Notes from the bench
How to set up a miniature painting station
Plan a practical painting space for a kitchen table, small desk or spare room, starting with the things you already own.
A useful painting station gives you room to see the model, mix paint and put your brush down. Start with a clear surface and a small working kit. Storage can grow around the way you actually paint.
| Space | Start with | Check before buying |
|---|---|---|
| Shared kitchen table | Protective mat, tray and lidded supply box | Everything packs away without carrying open water |
| Small permanent desk | Clear central area and one lamp | Lamp reach, clamp clearance and space for your forearms |
| Spare-room bench | Separate working and storage areas | Shelves do not obstruct the light or your reach |
Lay out a session before buying furniture
Put down a sheet of paper where you would hold the model. Add the palette, a stable rinse pot, two brushes and the paints for one project. Sit in your normal chair. Can you reach each item without leaning across the model? Can you move the palette without knocking the water?
Mark the outline of this arrangement with removable tape or a paper template. That is your working area. Measure it before choosing a rack or larger palette. A desk that looks generous when empty can feel crowded once a lamp base and storage occupy the back edge.
Keep the current project central. The rest of the collection does not need to sit within arm's reach. A small box of selected colours is easier to move than an entire paint library.
Place the light around your hands
Position your existing lamp and hold a model in the place you normally paint. Move your brush hand through a few pretend strokes. If the hand blocks the light, try a different angle before deciding the lamp lacks output. Check that the shade does not obstruct your view or require you to hunch beneath it.
When comparing a replacement, separate light output from light reaching the model. Lumens describe output; lux describes light falling on a surface. A maker's lux figure belongs with its stated measurement distance. Our hobby lamp comparer preserves that context rather than predicting brightness at your desk. Read the lighting guide before comparing numbers.
Give water and paint their own places
Use a stable water container clearly different from a drinking cup. Keep drinks outside the working area. Put a cloth or paper towel somewhere you can reach without passing over the miniature. Decide where a wet brush can rest between steps.
A palette should sit where you can see the mixture and move from palette to miniature without crossing the rinse pot. If you want a wet palette, allow space for its lid as well as its open tray. The wet palette guide explains the hydrated surface.
Build a pack-away routine
For a shared table, use a tray for dry supplies and carry water separately. Choose a home for the miniature while it dries. Do not assume a palette is leakproof because it has a lid: follow its maker's transport instructions. The Army Painter's setup guide, for example, says to store its wet palette horizontally.
At the end of a session, close paint containers, clean brushes and clear away water before moving the kit. Keep tools and paints out of reach of children and pets, following the labels on each product.
Upgrade the actual inconvenience
After a few sessions, write down the one thing that repeatedly interrupts you. Shadows suggest reviewing lamp position or reach. A crowded mixing area suggests a different layout or palette size. Lost colours suggest labelling or storage. Buy for that problem rather than for a photograph of someone else's bench.
For the first shopping list, use our starter kit checklist. For a growing collection, start with paint storage.
Sources & further reading
- The Army Painter: preparing a wet palette — checked 2026-10-25
- Zumtobel: how to measure light — checked 2026-10-25