Image Credit: The Collection Corner

Purchasing and assembling your gunpla is easy. Posing it is made simpler with our guide on ‘How to Perfect that Kickass Pose’. However, with the number of gunpla model kits and other figurines, you have most likely run out of space on your display shelf or desk, right? So, what should you do then?

Purchase a new curio cabinet, that’s what! Here are 3 of the best display cabinets that you can get in Singapore right now.

IKEA Detolf

The IKEA Detolf display cabinet (163cmH x 43cmW x 37cmD) has been at the forefront of all display cabinets for toy collectors. It has been known as the MASTER RACE of all toy collection display cabinet!

What makes the IKEA Detolf display cabinet so good is that it offers good value for a glass display cabinet. Not only is it affordable at $69 (at this time of writing), with some proper planning, you can also easily add LED lights to make your collection stand out even more.

Each level allows you to place up to 5 HG. Alternatively, you may display 1 PG Full Armor Unicorn, taking up 2 levels as shown in the image above!

Image Credit: Sgtoydisplay

Cruiser

You can also consider supporting this homegrown Singaporean company. Sgtoydisplay has been manufacturing and delivering cabinets of various sizes to toy collectors in Singapore. There are various cabinet models of different sizes but over at Extra Space Asia, we prefer the Cruiser.

This high quality tempered glass beauty is available in 2 sizes; 200cmH x 100cmW x 40cmD and 200cmH x 120cmW x 40cmD. Each display cabinet retails from $880 to $1,280, depending on your configuration options such as size, material and colour.

During your purchase, you may also add-on optional parts such as a tiltable LED spotlight at a small fee, saving you time and trouble of installing on your own!

Image Credit: Sgtoydisplay

Corvette

If you’ve not purchased a coffee table for your living room, why not consider Sgtoydisplay’s Corvette display cabinet?

This small display cabinet will fit nicely into your living room from $400 to $650 and comes in 3 sizes; 90cmW x 50cmL x 40cmH, 100cmW x 70cmL x 40cmH or 120cmW x 70cmL x 45cmH. It’s perfect if you’ve any large-scale gunpla diorama that you wish to display in your house!

If you’re running out of space at home to even get a display cabinet, why not consider storing your gunpla collections at Extra Space Asia? Turn your storage units into your very own private collection gallery space! Store your gunpla with us and display them in a display cabinet in your storage unit!

If not, simply just store them with us to make room for your new collection. Though, we really recommend you to complete all your gunpla backlogs first.

When you have children at home, expect toys, books and knick-knacks scattered all over the floor. We know this mess can be frustrating to look at. But it does not have to be that way. Here are 3 smart ways for all parents to try today!

  1. Make use of storage boxes

One affordable way to organise all of our kid’s toys, books and miscellaneous items is to use storage boxes. Parents can instantly make a room look more orderly and clean by storing all of these items in different storage boxes and labelling them.

Parents can also explore the option of using transparent storage boxes, so that they can see the contents inside easily without opening each and every box to find something. It will also be good to have different sizes of boxes so that every item in the room has a dedicated storage space. For even more space, you can also think about adding furniture with clever built-in storage compartments.

  1. Involve your kids

Good habits start young. It is never too early to introduce and instil good healthy habits in our children. So, encourage them to clean up their toys after playtime. We can start by organising the items in their room properly so that they get accustomed to seeing things in an orderly and organised manner. Once they are older, they can be a part of your small cleaning and home projects. By building all of these good habits regularly, our children will soon learn and make an effort to keep their items and room organised.

  1. Explore the KonMari Method

Parents can try the KonMari method, Marie Kondo’s minimalist-inspired approach to tackle your items by category instead of by room. This method begins with tidying our clothes, then moving on to books, papers, miscellaneous items and finally sentimental items. We should only keep items that speak to the heart and discard those that no longer spark joy in our life. We can thank these items for being in our lives and then let them go.

