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[Tathanen]

If you want "classy," you'll need to do small displays. The examples in this thread where they're all displayed en masse read as hoardy and collectey, which is fine (mine are all on a shelf together too), but far removed from "classy."

Take a selection of one-to-three of them and stick them somewhere together far removed from the others. Maybe stick a little succulent with them, or another generic non-gaming tchotchke. A playful little dash of color somewhere, not a shrine to the decadence of our collective sickness.

 

[Skyzard]

I don't think it's possible.

 

[jstripes]

Nobody cared what you think it needs your approval. It's his home and he can decorate it however he wants; displaying amino isn't tacky and you should stop with that.

It kind of is.

I mean, go ahead and display them if that's your thing, but it's not gonna impress dinner guests.

 

[Tathanen]

It kind of is.

I mean, go ahead and display them if that's your thing, but it's not gonna impress dinner guests.

My dinner guests all like them, because I associate with people who share my interests.

I'm not sure who you're inviting over.

 

[Stumpokapow]

Nobody cared what you think it needs your approval. It's his home and he can decorate it however he wants; displaying amino isn't tacky and you should stop with that.

What do you think the point of the thread is? If the OP was sold on wanting to display Amiibo, there'd be no thread, he'd just do it. The OP's central dilemma is asking people whether or not it is tacky, whether or not it's compatible with his apparently sparse and minimal aesthetic, what other people think. Someone posting that they find it tacky in any form is arguably more on topic than someone totally ignoring that he's looking for ideas on minimal implementations and posting an enormous curio cabinet and yelling You Do You, the exact opposite of the aesthetic the OP claims to be going for.

 

[jstripes]

I'm still not sure how we went from this being a joke in The 40 Year Old Virgin to real life.

My dinner guests all like them, because I associate with people who share my interests.

I'm not sure who you're inviting over.

People with a wider range of interests than me.

Extended family. Friends of my family.

 

[magwizsorc]

I think having a few of them arranged in some kind of Smash-style battle in spaces around the house would be cool. Creating them could be a fun side project for when you are not in the mood to play video games.

 

[Hoo-doo]

I'm sorry, but by the common use of the word 'classy', displaying your nerd stuff in a glass display on the wall is not going to make a collection of plastic figurines look 'classy' all of a sudden.
And in no way do the examples in this thread exude clean, airy interior design. They mostly look like nerd caves, only more organised. Let's face it.

Hide the stuff from view if you want clean interior design or if you're scared of being judged for your hobbies. Or just go the other way and stop caring altogether and embrace it.

 

[Lavpa Jasai]

+1 for the baseball cases.

This is a pic of my setup in my office.

My whole office is decked out with nerd things I love, I wouldn't want it strewn all around the house, but I think it works in certain contexts as long as you don't just cram stuff which makes it look messy.

I'm sorry, but by the common use of the word 'classy', displaying your nerd stuff in a glass display on the wall is not going to make a collection of plastic figurines look 'classy' all of a sudden.
And in no way do the examples in this thread exude clean, airy interior design. They mostly look like nerd caves, only more organised. Let's face it.

Hide the stuff from view if you want clean interior design or if you're scared of being judged for your hobbies. Or just go the other way and stop caring altogether and embrace it.

This is mostly true, however I do think you can reach a nice middle ground as well.

 

[Khalifa Jayy]

I think having a few of them arranged in some kind of Smash-style battle in spaces around the house would be cool. Creating them could be a fun side project for when you are not in the mood to play video games.

Don't do this.

 

[CrashPrime]

I'm still not sure how we went from this being a joke in The 40 Year Old Virgin to real life.

People with a wider range of interests than me.

Extended family. Friends of my family.

It's because the joke and dialog about displaying toys doesn't automatically make it accurate for all situations. Just because someone pokes fun at something doesn't mean you need to react to it or consider it taboo.

 

[Tathanen]

I have one on my desk at work, I rotate it with others from time to time. My desk is really clean and organized, the bo adds a tiny bit of color and personality. It's toon Link right now, I'll replace him with botw-arrow-link and botw-zelda as a nice little pair in a few weeks.

