden toys, including trucks and houses. It wasn’t until 1949 that the company started producing the plastic interlocking bricks that we know as Lego blocks today. These automatic binding bricks, as they were first called, were inspired by similar self-locking bricks produced by the UK company Kiddicraft. With some key design innovations, Lego bricks easily stuck together yet were easy to take apart as well, making them ideal for creative construction play.

In 1958, the stud and tube coupling system that is still used today was patented, further improving the bricks’ ability to attach securely to each other. Lego bricks were now compatible with pieces produced over the course of decades, enabling elaborate construction and fueling the growth of Lego. New materials like acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic helped make the bricks more durable and affordable. Through the 1950s and 60s, Lego expanded its line of construction sets as well as playsets with characters like firefighters and police officers, introducing roleplay into Lego play.

Lego continued expanding its offerings in the 1970s and 80s, introducing even more themed sets around topics like space exploration, castles, and more. This helped grow Lego into a household name around the world. In the 1990s and 2000s, Lego forged partnerships with major brands like Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Minecraft, producing Lego sets depicting popular characters, vehicles, and scenes. This introduced Lego to new generations of fans. Today the Lego Group produces over 20 billion bricks each year and Lego sets continue to challenge builders to expand their skills and creativity.

Lego Tables

With its long history of producing construction toys, does Lego make actual tables that can be used as furniture? Unfortunately, Lego does not currently sell complete, functional tables meant for everyday use. However, that doesn’t mean Lego bricks can’t be used to build table-like creations!

While Lego doesn’t market full tables, they have produced various Lego sets over the years that include pieces of furniture. For example, Lego has made coffee tables, desks, and workbenches as part of themed sets. These are not freestanding tables but rather smaller props made to complete a scene, like a desktop as part of an office set. So individual tables exist as Lego models, just not as standalone functional furniture products.

Lego also makes a variety of baseplate pieces that have flat, square surfaces on which models can be built. While these baseplates can serve as the flat surface of a table, they do not have legs. These baseplates come in a variety of sizes, like 32×32 studs or 48×48 studs, providing plenty of room for building. So with some creativity, baseplates can be incorporated into the construction of a DIY Lego table.

Building Your Own Lego Table

For those interested in having their own Lego table, it’s certainly possible to make one yourself! Here are some ideas for building a Lego table using Lego bricks:

• Attach Lego baseplates to a regular tabletop – Simply acquire larger baseplates and affix them to the top of a normal table, desk, or counter. This creates a smooth and seamless Lego surface for building.
• Construct a Lego frame and top – Use Technic bricks and beams to build a table frame with legs. Then affix baseplates on top as a studded building surface. This creates a freestanding Lego table.
• Make a Lego mosaic tabletop – Use 1×1 bricks and tiles in various colors to create a mosaic pattern on a table surface. This makes the table itself part of the Lego creation.
• Incorporate bricks into another material – Attach Lego bricks to the top of a wooden table, or encase them in epoxy resin to make a custom Lego tabletop.

The possibilities are endless when determining the size, shape, colors, and patterns for a homemade Lego table. Custom tables can be tailored to be the perfect building surface for your needs. Be creative and make it your own!

Ideas for Lego Table Designs

Here are some fun and creative ideas to inspire your own custom Lego table design:

• Castle table – Use gray, black, and brown bricks to create a medieval castle look, complete with parapets, turrets, and archways.
• Space table – Use dark blues, transparent pieces, and rocket/satellite models on top for an out-of-this-world surface.
• Rainbow table – Make a bright and cheery table from bricks and tiles in every color of the rainbow.
• Underwater table – Stud the surface with translucent blue bricks and aquarium elements like fish and coral to bring the deep sea to your room.
• Train table – Use green baseplates for grass, brown for the track, and build towns, stations, and scenery around the edges.

Interior design is also an important factor for a Lego table. Consider placing it near natural light for illuminating your builds. Have comfortable seating readily accessible. And utilize surrounding shelves, bins, or drawers to conveniently store your Lego collection.

Functional Considerations

While fun to design and build, there are some important functional considerations for a DIY Lego table:

• Sturdiness – Use sufficient support in the frame and legs to firmly hold the weight of LEGO creations without warping or wobbling.
• Surface – Baseplates provide the best building surface. Tiles and plates securely affixed to the table prevent unevenness.
• Height – Standard table height may be too tall for younger children. Consider modifying the height for the intended builder.
• Storage – Incorporate drawers, shelves, bins, or other storage solutions to keep Lego organized when not in use.
• Portability – If the table needs to be moved, casters can be attached to the bottom of the legs to make it mobile.

Taking into account these practical aspects makes for a Lego table that will provide an optimal building experience and last for many years of LEGO crafting enjoyment.

Conclusion

While Lego does not mass produce complete tables for sale, the modular and customizable nature of Lego bricks makes it easy for fans to construct their own custom Lego tables. With some creativity and ingenuity, you can build the Lego table of your dreams as the perfect platform for constructing to your heart’s content. So gather some supplies, design a table that fits your space and style, and let your imagination run wild as you bring your Lego table to life piece by piece.