By utilising the KonMari method, it will also help to organise every aspect of the kid’s room. This will also allow our kids to let go of stuff that they don’t require. If the items are still in good condition, we can choose to donate and pass it on to people who would find them useful. Through this process, we can also educate our children about the benefits of decluttering, where we are giving their items a new home and not just getting rid of it. We understand that the process of decluttering and organising a room takes loads of time and effort. However, if the end result is a clean and organised room for children to play, study and sleep in, it will definitely be rewarding.

With these 3 smart tips, you can say goodbye to the stress and frustration when organising your kid’s bedroom. If you are planning to make even more space at home to live in comfortably, you can always consider storing those hardly used items or seasonal items in a self-storage facility like Extra Space Asia. Call us at 6771 3100 today to find out more about the various storage plans.

 

 
By: Michelle Lee

New Year, new me. That’s what many of us say on the first day of a brand new year. But instead of just a ‘new me’, why not include changing up your home situation for the better too? With many of us still working from home, our homes have become a place where we live for more than 12 hours a day. So it’s definitely important that we find simple ways to keep our home clean and organised. We’ve come up with these 3 simple ways which can be applied any day and any time.

  1. Tackle one room at a time

Most of our homes will include more than one room on top of the living room space. This means that you’d definitely need more time and effort to clean up every inch and corner of your home if you were to tackle it all at once. The easier (and forgiving) way would be to clean up room by room. You can always start with the messiest room or the room where you spend most of your time in. Start from the floor space, followed by your closet or your table. By combing these space section by section, you can start finding pockets of space.

You should also find time on a daily or weekly basis to do some personal hygiene tasks such as vacuuming and mopping your floor, changing your bedsheets and curtains, cleaning the surfaces that you often use like your desktop or vanity top to ensure that they are clean with minimal dust accumulation.

  1. Remove messy corners

We all have that one messy corner in our home where we would just happily leave our items there, and watch it slowly start to pile up like a mountain. Instead of that, consider clearing and wiping up the mess way before it starts to clutter. You can start by clearing up the current messy corner and make use of storage boxes to hold your small knick-knacks.

Try buying the same type of storage boxes so that if you need to stack them up in your room, it’ll be more consistent and organised looking too. You can also purchase transparent storage boxes instead of those opaque ones so that you’ll be able to find your items much easier over time without the hassle of opening each container. You should also place small labels on each storage boxes so that you can categorise them easier. Also, consider stacking the items from top to bottom according to how often you use the items. This will save you time and effort in future should you need to use the items.

  1. Declutter your room

In need of extra space to grow your personal collection, work comfortably and for your kids to play? Start your decluttering your home by first removing items which are hardly used. Once you’ve cleared these items either by throwing or donating them, you’ll be able to enjoy more space at home. With these newfound space, you’ll also be able to move furniture around to create a new vibe for your home. However, if after clearing up those unwanted items, you’re still in need of extra space for business or personal reasons, you can explore the idea of storing the bigger bulky items, seasonal items and even business items in a self-storage facility.

By storing in a self-storage facility such as Extra Space Asia Self- Storage, you’ll still be able to retrieve these items any time, any day as your storage unit is accessible 24/7. You can also contact the self-storage provider today at 6771 3100 to find out more about their various storage solutions for personal and business use or even wine storage.

 

 
By: Michelle Lee

As we approach the holiday season, many of us would be busy preparing our home for the festivities. Despite the ongoing safe distancing measures, we can still find ways to bask in the joy of the holidays. If you’re planning to host your family and friends at home, here are 3 steps to guide you through your prep.

  1. Declutter and clean up your home

Your first step is to clean up and declutter your living space. By going through the decluttering process, you might also be able to create extra space for your gathering sessions to sit and chill. You can start this process with your living room, dining area and kitchen as these will be the main gathering areas. Take this opportunity to go through your closets and cupboards and throw or donate items that you no longer need.

