How To Design a Train Room for Model Trains

Hobbies are fun, but boy, they can take up a lot of space. Whether it’s comics, wargaming, table-top role-playing, or model trains, it can be nice to have a room designed just to enjoy your hobbies. Check out these train room design ideas for model trains. You can even adapt our ideas to fit other hobbies or create a multi-hobby space in your home.

Primary Workspace

The first thing you’ll need is a designated place for all the mess that model trains can involve. You need a work surface where you can paint, build, glue, weld, and repair your trains without worrying that you’ll spill things or mess up your main layout. Make sure the surface is a material that you can easily clean or else one that you don’t mind getting dirty.

Tool and Parts Organization

If you’re building a room for your hobby, you probably already have a lot of tools and pieces. Keep these close to your workstation, organizing them in cube shelves with boxes, drawers, and other organizers. Make sure to label everything, so you know what you’ve got to work with.

Storage Space

Anything you want to keep but won’t be using anytime soon should go into storage, so it doesn’t take up valuable space. If you’ve only got a small number of things to store, you can make your storage part of your tool and parts organization. Otherwise, you may need to use a closet or separate cabinet.

Pro Tip: Save Those Boxes!

If you want your stored trains to last, it’s essential that you store them properly. Your best bet is to use the original boxes your trains came in, including the foam housing shaped to fit each piece.

Main Layout Space

Your main layout should consist of one or more tracks on a single surface, preferably a flat countertop or table. The size of your layout will depend on how big a room you have to work with, but don’t skimp on space. The more you have, the more creative you can get with your layout design.

Room Ambiance

If you’re going to the trouble of making a hobby room, you might as well pull out all the stops, right? Install color-changing bulbs, decorate the walls, and create a space with the perfect ambiance for your hobby.

We hope these ideas help you design the perfect train room for your model trains. And if trains aren’t your only hobby, you can easily adapt these tricks to suit your preferences. The best part of any creative project is that your only limit is your imagination.