Figure Displays Tips Part 1: Using Acrylic Risers (and Other Stuff)
One of the dilemmas of every figure collector is how to display your collection so that it's aesthetically pleasing, showcases your figures, maximizes available light and maximizes the space you have available. Hubby & I have been collecting for almost a decade (yikes! >__<) and it snowballed from a handful of Final Fantasy figures once upon a time to what I still consider to be a growing collection today.
I have quite an array of different sized figures in my collection: from 2" tall to 2.5 feet tall and everything in between so I have encountered all kinds of display dilemmas. The simplest (and most expensive) solution would be to buy tons of commercial acrylic risers. You can find them at retail supply stores, or if you're lucky to be in a city with a MUJI you can find some great risers there in all shapes and sizes - however they are not cheap! So this is when you sometimes have to get thrifty and creative. In my opinion, the nicest displays are in tiers of multiple levels to suit the size of the figures, but things don't have to be completely symmetrical.
I have the Detolf cases from Ikea - as many of you do too - and the reason I chose them was because they have a door (to keep my cats out and dust off my figures) and because they are glass they let in as much light as possible. One of the downsides of this style of display case is that you are somewhat limited by the shelf sizes and unless you put spotlights into them they are still quite dark.
Have a look at the stuff in this picture:
No, it's not tomorrow's recycling T__T"
This is an assorted collection of different items that I use in my display cases as risers just to show some of the variety of items that I've kept for future use. Only the 4 in the top-right corner of the photo are actual commercial acrylic risers, since most of my risers are being used and I didn't want to take apart my displays for this post! The rest is an assortment of bits and bobs that I've accumulated over time and have become quite useful. There are:
- plastic boxes from chocolates
- parts of a bathroom toiletries set (liquid soap dispenser with pump removed, soap dish, etc)
- stackable makeup and craft supply jars
- cosmetic display units
- prisms
- CD spindle case
- superglue jar/ empty pill bottles
I made a quick video talking through the individual items in the above photo -
My point is that if you are resourceful you can find all kinds of things around the house to use for your displays. I've read that some collectors use glass cups, cake displays, jars and other clear items. If it has a flat surface for a figure to stand on, it can be used as a display! [Disclaimer: I don't suggest hoarding things to the point that your friends and family need to stage a TV intervention!]
Okay, so remember all that plastic "stuff" from the picture above - see if you can spot some of them in this (outdated) photo of my Kingdom Hearts chess set. (I've got the new ones from KH2 in the shelf - just haven't gotten around to taking an updated photo! ^__~")
I hope this post got you thinking outside the (chocolate) box about how to display your toys and figures. I'm not a "keep it in the box forever" type of collector (although I have nothing against collectors who like to keep things MIB) but I like to be able to see the efforts of my years of collecting, so to me, an attractive display is necessary.
Next time I'll post about a completely different way to make use of space in your cases to display figures!
Acrylic risers & pen holders from MUJI
Stackable petri-dish containers from hardware store
Make-up jars from drug store and MUJI
Nice Ideas might to need to try it
This has got to be the most epic Kingdom hearts collection ever! XD
That's just the chess set ^__^" I have one case dedicated to Kingdom Hearts: I have the PlayArts action figures too and the TOMY Disney figures. I'm just lazy to take pics >__<"
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This is brilliant! Thank you!
You're welcome ^__~"
Very nice post. I just bought some acrylic risers not too long ago, so I think I should be good for now (I only have one detolf), but I'll definitely remember these tips for the future. I don't get a lot of chocolate but I'm sure I can find some CD holder covers.
I don't eat a lot of chocolate either, but I've told all my friends to keep the boxes for me. I have a couple of friends that are school teachers and they end up with boxes of them from their students >__<" LOL
Glad you found this helpful ^__^"
Great tutorial. Personally, I use those round stackable craft/bead containers that you show (from the dollar store). The advantage is that you can stack them to make different heights, it's very useful. Plus, you get 6 for a dollar! I should take pics of my displays, it's been more than a year since I posted.
Thanks for Tao e of the other ideas, it's really useful for things that the craft discs are too samll for!
*some of the other ideas. iPad autocorrect is weird sometimes.
oh autocorrect... it makes for some good laughs :D
I love stackable things because sometimes I just need a little "lift" to get around some of my figures that have huge bases. Sometimes adding a short riser makes the difference to add a couple more figures onto a shelf :D
Thanks for sharing this useful advice. I recently got hold of a Detolf case so I'm looking to maximize my space.
You're welcome. I hope it gave you some ideas ^__~"
I myself uses a acrylic name card holder from daisho (a 2 dollar store here)
I have a few things from Daiso as well. Unfortunately there isn't a Daiso in my city so I've only been able to pick up a few things in my travels that will fit in my suitcase @__@"
I use acrylic trading card containers. depending on the size, 2-5 dollars. They split apart, and you magically have 2 risers. :)
Love it! ^__^"
Those Chocolate boxes make good risers for those figures with bigger bases.
I bought some from a shop specializing in those things a while ago (yes, they're no cheap for just some plastic) and it really makes a huge difference.
Before using risers my Detolf started to seem like a "bunch of figures", but after redecorating it looked quite professional, if I may say so xD
Believe me, I know how pricey acrylic risers can get >__<"
But having them in a shelf totally makes the difference between a "bunch of figures" and a nice "display of figures," right? (^__^)"
Totally!
All I need now is a mirror-background for my detolfs, since the wall behind it has seen better days :P
I've already seen something nice with mirror film in an older post somewhere here on figure.fm ( http://www.figure.fm/post/en/12513/Detolf+overhaul.html )
Nice! TY for the tips!