organizing miniatures

Do you have a miniature collection that’s starting to get out of hand? Are you tired of digging through boxes to find the perfect piece for your display? Have you found yourself wasting precious time searching for a mini you know you have but just can’t locate? Or have you ever ended up with duplicates by accident? If you can relate to any of those frustrations, it’s probably time to organize your collection!

Organizing your miniature collection doesn’t have to be difficult. With a little planning and effort, you can create a system that works for you and keeps your miniatures safe and easy to find.

Here are a few tips for organizing your miniature collection:

Start by sorting your miniatures by type.

This will help you to see what you have and make it easier to find what you’re looking for. You can sort your miniatures by theme or category, scale, artist, or any other criteria that makes sense to you. I like to sort by holidays and seasons, for starters.

While you’re sorting, this is a great opportunity to create an inventory to track your collectible miniatures and their values. When your collection reaches a certain size, this is invaluable for insurance purposes.

I created a quick spreadsheet to help you start your inventory – you can get a copy of the .CSV file by clicking here.

Once you’ve sorted your miniatures, it’s time to find a storage solution.

There are a variety of storage options available, so you can choose one that fits your needs and budget. Some popular options include:

Storage Boxes

Storage boxes are a great option for storing miniatures. They come in a variety of sizes and materials, so you can find one that fits your needs.

• Some of my favorites are actually hardware/parts storage units like the Akro-Mils 44 Drawer Plastic Parts Storage, as they’re perfect for minis!
• I also like to use bead organizers for jewelry makers. Just make sure you get the kind where the divider goes all the way to the top so your miniatures don’t shift or spill into other dividers when moving the organizer. Some come with fixed dividers, but others have adjustable dividers (like this 36 Compartment Bead Storage Container) so you can make larger compartments as needed.
• For storing larger pieces like dollhouse furniture, you can’t go wrong with plastic shoe boxes since they stack really well. I like these clear IRIS Plastic Storage Container Bins so you can see everything inside.

Display Cases

Display cases are a great way to show off your miniatures. They come in a variety of styles, so you can find one that matches your décor. Glass enclosed cases are the best choice to keep as much dust as possible off your collection (not to mention curious cats or nosy dogs).

I’m fortunate enough to have a built-in case in my studio, and my husband outfitted it with LED lights so that you can see every detail!

Update: I just saw an AMAZING idea from @suessmallobsession on Instagram where she used a mirrored Hotwheels/Matchbox Car Clear Acrylic Display Case for all her holiday minis. Brilliant!!

Wall-Mounted Shelves

Wall-mounted shelves are a great way to save space. They’re also a great way to display your miniatures, as they’re easy to see and access. As these are generally open air, I would avoid putting your most valuable items on these shelves to protect them from accidental damage, dust and UV exposure.

No matter what storage solution you choose, make sure to label everything.

This will help you to find what you’re looking for quickly and easily. My Brother P-Touch Label Maker is a life saver in this regard! There are fancier versions of label makers out there, but this simple battery-operated one is inexpensive and has worked for me for years now.

Once your miniatures are stored, take some time to display them.

This is a great way to show off your collection and add some personality to your home. There are a variety of ways to display miniatures, so get creative!

By following these tips, you can easily organize your miniature collection and keep it looking its best. So what are you waiting for? For me, it’s a continuous work in progress, but I’m on my way to a fully organized collection!

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