Organising My Kawaii Plush Display

My plush collection has been growing at an alarming (-ly cute) rate and it was time to sort it out. Here’s a look back at how it grew and what I did to organise it, plus some products and tips for displaying kawaii plush, or other cute collections. You can click on my photos to see a larger version.

I was so proud of my small plush collection when I moved into my current flat in 2014. It has a great open shelving space next to the fireplace which was perfect for displaying things. All I needed then was a small shelf from IKEA to raise a few favourites up higher.

This is the last time it looked organised, in 2018 – and so much bigger. I had added another shelf, plus a little fence box from Flying Tiger but every December I would take those out for my table display at Christmas craft fairs and mess everything up. I ended up needing those shelves in my studio so you can guess what happened…

Carnage! Whenever I bought a new plushie, it would get perched on top somewhere so there was a whole layer of sad plush trapped underneath. It was time to organise! I thought a lot about building some wooden shelves or just covering some cardboard boxes but ended up buying acrylic shelves.

So much better! This is two high shelves at the back with a wide lower shelf in front. It’s a bit crowded but I’m still hoping to pick up a Sumikko Gurashi house shelf for for my tiny plush and that will clear some more space. At least I can actually see all my plushies again. I’d like to say this is my entire collection but I have more plush all around the house.

Where to buy display shelves

• Ebay is the best place to find acrylic shelves and boxes in all colours and sizes. I used this UK seller who has every size imaginable.
• IKEA is great for affordable shelving and small boxes and units, especially in the Kids section.
• Other lifestyle & home stores like Flying Tiger, H&M Home, Paperchase & Target are always worth checking regularly.
• Craft stores like Michaels and Hobbycraft stock storage items plus things like house-shaped shelves you can prop up or hang on a wall.
• Check Etsy for custom built shelving (more affordable than you might expect!) and vintage pieces.
• See my previous post on How To Make A Kawaii Display Shelf or Andi’s Kawaii Stationery Storage Ideas.

For DIY options, there’s some cute ideas on Youtube. If you want to know where to buy kawaii plushies check the Plush & Toys section or our guide to The Best Kawaii Shops Worldwide. Happy to tell you about anything in my collection, though most of them probably aren’t available any more.