What will you find under Play & Decorate?
Under Play & Decorate you will currently find glow-in-the-dark building bricks and baseplates. They store light and glow in the dark, entirely without batteries, cables or electronics. Glow candles and Glow Mana used to be part of this range too. We no longer offer these products; we show pictures and descriptions on the page Things we used to make. We keep other glow-in-the-dark decoration in separate categories, which we introduce further down.
How do toys that glow in the dark work?
Glow-in-the-dark toys contain a pigment that absorbs light and slowly releases it in the dark. In our building bricks this pigment is inside the ABS plastic itself. So there is no coating that could flake off. The glow is strongest right after charging, then it gradually fades. It is only visible in a properly darkened room. The page Afterglow explained covers the basics.
Glow-in-the-dark building bricks at a glance
The range includes single-colour 2x4 bricks, a mixed set and large baseplates. All are compatible with common building brick systems. Colours, contents and charging tips are under Building bricks.
- 2x4 bricks, 100 pieces each: yellow (glows green-yellow), green (glows green), blue (glows green-blue) and transparent (glows green)
- Mixed set: 104 bricks in various sizes, transparent, orange, green and blue by day
- Baseplates: 2 pieces, 25 × 25 cm each with 32 × 32 studs; in the dark the whole surface glows
What should you consider when choosing a colour?
The daylight colour and the glow colour in the dark are not always the same. Yellow bricks glow green-yellow, blue ones green-blue. Transparent bricks look like clear standard bricks by day and only show their green glow in the dark. If you want a model to stay inconspicuous by day, transparent bricks are therefore a good choice. If the colour should also fit the scene in daylight, choose yellow, green or blue to match the model. If you want to try out different colours, start with the mixed set.
Ideas: how to use glow effects in your model
Glowing bricks work wherever there would be light in real life. A few suggestions:
- Windows, lanterns and lamps in houses and streets
- Headlights and vehicle lights
- Water surfaces with the blue bricks
- Lighthouses, path markers or a haunted house
- Whole scenes on the baseplates that stand out as silhouettes in the dark
- A baseplate as a display surface for a finished model
Charge the finished model for a few minutes in sunlight or under a bright lamp. Then darken the room. Sunlight charges more strongly than room light.
More ideas for decorating with a glow effect
For walls, ceilings, gardens and jars there are separate categories. They are not part of Play & Decorate, but go well with glowing children's rooms and decoration ideas:
- Glow in the dark stickers for children's rooms, ceilings and walls
- Planets and moon, photorealistically printed, made of self-adhesive vinyl film
- Fairy-tale stickers with a 30 cm diameter, removable
- Glow stones for gardens, paths and decoration; they charge in seconds to minutes, fastest with UV light
- Glow jelly to mix with water for bottles and jars; not for children under 5
How bright is the glow and how long does it last?
After charging in sunlight, the building bricks are clearly visible for around 1 hour in complete darkness. Once your eyes have adjusted to the dark, the glow can be seen for up to 2 hours. Charged with room light, they glow more weakly. Afterglow is an effect for a dark room and an orientation aid, not lighting. So the bricks do not replace a night light that stays on all night.
Good to know: safety and care
- The building bricks and baseplates are tested to EN 71 parts 1–3, as required for toys. We will send you the test report on request.
- Not suitable for children under the age of 3.
- Clean the baseplates with a damp cloth, then let them dry thoroughly.
- You can repeat the charging as often as you like.