A few painted miniatures on your desk are a great conversation starter and a small daily reminder of the hobby. They are also at risk from cleaners, coffee, swinging bags and colleagues who want to pick them up. A good office display is small, stable, easy to pack away and looks deliberate rather than like a toy pile.
The short answer: bring a handful of your best models rather than an army, put them on a compact tiered stand at the back corner of the desk away from drinks and monitors, choose sturdy models without fragile spikes, and keep a small box handy so you can pack them away if you hot-desk.
How many miniatures should you bring to work?
Between three and eight is the sweet spot. That is enough to show a theme (a squad, a character line-up or your best paint jobs) without taking over your workspace. An eight-slot stand is about the limit before a desk display starts to look like clutter.
Where on the desk is safest?
The back corner furthest from your mouse hand and your mug is usually best. Avoid the front edge, the gap under a monitor where cables move, and windowsills in direct sunlight, which can fade paint and warm up plastics over time. A spot against a partition or wall also stops models being knocked from behind.
Which miniatures travel and display best at work?
Pick compact, robust models: infantry and characters with weapons held close to the body, not spindly banners or thin spears. If a model has survived a few games without breaking, it will usually survive an office. Keep the competition pieces at home.
| Option | Footprint | Stability | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loose on the desk | Spreads out | Poor; easily knocked | A single model, briefly |
| 8-slot tiered stand | Small | Good | A squad or small line-up |
| 5-slot hero stand | Very small | Good | Characters on larger bases |
| Acrylic cube case | Small | Excellent; dust-free | One prized model |
| Scenic stand with backdrop | Medium | Good | A permanent desk with space |
How do you keep an office display looking professional?
Keep it compact, tidy and themed. A neat stand with evenly spaced painted models looks like a collection; loose figures among pens and cables look like clutter. Painted and based models always look better than grey plastic, so bring finished work only.
How do you protect miniatures from cleaners and colleagues?
A stand keeps models together and makes it obvious they are meant to be there, so cleaners tend to lift and replace the whole thing rather than individual figures. A short note or label helps. If you are worried, magnetised bases on a stand with optional magnet holes hold models in place when the stand is moved.
What if you hot-desk?
Choose a display you can pack in under a minute. A small pre-assembled stand slips into a drawer or locker, and the models can travel in a small foam-lined box in your bag. Our guide to display cases and transport covers safe carrying options.
Do miniatures on a desk need dusting?
Offices are surprisingly dusty, especially near air conditioning and printers. A soft make-up brush once a week keeps them clean, and a matt or satin varnish protects the paint from handling. For a thorough clean, see how to clean dusty painted miniatures.
Can a desk display double as a video-call backdrop?
Yes, and it is one of the best reasons to set one up. A small tiered stand on a shelf behind you shows up clearly on camera if it is lit from the front. We cover framing and lighting in how to show off your miniatures on video calls.
Desk-sized display stands
- WarSplay Classic Mini – £11.95, 8 slots for 28–32mm models
- WarSplay Hero Mini – £11.95, 5 slots for characters on 28–50mm bases
- WarSplay Pro – from £24.95, 40mm plinths with a UV-printed scenic backdrop and optional magnet holes
Our stands are compatible with Warhammer 40,000® miniatures and most other games on standard round bases. Pre-assembled, made in our UK workshop and dispatched within 2 business days. Not sure which size? Try the display stand finder.
Related reading
- How to Display Mixed-Scale Miniatures Together (28mm to 54mm)
- How to Show Off Your Miniatures on Video Calls and Streams
- How to Display Miniatures at a Club, Shop or Convention Table
- Small Space Miniature Display: Professional Desk Showcase Tips
- How to Clean Dusty Painted Miniatures
- New: How to Display Miniatures in a Living Room (So It Looks Like Décor)
Warhammer 40,000® is a trademark of Games Workshop Group PLC. WarSplay® and Blubbercove Ltd are not affiliated with, authorised by, endorsed by, or licensed by Games Workshop Group PLC. The name is used solely to indicate product compatibility.