If you’re in need of more space at home, you can also explore the option of storing your personal collection, family items or even home furnishing and festive items that you hardly use in a storage unit. Storage providers such as Extra Space Asia Self-Storage provides flexible storage terms where you can store as short as 14 days to as long as you need. They also have a wide range of storage sizes to choose from, so you’ll only be paying for the storage space you need.

  1. Clear before stocking up your fridge

Before you stock up your fridge with party essentials, clear all the expired and soon-to-expire items to make more space. For the leftover items, place them in different clear containers so that they will look more organised in your fridge. You’ll also have a clearer idea of what you have at a glance. Use baking soda and water to clean and remove any stains in your fridge. Simply sprinkle some baking soda onto a damp sponge to wipe your entire fridge. To further improve your fridge efficiency, you can also try to organise and reduce the amount of items on the top shelf and try to cool the hot food items before placing them in your fridge.

Once these are done, your fridge will start to look more presentable for your guests. You’ll also have more space to stock up on seasonal goodies.

  1. Spruce up the main guest area with decorations

The festive season is the time for you to flaunt all your decorations at home. Once you’re done with the decluttering process, you’ll be able to find pockets of space for your festive decorations and Christmas tree. Remember to prepare supplies such as table cloths, food wares, dining sets and wine glasses to set the mood for your Christmas feast.

Here’s a bonus home tip: before your guests arrive, light up some scented candles and put out small plants to purify the air. Home plants will also help to add some colours to your home.

We understand that festive celebration this year might be different due to all the safe distancing measures. However, festive and holiday seasons are also made for heartwarming get-togethers with our family and loved ones. Therefore, it’s always nice to find ways to celebrate Christmas and the festive season with them.
By: Michelle Lee

A home office is typically an area at home dedicated for official business purposes. This space can be anywhere within your home depending on your personal preferences. With the increasing trend of working from home, many could be scrambling to find ways to set up a home office. If you’re still on a quest to set up a conducive environment for Work From Home (WFH), here are 3 ideas for you to consider today!

  1. Use a spare room for your home office

When creating a home office space, you should try your best to separate living and working spaces for a work-life balance and to promote productivity at work. If you’re living in a spacious home, consider emptying your spare room to create that home office space where you’ll have enough space to input some new office furniture and storage for your documents and business inventory. This spare room will come in handy especially for start-ups as you’ll be able to save on the hefty office rental space. With that rental savings, you can now concentrate on how to expand and market your business in the comfort of your home where you’ll have access all the time to your business inventories too. Having a spare room can also be converted into a photoshoot studio or even a space to do a Facebook Live sale.

  1. Create a conducive work setup with a table that you already own

You don’t really need a room per se. Your home office can be a place where you feel motivated and productive. If the only available space is your dining room table or even your computer table, let’s make do with it and create a conducive work setup. You can start by introducing some upgrades that not only improve your work efficiency but also bring overall benefits at home. These upgrades include furniture like an ergonomic office chair and laptop stands, tech upgrades such as wireless mouse and keyboard or even home interior upgrades to create a refreshing new look. Click here for more ideas!

  1. Reorganise your home to create extra space

We understand that not everyone has the luxury of space especially if you’re living with your family of kids and elderly at home. One other way to create some extra space is to reorganise your home. Declutter your living space by throwing or donating items that you no longer need. While this whole reorganising process might take up some time, use this opportunity to make it a family activity where everyone handles an aspect or room. When completed, you should be able to find some pockets of space to work comfortably.

If there are huge bulky items, seasonal items, sports equipment or personal collection which you would like to clear but keep, you can also explore storing them in a self-storage facility like Extra Space Asia. By storing in a storage unit, it’s like an extension of your living space where you can still store and retrieve your items any time, any day as you’ll have 24-hour access to the storage space.