That's really the key tho. Just show one or two at a time, amidst other more "grown up" items.

 

[Ryce]

It's not possible to make plastic Nintendo figures look "classy." I'm not saying you can't decorate your home as you please, but if you're concerned with aesthetics then you're better off keeping your toys in a desk drawer or storage container.

 

[jstripes]

It's not possible to make plastic Nintendo figures look "classy." I'm not saying you can't decorate your home as you please, but if you're concerned with aesthetics then you're better off keeping your toys in a desk drawer or storage container.

Or if you have space, keep it isolated to a nerd cave.

 

[notaskwid]

I don't know of a way, the baseball cases don't seem half bad though.
Should be easier to do than anime boob figures. Though I would still only display them on a room or (personal) office if I was interested.

 

[Spyware]

I have random gaming stuff on/inside cabinets and shelves, lots and lots of electronics and so on. Our living room looks like a "man cave" and I've had lots of different people sit in here, check out all the things and finding it interesting. I've had oh so many people here that have never even touched a controller and whos gaming knowledge reaches the level of "my kid plays something called Minecraft I think" and they compliment me for my "great home decoration". That was unexpected and fun. My point is that people don't dislike it as much as some people in this thread seem to think.

Not that I care if they don't like it tho. It's done for me and my SO and not for guests.
I know my mom thinks that it's cluttery and hard to clean. So what? She doesn't live here. My pedantic and minimalistic neighbour get OCD problems from being here (I have OCD myself but not over the same stuff. I wouldn't dare touch a thing in his sterile, white, sparsly furnitured and non-decorated rooms! ) and my little brother thinks that it's basically the coolest place ever. I'm fine with all of this. I love my living room and that's what matters to me.

 

[Diggeh]

If you want pure classy, nothing beats this guy's setup:

Go make a cool display and be proud of your awesome collection of classic Nintendo characters! Don't feel embarrassed about owning the things you love.

 

[Silvard]

I have random gaming stuff on/inside cabinets and shelves, lots and lots of electronics and so on. Our living room looks like a "man cave" and I've had lots of different people sit in here, check out all the things and finding it interesting. I've had oh so many people here that have never even touched a controller and whos gaming knowledge reaches the level of "my kid plays something called Minecraft I think" and they compliment me for my "great home decoration". That was unexpected and fun. My point is that people don't dislike it as much as some people in this thread seem to think.

Not that I care if they don't like it tho. It's done for me and my SO and not for guests.
I know my mom thinks that it's cluttery and hard to clean. So what? She doesn't live here. My pedantic and minimalistic neighbour get OCD problems from being here (I have OCD myself but not over the same stuff. I wouldn't dare touch a thing in his sterile, white, sparsly furnitured and non-decorated rooms! ) and my little brother thinks that it's basically the coolest place ever. I'm fine with all of this. I love my living room and that's what matters to me.

That's great, but it doesn't make it classy.

OP, in my opinion don't bother trying to make it classy. If you want the classy aesthetic then just give up on displaying your collection of plastic figurines. If you want to display them then settle for tasteful. Which most of the examples in this thread are not.

 

[Spyware]

Mine looks a bit like this random pic I found but I have two of these shallow ones on the wall next to the covered normal deeper ones that store the games and movies and such.

And with figures instead of yarn ofc But they are color sorted!

That's great, but it doesn't make it classy.

I said I would never call it classy in my first post. I'm just giving some examples of non-gamers finding it cool/nice/good looking anyway. It's not as "looked down upon" as some people here try to make it seem.

 

[Crayon]

I do things like this with toys and other 'tacky' things. I just put out a few at a time and rotate different ones into display when cleaning time comes around.

 

[Kintaro]

That's great, but it doesn't make it classy.

OP, in my opinion don't bother trying to make it classy. If you want the classy aesthetic then just give up on displaying your collection of plastic figurines. If you want to display them then settle for tasteful. Which most of the examples in this thread are not.

This is probably the best advice so far.

