My LEGO Display Setup: How I Showcase My Collection

Hey everyone, it's Tanner here—The LEGO King! After spending over $50,000 on LEGO sets (and counting!), I've learned that how you display your builds is just as important as building them. Building LEGOs is literally what I do in my free time—it's my passion, my hobby, and honestly, I hope to spend every dollar I have on LEGOs. Today, I'm sharing my personal display setup, featuring one of my pride and joy pieces: the LEGO Architecture Eiffel Tower.

The Centerpiece: LEGO Eiffel Tower

The LEGO Architecture Eiffel Tower (set 21019) holds a special place in my collection. Standing at over 12 inches tall, this 321-piece set perfectly captures the elegance of the iconic Parisian landmark. What I love most about this build is how the designers used simple LEGO elements to recreate the tower's intricate lattice structure.

I display it on a dedicated shelf with subtle backlighting to highlight the tower's silhouette. The black and dark gray pieces create a sophisticated look that works perfectly in my setup. This is exactly the kind of display piece that shows LEGO isn't just for kids—it's serious art.

My Display Philosophy

When you've invested as much as I have in this hobby (seriously, over $50K!), you want to make sure your collection looks absolutely incredible. I don't just buy LEGOs for myself either—I'm always picking up sets for my family members because I love sharing this passion. Over the years, I've developed a few core principles for displaying my LEGO collection:

Shelving Solutions That Work

For my display, I use a combination of floating shelves and a dedicated IKEA BILLY bookcase. The floating shelves are perfect for architectural sets like the Eiffel Tower, while the bookcase holds my larger sets like modular buildings and Star Wars ships.

The key is ensuring your shelves can handle the weight. Some of these sets are surprisingly heavy! I always check weight ratings and use proper anchoring for wall-mounted shelves. Safety first, especially with larger sets that could be damaged in a fall.

Lighting: The Secret Weapon

One of the best upgrades I made to my display was adding LED lighting. I use:

• Warm white LED strips behind shelves for ambient backlighting
• Adjustable spotlights to highlight key pieces
• Battery-powered LED bricks inside some translucent builds

The lighting transforms the display from a simple shelf of toys into a proper gallery. The Eiffel Tower looks particularly stunning when backlit—the shadows and depth really come alive.

Dealing with Dust

Let's be honest—dust is the enemy of LEGO displays. I've tried various solutions, and here's what works for me:

For sets I display open on shelves (like the Eiffel Tower), I use a soft makeup brush for gentle weekly dusting. For more intricate builds, a can of compressed air works wonders. My most valuable sets live in acrylic display cases, which eliminate 90% of the dust problem.

Creating Themed Displays

I organize my collection by theme rather than mixing everything together. My Architecture sets (like the Eiffel Tower) have their own dedicated space, separate from my Star Wars collection and modular buildings. This creates mini "galleries" that are more visually cohesive.

Consider grouping your sets by:

• Theme (Star Wars, Harry Potter, Architecture, etc.)
• Color scheme (all white builds together, colorful builds separate)
• Size (small sets on upper shelves, large sets below)
• Personal favorites (give your best builds prime real estate)

Final Thoughts

Your LEGO collection deserves to be displayed with pride. Whether you have one special set like my Eiffel Tower or an entire room dedicated to your builds (which is my goal!), taking the time to create a proper display setup makes all the difference.

As someone who spends literally every free moment either building, buying, or thinking about LEGOs, I can tell you that a great display makes the hobby even more rewarding. My family thinks I'm crazy for spending so much on plastic bricks, but when they see these displays, they get it.

Remember: there's no "right" way to display your collection. Experiment, have fun, and create a setup that makes you smile every time you see it. And if you're like me, keep buying more sets to fill those shelves! That's what this hobby is all about.