If you’d like to learn more about the various self storage services, call us at 6771 3100 to speak to our friendly Customer Service Executives or come visit any of our 10 storage facilities today to have a personal tour.
By: Michelle Lee

Image Credit: BBC

Do you guys remember playing with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figurines or Barbie dolls back in the 90s? Well, some of their value has risen over the years, and if you’re still holding onto them, you’re in luck! Let’s look at them today. 🙂

Image Credit: Invaluable

Star Wars Memorabilia

Star Wars was first shown in theatres back in the late 70s, and it took the world by storm. Thereafter, ‘Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back’ and ‘Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi’ solidified its status among the greatest movie ever made. Even to date, their new movie; ‘Episode IX: The Rise of the Skywalker’ is still being watched by millions of people around the world.

With such a successful movie, to own a vintage figurine of Jawa today in the original trilogy can set you back at least $14,800! Imagine owning a vintage figurine of Luke Skywalker or even Darth Vader; the price could easily be many times more.

Image Credit: eBay

Polly Pocket

There was a time when almost all your female classmates own a Polly Pocket. Each of these Polly Pockets will usually cost around $20 – $30 back then. These toys and their accessories could now potentially cost over twice their original price depending on their condition. For unopened Polly Pockets, it could even cost an upwards of $100 to $1,000!

Image Credit: eBay

Care Bears Plushie

Do you remember the cartoon series ‘Care Bears’ in the 80s? This series depicts cartoonish bears, each with a special ‘belly badge’ that reflects its personality. From the very sleepy ‘Bedtime Bear’ that helps everyone get a goodnight sleep to ‘Cheer Bear’, a happy bear who cheers everyone up, there’s a bear for everyone.

These bears were well-loved in the 80s. Now, they are sought after for a totally different reason – their value.

These bear plushies’ price can range anywhere from as low as $10 to as high as over $1,000. If you have the right bear, serious Care Bear collectors are willing to pay a big amount! Case in point, in 2018, the ‘VTG Care Bear Cousins Pink Monkey’ was sold on eBay for a $13,900!

Image Credit: Collectors.com

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Action Figurines

Another nostalgic action figurine that almost all boys would own when they are young is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figurines. These mean turtles cost roughly $20 to $30 per figurine back in the 90s. Today, your vintage teenage mutant ninja turtle figurines could cost an upwards of $200!

Image Credit: eBay

Pokemon Cards

Have you ever collected trading cards? Back in the late 90s, Pokémon cards were all the rage. Almost all young boys were playing with them. At just $4.90, you can get a ‘booster pack’ of 5 cards, with at least 1 rare one. Those who were lucky would even have those ‘holo’ super rare Pokémon cards with devastating effects.

These days, you can still get your Pokémon card fix at TOG or Toy R Us. However, if you still have your Pokémon cards from back in the 90s, their value has since increased significantly!

For example, a ‘holo’ Charizard. Back then, it would have cost roughly around $5 to $10 per piece. Today, to get the same card, you’ll need to shell out at least $1,110!

Image Credit: The Newspaper

Our vintage toy collection might be both rich in sentimental and market value. This is why we have the task to ensure that they retain their mint conditions. At Extra Space Asia, we can assist in storing your toy collection in the optimal storage condition.

If you need more convincing, you can always watch Deitrich Mohan, a retro game collector’s testimonial on his storage experience with us!


By: Gary Phua

Anyone who collects Gunpla will experience a great sense of satisfaction when they finally finish their never-ending backlog of Gunpla kits. However, the story does not end there. True collectors will know that it’s all about displaying all their glory in the most optimal way.

While storing your gunpla might seem simple, a gunpla is just like any other collection; they are susceptible to environmental factors and ageing. Here are a few simple steps that will help keep your Gunpla collection looking like new all the time.

Image Credits: otakurevolution.com

Store your Gunpla at room temperature in a dry area

Gunpla is made from materials that are vulnerable to the 3 main natural elements.

Direct Sunlight – UV light from the sun can be extremely damaging for plastic. Since Gunpla is essentially made out of plastic, it’s best to avoid placing them under direct sunlight to prevent the paint from becoming faded and blotchy.