I would also examine what "classy" is to you. It's different things to different people, but within the context of a clean, air, potentially minimal look? It will vary. Like, if you have a lot of them, it's going to be hard to make it "classy." But if you have one of something, that you treasure and means a lot to you? It can be much easier.

Most of these pictures are simply nice (and not so nice) pictures of collections. But it's simply that. A collection. No real meaning besides that they like a lot of a brand. Collection is just a nice word for hoarding. None of them are special. If you want a conversation starter/piece, it has to be unique and special to you.

 

[b4mv]

Mosslanda picture ledges from Ikea are perfect. They are cheap, come in black and white and have enough space in them to hide a LED-strip to light your collection. The long ones can hold up to 19 amiibos.

Example from internet with skylanders:

I do this same thing, with these same Ikea shelves for my amiibos.

 

[Yawnny]

Classy is in the eye of the beholder and there will be some who will never see toys as classy. They are mass produced plastic figurines of videogame characters after all.

I'd go with a games room where these things would not be out of place. A refurbished basement is great for that. I highly recommend getting a Foosball table, a comically large tv, a wet bar, and videogames of course. A space for yourself that you can have fun with is so nice to have.

I agree. I'd put them in my man cave but hell no to having them in my living room when people come over.

 

[RoadHazard]

They're plastic video game toys, so no, not generally. Some people will find that tacky no matter how you display them.

 

[Dantrist]

Of course it's not classy, it's toys of video game characters... Now that's not to say that you shouldn't display them. If it makes you happy, then by all means display them, who cares?

 

[Spyware]

If you want a conversation starter/piece, it has to be unique and special to you.

Conversations with non-gamers have started over and been about:
My complete collection of Disney Infinity
An ugly WoW poster (which was such a needed ice-breaker. I will forever be thankful for that horrible misstep in home "decoration" for that single reason )
A Fallout 3 Lunchbox
A Portal gun
A Dead Space box
A Gears of War grub bust that I "displayed ironically" in my bedroom
A mini NES
and on and on I can go.

What has never started a conversation? My Gaystation. That special charity auction one that is special to me. No one even notices it. Hah.

So err... not in my experience!

 

[Charcoal]

I think they look horrible regardless of what you keep them in, but that's just my opinion.

 

[Peltz]

I didn't build it. These are two cabinets I bought from my local Lidl (supermarket chain) here in Amsterdam:

I merely painted them black and aligned them perfectly next to each other

This cabinet is by far the nicest one posted thus far. If your decor allows for it, I'd display them against a brown or beige neutral color rather than a black or white background.

 

[Jaguar Victory]

When I was in college back in the day I collected McFarlane figures. We'd go hunt them down with my buds and we all spent way too much of our disposable income on it. Come later when I realized that there's a 2% chance this doesn't come as weird when dating and grew out of wanting toys on my wall I ended up giving them all away.

I regret buying those things (not to mention the large DVD collection).

OP I'd say good luck man. If I were you I'd put it in a display case that you can close when you have co-workers/family over so your place will continue to look sharp and minimalistic as the aesthetic you were going for. But that way you can still nerd or when you want.

Before people attack me, this is my opinion. If you have it all out and love it, that's great. The world is your oyster.

 

[LiK]

Some nice case suggestions.

 

[show me your skeleton]

keep them in the fridge, it's the only way they'll stay fresh.

 

[bjork]

When I was in college back in the day I collected McFarlane figures. We'd go hunt them down with my buds and we all spent way too much of our disposable income on it. Come later when I realized that there's a 2% chance this doesn't come as weird when dating and grew out of wanting toys on my wall I ended up giving them all away.

I regret buying those things (not to mention the large DVD collection).

OP I'd say good luck man. If I were you I'd put it in a display case that you can close when you have co-workers/family over so your place will continue to look sharp and minimalistic as the aesthetic you were going for. But that way you can still nerd or when you want.

Before people attack me, this is my opinion. If you have it all out and love it, that's great. The world is your oyster.

You can admit it, when you found Party Angela at a K-Mart, it was a happy day. Or the Maxx that didn't have a completely messed up bubble.

