Stop Hiding Your Collection: How to Display Painted Miniatures as a Professional Showcase

You have spent hundreds of hours painting your army. You’ve mastered the edge highlights and perfected the bases. So why are they sitting in a dark foam transport case or tucked away in a cupboard? This is "The Foam Case Burial," and it’s time to fix it.

Many wargamers struggle with the transition from storage to display. The common problem is shelf space; once you put a squad on a flat shelf, the front row blocks the back, and your elite units get lost in the crowd. Here is how to upgrade your setup from a cluttered desk to a gallery-grade wargaming showcase.

You are far from alone in owning more models than you can display. In the 2023 Great Wargaming Survey, almost 41% of respondents reported having between 100 and 500 unpainted miniatures, and around 18% had more than 1,000 — the famous “pile of potential.” Yet most hobbyists are painters and collectors first: a Goonhammer reader survey estimated that only around 0.6% of players compete, meaning roughly 99% of us build and paint to display rather than simply to game. Those finished models deserve to be seen — not least because the work behind them is real: a six-month academic study published in the journal Religions (via Harvard’s Center for the Study of World Religions) found that painting miniatures is genuinely meditative and good for mental wellbeing.

1. The "Gallery of Glory" Rotation

You don't need to display every model you own at once. A cluttered shelf looks messy and hides the quality of your work. Instead, treat your hobby room like a gallery. Rotate your display based on the Kill Team® or Warband you are currently playing or painting. This keeps your hobby space fresh and gives you a specific goal to finish a squad. To learn more about this mindset, read our guide on how to stop hiding your miniatures.

2. Conquer Vertical Space (The Stadium Method)

The biggest mistake in miniature display is using flat surfaces. Flat shelves waste vertical space and hide the intricate details of your rear-rank models. Professional exhibitors use tiers because they allow the eye to travel upwards, creating a "stadium effect" where every model is visible. There is a reason galleries hang artwork with its centre around eye level (a common rule places it at 145cm / 57in): lifting a piece toward the viewer’s sightline is simply how things are meant to be seen.

Comparison: Flat Shelves vs. Tiered Stands

3. Group by Narrative & Base Size

Don't just line your models up; tell a story. Because WarSplay® features a modular flat-edge design, you can connect multiple units to create a wide battle line for a full army. Use our Miniature Display Size Guide to find the perfect fit for your 32mm, 40mm, or 50mm bases. Our stands are specifically compatible with Warhammer 40,000® and Age of Sigmar®, allowing you to organise by command structure:

• The Summit: Place your HQ choice at the top centre tier.
• The Flanks: Elite bodyguards on the middle tiers.
• The Vanguard: Standard battle-line infantry holding the front row.

If your army is built on 40mm bases, our newest stand — the WarSplay Pro — adds magnets to every podium, so models snap on and stay locked in formation even when you move the display. It is the first of a new magnetic wave from us.

FAQ

How do I keep dust off open displays?
For open tiered displays, use a soft makeup brush once a month. Because our system is open-air, you avoid the static dust build-up often found in sealed acrylic boxes.

Does it fit inside an IKEA cabinet?
Yes. WarSplay is designed as the ultimate IKEA Detolf® upgrade, fitting perfectly into Billy and Kallax units to maximise vertical space. See our guide on Detolf alternatives for more shelf ideas.

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Compatibility & Legal: WarSplay® modular stands are independent designs. They are compatible with Warhammer 40,000®, Age of Sigmar®, and other tabletop systems, but are not affiliated with or endorsed by Games Workshop Group PLC. IKEA®, Detolf®, and Billy® are trademarks of Inter IKEA Systems B.V.