Humidity – High humidity causes the paint to peel, decals to fall off and joints to loosen.

Dust and Dirt – Dust and dirt are usually not a big deal. However, if combined with high humidity, they can trap moisture in the air and cause some real damage to your collection when you try to clean it off.

Ensure that your display room has a fairly constant temperature of around 21°C. If you’re concerned about the humidity of the room, invest in a dehumidifier to keep the humidity at around 35 – 45%.

Image Credits: gundamkitscollection.com

Store your completed Gunpla back inside its box (in style)

Most of you would have prolly heard of how to customise the gunpla box to store your completed masterpiece. If you have not, learn how you can to store them in their originial box here.

Image Credits: Gunpla Meli

Invest in a display case if you’ve a large collection

Chances are, you might already have a display case or are considering to get one. That comes as no surprise, as many collectors like to ‘show off’ their Gunpla army.

If you have not, you can consider getting your very own Ikea Detolf. Some users online even called it the master race of display cases. It’s the go-to for display cases as it’s considered the best value for money.

Store them at Extra Space Asia

You can consider storing your gunpla collection at Extra Space Asia. Our self-storage facilities offer air-conditioned storage units with the perfect condition to store your collection, so you can have peace of mind that your Gunpla collection is safe and secure all the time!

2020 and 2021 have definitely proven to be year of changes. Due to the ongoing Covid-19, many of us have been experiencing changes in the way we live and work. During this period, a lot of us have been working from home for months due to office closure and safe distancing measures. While some might be enjoying a comfortable working life at home, some might still be scrambling to set up the perfect permanent home office.

Here are some small home office upgrades ideas that may not only improve your overall efficiency but also bring benefits to help your body feel better.

1. Furniture upgrade for your home office

Image credit: Herman Miller, IKEA

Lack of a dedicated home office space? Don’t worry, you can still have a productive setup with the following furniture. Your body will definitely thank you for adding these essentials to your workstation.

  • Ergonomic office chair: This will be a perfect addition to give your back some love. Walking around and stretching only provides temporary relief. A comfy ergonomic chair can minimise backaches and also help you focus better.
  • A sit/stand desk: If you’re experiencing aches from sitting too long, you can always give standing desks a try. Some perks of standing desk include a lower risk of weight gain, reduced back pain and improved energy levels. You can also purchase a 2-in-1 stand/sit table from IKEA that comes with adjustable heights based on your preferences.

2. Tech upgrades that every home office needs

Now that you’ve the perfect chair and desk for your home office, you’d need some tech upgrades on top of a good stable Wi-Fi too. Having the right tech tools on hand can definitely help you to increase your productivity while working from home. With this in mind, here are some tech upgrades you can try.

  • Ergonomic wireless mouse and keyboard: With these wireless tech gadgets, you’ll be able to move around your workstation comfortably and even work from anywhere around your home.
  • Earbuds and headphones: Working from home can be distracting. By using noise-cancelling earbuds, it can help to drown out unwanted noises at home. This will also be useful for meeting sessions too.

3. Home interior upgrades for a refreshing new look

Now that you’ll be spending a large part of your life at home, why not make some small changes to your existing home environment to spice things up? By having a small home makeover, it’ll give your home a new lease of life at a fraction of the cost.

Here are some ideas to upgrade your home interior vibe:

  • Changing your wall colours: By giving your wall a fresh new coat of paint, not only will it give your home a different feel, but it can also add a new layer of protection from moisture. You’ll also be able to have a nice clean wall as your conference calls background.
  • Decluttering your home: Throw or donate items that you don’t need anymore. This will help to free up space in your home for you to move around and work too. Decluttering your home can also help reduce stress and anxiety.
  • Renting a self-storage to store your items: A self-storage is like an extension of your living space where you can store and retrieve your business inventory, family items and even seasonal items anytime, any day, 24/7. With a mini storage unit in Hong Kong, you’ll be able to free up some space at home. It can also be a temporary storage solution for those who are planning to do some home renovation.

