Every hobby desk tells a story.
Some are clean and organised. Others are… well, a work in progress. But no matter the setup, every painter eventually finds what works for them — the tools they reach for, the upgrades that make things easier, the habits that make it a delight to sit down and paint.
As you grow in the hobby, your setup will grow with you. You figure out what works and what doesn’t. Maybe that means adding a rack to keep your paints organised, a cutting mat to protect your working surface, or a wet palette to keep your paint workable for longer periods. Maybe it means moving your painting desk to take advantage of natural light. Maybe it's realising you need to add another work surface.
We asked members of The Army Painter staff and The Army Painter Factory Team to show us their hobby desks for inspiration and honestly, because we're nosy.
Phil's Painting Desk
Phil: I am lucky enough to have a dedicated workspace which allows me to keep myself surrounded with the supplies I might need throughout an entire project! I find it helps me keep myself on task when I don't have to go searching for what I need.
Having access to both the Wet Palette XL (with enough space for an entire project's worth of Warpaints Fanatic) and the Speed Palette (which is perfect for Speedpaints and the Warpaints Fanatic Washes) allows me to move along my project seamlessly. I spend so many hours at this desk that making sure it is as comfortable and productive as possible really pays dividends especially when I am working on a big project like my Space Wolves army!
Follow Phil’s work on Instagram and subscribe to his YouTube channel.
Courtney's Painting Desk
Courtney: Here is my painting set up! It has been eight years in the works with a new, for me, used desk and gifted items like a new lamp! I have been fortunate to have been set up with The Army Painter Warpaints Fanatic that I put in acrylic nail polish shelves attached to old cabinet doors. It works great for me to have all my paints in front of my eyes so I can easily find what I need.
I think the most important items in the photos are my chair and the cushions I have on it. It has lumbar support, tailbone support and a footrest so that my body is more ergonomically correct. Proper lighting and having a comfortable body is what is going to sustain long painting sessions. Using the right tools to do the job is great, but don't forget about your body!
Follow Courtney’s work on Instagram.
Sam's Painting Desk
Sam: It's important to keep things at elbow length, just like a drum kit. When you get into a groove, you don't want to waste time rearranging or going to a different room to finish a stage. Also, a pickle jar makes for a great capsule of paint water as its lid keeps the dust (and falling models) out when you're not working. Unchained!
Follow Sam’s work on Instagram and subscribe to his YouTube channel.
Mads' Painting Desk
Mads: My paint setup is pretty simple because we don’t have a lot of space in our tiny Danish houses.
I have a work station that I bring out and put back in my closet for every session — not as comfy as having a hobby room but it works for getting minis for my D&D session built and painted.
Right now I’m getting a few baddies ready for my session on Saturday, but more importantly, I’m assembling the last two minis for my Blood Bowl Snotlings team, "The Baiyou Bottlebreakers," to get them ready for The Army Painter’s Blood Bowl tournament on Wednesday. Gotta love a heavy gaming week!
Lasse's Painting Desk
Lasse: Over the years, organisation has always been something I’ve struggled with. What I’ve figured out so far is that I need my paints, my tools and my basing separated — but I also need all of it within my reach when I’m working.
My latest setup now has paints on the table and my most needed tools in The Army Painter Mugs with everything else neatly organised on the walls. It makes it a lot easier to clean it all up once I inevitably clutter everything after each hobby session.
Amy's Painting Desk
Amy: I finally set up a dedicated hobby desk last fall, and it's made such a positive difference to have my paints and tools in one place. Having my options at hand and visible makes it all the more appealing for me to sit down and paint whenever I have free time — the Wet Palette is invaluable for this.
I find I’m still rearranging little things with every paint session depending on whether I’m using Warpaints Fanatic, Speedpaint, or Speedpaint Markers; it’s always a work in progress.
As you can see, there’s no single “right” way to set up your hobby space, but the right tools can make a big difference.
If you’re just getting started or looking to upgrade your setup, we’re all about making that next step easier. Pair your paints with the tools every hobbyist ends up needing and keep the momentum going — and get 10% off those tools! Shop now for the discount.
