If you keep your LEGO sorted then many builders suggest sorting by part rather than by colour - its a lot easier to identify a pink vs. hot pink 1x4 brick, rather than to find the 1x4 brick in your hot pink box.

However, sorting by part can be frustrating. Imagine only 1x1 tiles/plates (i.e. the pieces which are 1/3 the height of a regular brick), to my knowledge there are:

* 1x1 square plates (i.e. with a stud on top), * 1x1 circular plates, * 1x1 circular plates, with a hole running through, * 1x1 square tiles (i.e. with a flat top), * 1x1 circular tiles, * 1x1 arch-shaped tiles, * 1x1 quarter-circle tiles, * 1x1 circular tiles with a nubbin on top