If you’d like to learn more about how self-storage can help you and your family, you can always contact Extra Space Asia Self-Storage at 6771 3100. Feel free to also visit our storage facilities to check out our storage services and the various storage unit sizes that we offer.


By: Michelle Lee

Image Credit: p-Bandai

Now that you’ve finally completed your gunpla model kit, it’s time to show it off to the world! Now you just need a kickass pose to go along with it. Easier said than done – achieving a good pose might be challenging but will definitely bring your gundam model kit to life.

Read on to find out how you can make your dream gunpla pose come true.

Image Credit: Hobbyhovel

Understand the limitations of your gunpla kit

Not all model kits are created equally. Some are made with more love and attention than others. If you’ve been watching Mecha Gaikotsu YouTube reviews, you’ll know exactly what we meant.

Before we dive into how to pose your gunpla, you’ll first have to understand the limitations of your kit. For example, some kits tend to have better joint articulations which allow their poses to be more robust.

Once you have understood your gunpla limitations, we can move on to deciding a cool pose for them.

 

Decide on a kickass pose

This will probably be the most important decision that you’ll have to make. Do you want to recreate the box art action pose? Or do you want it to adopt a free-standing stance?

Once you have decided on a pose for your gundam, it’s time to dive further into the details. Each weapon, backpack or shield will usually come with an assortment of parts. So, choose the ones that you require.

Remember that the parts chosen will directly affect your posing options. Two-handed weapons such as the Wing Zero’s twin buster rifle will be much harder to work with compared to a one-handed weapon.

If you’re looking to recreate a battle scene from the gundam universe, just posing one gunpla alone isn’t going to cut it. You’ll need to pose multiple kits together. For example, you’ll need both the Aegis and Strike to recreate the scene where Athrun decided to self-destruct the Aegis while grappling the Strike, destroying both units.

 

Mimic human poses

Alternatively, you can make your gunpla look more kickass by mimicking their poses after humans. After all, Gundams are humaroid machines. They have arms, legs, torso and heads just like us.

Forget the online research of what poses your gunpla can make. Instead, search for various online images of a human in an awesome pose with similar weaponry, and try to mimic their poses.

This will give your gunpla more originality and leave your friends scratching their heads on how you did it.

 

Image Credits: mech9

Make use of your gunpla special feature

Different Gundams have different unique features that you can use when considering their poses. Why not make use of your gunpla special feature for the pose? That will make your it truly unique and different from the rest!

 

Use an action base

Despite being a humaroid machine, Gundams usually spent most of the time flying or floating in space. We can replicate this using an action base.

An action base is a plastic stand that can hold your gunpla kit up, allowing for a more dynamic pose. Typically, you’d want to make use of either Action Base 1 or Action Base 2. Each base comes with various adapters that fit most gunpla kits.

To spice things up, if you really want to make a statement, there are also special action bases like a Unicorn Gundam theme action base or a Sinanju theme action base!

Just head online to hobbylink japan to view all the different action bases that they have! You’ll be surprised at what you find.

 

Image Credit: Clement Element

Make use of the environment

In the animation, we often watch Gundam fight in urban areas, the forest, over the ocean and even in space. How can we replicate the same setting for your gunpla? Consider building a diorama for your gunpla as they can even make basic kits look special! You can learn how to build a diorama for your gunpla over at gunpla 101.

 

Have fun

The most important thing about posing your gunpla is having fun! This hobby isn’t supposed to add more stress – it’s supposed to add fun and joy to your life. Don’t fret over every mistake, it happens to everyone. Furthermore, mistakes will only serve to improve your skills.

Not enough space on your display shelf?

If you don’t have enough space on your display shelf, you can always store your old gunpla with us. Our self-storage facilities* offer the perfect condition to store your collection; air-conditioned storage temperatures are maintained between 23°C to 25°C with dehumidifiers, so you can have peace of mind that your gunpla collection is safe and secure all the time!