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ICYMI: Legos aren’t just for kids — these 8 sets are excellent for adults
Unlock your inner child and step away from your devices with these adult-friendly sets, chosen by our editors.
The floral-themed botanical sets are definitely among our favorite kinds of Legos — each one is inspired by and carefully modeled after a real flower, according to the brand. This set is a top pick among a few members of our staff, and includes a model orchid nestled in a blue vase. NBC Select reporter Zoe Malin was never a Lego person, but says that during the pandemic, Sunday afternoon crafts with her family became a norm, and Legos became a go-to. She bought this set as a gift for her cousin; “he has cats so he doesn’t keep flowers at home — this served as an alternative,” she says.
NBC Select updates editor Mili Godio, who keeps her Lego orchid on display, also seconds the giftability of this set — “it’s the perfect gift and looks so cute once you’re done,” she says. You can also rotate the stems, blooms, roots and leaves of the model to suit your display preference, according to the brand.
NBC Select editorial projects Rebecca Rodriguez is a huge “Wicked” fan, so when the brand sent this Emerald City set for testing, she couldn’t wait to get her hands on it. It’s the ideal decor piece for “Wicked” franchise fans — the 3D set is designed to resemble the Emerald City setting from the movie, and includes seven character minifigures, like Dorothy, Glinda, Elphaba, the Tin Man, Toto and more, according to the brand. “It took my husband and I around four hours to complete, we spread it out over two sessions,” says Rodriguez. “We had so much fun putting this together, and were thoroughly impressed with the level of detail.” Her favorite parts of the set are the hidden surprises and figurines, and says she loves that “it even has two openings in the back so you can mount it on a wall like the work of art it is.”
As a longtime admirer of architecture, I love that the Lego architecture series lets your favorite structures live in your home alongside you. This New York City kit includes 3D models of some of the city’s most famous locations, including the Flatiron building, the Chrysler building, One World Trade Center and the Empire State building, according to the brand. It also includes a collectible booklet with information on the building’s designs and architectural details — perfect for fans of New York City history. Malin’s family bought this Lego set for her brother when he moved to Boston from NYC as a reminder of home, and says it was great for him since he loves building and displaying Lego sets. “Lego has a bunch of location-specific Legos, which I love to give as gifts because it feels personal — you can gift someone a set that’s centered around their home or college town, or their favorite vacation destination, for example,” she says.
This Lucky Bamboo model is another great option for plant-lovers — it has realistic elements, including a wood-effect plinth holder, a pebble bed and three bamboo stems with adjustable leaves, according to the brand. After receiving it from Lego, I put this set together on a cold, Sunday afternoon in October while marathoning movies (which is my preferred Lego-building setup). It looks great on my shelf and brings another touch of greenery to my room without the additional maintenance, and since bamboo is believed to bring good fortune to owners, I like to think of my time building it as (literally) making my own luck.
NBC Select SEO editor Nikki Brown is big on gardening and loves framed art, so this sunflower wall art set is right up her alley. I was immediately attracted to this set because I can also use it as decor,” she says. “I have a gallery wall in my living room made up of second-hand or handmade frames, pictures and more — a framed photo made entirely of Lego pieces that I put together is a natural fit and perfect addition to what I’ve already created.”
Created in partnership with the Van Gogh Museum, this art model is a Lego reimagination of the artist’s famous Sunflower painting — it has 16 different sunflowers that come inside of a removable frame, so you can easily display it, according to the brand. The frame has a hanger element for wall display, and includes a tile with Van Gogh’s signature, along with a QR code that gives you access to an exclusive podcast about Van Gogh’s art and inspiration, according to the brand. Brown says that once she’s finished building the set, she’s sure it will be a conversation starter — however, due to the higher difficulty level, she knows that finishing “is going to take a very long time, even with help.”
This bouquet includes roses in various stages of bloom, including fully blossomed roses, semi-blossomed roses, and rosebuds, according to the brand. It also includes a few sprigs of white baby’s breath, for some added versatility. The roses have full stems, so they can be displayed in a vase, and you can also combine them with other Lego Botanical bouquets.
NBC Select associate social media editor, Caitlin Cusack, says this this Toothless set “
is the perfect gift for anyone that loves Legos or How to Train Your Dragon.” This Lego-brick version of the popular Night Fury dragon has a head that can be swivelled and posed, and includes a plasma-blast accessory piece and a fish food piece as replicas of the dragon’s iconic power and favorite snack, according to the brand. She says her brother, whom she calls “a major AFOL” (adult fan of Lego), loves this set she gifted him, and that it’s one of his favorite sets yet.
NBC Select senior commerce editor Lindsay Schneider loves displaying this wildflower set in her home, which she says looks real and vibrant, even from afar. She uses Legos as a way to relax and disconnect while staying stimulated. “It’s such a satisfying, screen-free activity,” she says. “ I love not being on my phone and I find it so fulfilling and satisfying.” Since the flowers are so delicate, she recommends the set for adults only (which lines up with the brand’s recommended age).
Lego includes recommended ages for each set, which are based on the set’s difficulty level and the amount of pieces included, according to the brand.
If your set is missing pieces, you can request replacements in the replacement parts section of the Lego website, free of charge. You’ll be able to search the name/number of your set, select your missing pieces, and Lego will ship them directly to you.
I am an associate SEO reporter at NBC Select who regularly covers skin care, body care, wellness, hobbies and lifestyle, including stories on the best puzzles for adults and language learning apps . I’ve been building Legos since childhood, but in the past year, I rediscovered them as an adult and have been hooked ever since. For this story, I consulted NBC Select staffers for their favorite Lego set recommendations.
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