1. Den of Angels is closing in August 2026. New account registrations are closed. Please see this thread in Den of Angels news for important information: /threads/the-future-of-den-of-angels.893314/
    Dismiss Notice

Displaying American Girl Dolls on limited space

Jul 21, 2024

Watch Thread
    1. Anybody have advice for displaying American Girl Dolls?

      My collection of BJDs and figures is very tight, fitting into two main fandoms that are split in the shelving down the middle. I don't like adding outside fandom influences to those shelves, other than a few semi-related characters (MXTX fans get it). I also have two extra tiny shelves on a bookshelf off to the side that hold miscellaneous figures.

      Here comes my quandary- I have five American Girl Dolls that I brought from my parents' house after my collection layout was finalized and I don't know what to do with them! Currently, they're just standing in the corner looking slightly ominous.

      I only really have my room to display them, for which I'm low on space, but am open to adding small new shelf additions if necessary. I'm an adult man (well, college adult, not real adult), and have another (college) adult man moving in soon, so I feel like it's respectful to keep the childhood American Girl Dolls in my own space and not let them leach out into the common area. At least not until I know him a little better. Theoretically, I can move them back to the family home, but I'm planning on adding handmade American Girl Doll clothing stock to my con offerings, for which I like to have a model. I guess I could just keep one here in my workspace and take the rest home, but ideally, it would be nice if I could somehow keep all five here.

      Any ideas to my very difficult, specific question? I may be asking for the impossible, but if anybody would have ideas for clever doll display, it would be this community.
       
      #1 Alex Secord Designs, Jul 21, 2024
      Tools
      + Quote Reply
    2. The two shelving units I always liked for my dolls are Ikea Kallax (or what ever they call the kind that fit record albums) and the generic cubes from box stores that square fabric drawers fit in to. American Girls would have to stand on top but the Ikea can fit some fashion dolls in the cubes, the cloth drawers hold a lot of doll clothes. I seriously miss the 5x5 Ikea I had because I stuffed it and it held up.

      Avoid particle board book shelves with adjustable shelves unless you need something cheap and quick, the metal kind that don't require hardware last a bit longer.
       
      #2 DollyKim, Jul 22, 2024
      Tools
      + Quote Reply
    3. In terms of physical space, standing & sort of diagonally tucked against each other appears to be the most efficient way I’ve seen AG collectors store big doll collections.

      American Girl had a piece called the “Starry Doll Holder” you could DIY or find a 3D print alternative; it’s for wall mounting dolls with brackets to fit the underarms. If you want to be able to see the full outfit and have the vertical wall space available, it could be an option.

      If you don’t need the top of a dresser in your room, that could be the easiest space to do a little scene if you’d prefer that kind of look for display.
       
      #3 Sarako, Jul 22, 2024
      Tools
      + Quote Reply
      • x 1
    4. This is how I organize/display a lot of my off-topic dolls of a similar size! :)
       
      #4 SaltedPretzel, Jul 22, 2024
      Tools
      + Quote Reply
    5. I just got Brimnes headboard from IKEA it’s my new doll shelf with side shelves. Very useful thing & takes up only 12” of space & comes in every bed size possible. Perfect for my 1/3 bjds that I had no space for on bookshelves or in my closet coz they so high. Only sitting them down which is not what I like.
       
      #5 AbrakadbrA, Aug 10, 2024
      Tools
      + Quote Reply
      • x 1
    6. Crazy, I actually have the Brimnes headboard, both at my college residence and at my parents' house! I never thought about putting them up there, but I may do that now, thank you!
       
      #6 Alex Secord Designs, Aug 10, 2024
      Tools
      + Quote Reply
Draft saved Draft deleted
Toggle Width
Styler
Styler
Color Options
Color Options