 

[goldenpp72]

I'd like to specify that I don't think gaming trinkets should be on display in random areas of a home, that's a personal thing of course. I do however have them displayed in a dedicated gaming area.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

I'm not sure there is a "classy" way to display plastic toys like amiibos, but i guess it depends on your definition of "classy". If you just mean neat or clean, there are some good examples in this thread, but if the goal is "how do I make these things acceptable to people that might find them childish?" there is no answer. If you like them embrace the inherent tackiness.

 

[QaaQer]

Or just go the other way and stop caring altogether and embrace it.

 

[Crazyorloco]

I think the lighting also helps make it classier. I love the baseball case idea. Makes me want to try this, and OP i guess I'm considered an older gaffer now...I'm 33.

 

[ClayKavalier]

Here's my setup:

For anyone wondering I'm using these:
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0083R3DHO/
http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/10119206/

Why is Yoshi in time out?

 

[Donniewahlberg]

I really like the baseball cases some of you guys are using. Any UK folk know what those cases would be referred to as over here as a starting point?

 

[jstripes]

You guys have got to stop using the word "classy".

You're going full fedora on that one.

 

[ekim]

From all the pictures in this thread the only one that is "classy" is the baseball thing. But even then it's kind of tacky imho.

 

[PassiveObserver]

Try displaying something that's not mass produced.

 

[Glass Shark]

There's nothing classy about displaying plastic toys mass-produced by the millions. Buy, collect, and display them if you want, but "classy" isn't a word I'd use to describe any of that.

 

[OmegaFax]

There's nothing classy about displaying plastic toys mass-produced by the millions.

I hate to say it but I agree with you. I keep a few scattered on my desk or atop my NES Classic Edition.

 

[LinkSlayer64]

Wow, lots of you actually got rid of the boxes? Glad I'm not alone.

 

[Majmun]

Amiibo's are too ugly for display.

 

[Piers]

Just because someone pokes fun at something doesn't mean you need to react to it or consider it taboo.

Yes it does! South Park taught me what to avoid seeing, doing and thinking in life!

 

[BumblebeeCody]

Not mine, but I did the same thing. Got a display case with clear shelving stands.


Though if you REALLY want to have fun with it, here's a few ideas.

Fuck my arsehole that's amazing!

What about those who wanna keep them in the boxes?

 

[The_Endgamer]

I didn't know so many people open their amiibo packaging...

I pretty much only have most Super Smash Bros. Amiibo and have yet to open them except for Marth, Roy, Wii Fit Trainer + Villager.

hmmmm... Wouldn't mind making a diorama after seeing these... (I paint miniatures so would be a fun little project)

 

[Belker]

I think looking for 'classy' in any decoration might be a bit of a mistake. We all understand that our purchases elicit responses from other people and our buying choices might affect that a bit.

But to only aim for 'classy', which is a pretty muddled term when it comes to interiors, could lead us buying things that we don't really like and that don't make sense with our personalities. And people visitors will pick up that incongruity; it might be classy to have a grand piano, but only if you can play it.

I think it's much better to look for coherence. Once you have that, you can play around inside that space and break rules if you wish .

Incidentally there's a fascinating series on class and taste by Grayson Perry. He looks at the homes and culture of the UK's working, middle and upper classes and how each group explores and conforms to its aesthetic expectations.

(the upper classes had kitschy stuff and didn't care what people thought of them.)

https://youtu.be/U-smRMFgmOE

 

[KelpPlankton]

The only classy way to display them is to keep it kind of minimalist with really nice looking cases. The baseball case one on the first page of this thread is a decent example of that but there's still probably too many being shown off.

Honestly there's not really a good way to do it and make it feel classy. Your best bet is to incorporate it into a dedicated 'video game room' kind of setup, have them spread throughout the room in a few nice looking cases. Don't just stick them on shelves and for the love of god don't put them inside one of those glass nerd box stacks where it's just a bunch of glass shelving for dozens of toys thrown in there haphazardly, those always look awful.

Think of how the figures can be used in the right kind of displays to bring out particular colors in the room or to emphasize other decorations. Or how they can be islands of visual interest unto themselves.