Let me guess.
You have a sandtray miniature addiction and are always on the lookout for new and better ways to organize, store, or expand your ever-growing collection.
Good news—I’m not here to help you recover. I’m here to help you lean into it in smarter, more creative ways.
Below are some of my favorite sandtray hacks—most learned through trial, error, and more than a few “why didn’t I think of that sooner?” moments.
1. Buy white shelves
I learned this one the hard way.
I’ve owned tan shelves, dark shelves, and everything in between. While darker shelves look nice, they show every single grain of sand. You clean them, run one session, and suddenly it looks like a desert storm rolled through your office.
White shelves hide sand far better and are much easier to maintain visually. I recently replaced mine with all-white shelving and couldn’t be happier.
2. Use baskets—especially with kids
If you work with children, baskets are essential.
Kids often want lots of miniatures and will happily dump entire shelves into their tray. That can make cleanup overwhelming and time-consuming.
My solution: baskets organized by loose categories—army men, animals, trees, jewels, etc. Cleanup becomes quick and painless, and kids still feel free to explore.
3. Repurpose broken jewelry
I love inexpensive fashion jewelry—which also means I end up with broken pieces fairly often.
Instead of tossing them, I use the beads, stones, and charms in my sandtray collection. They get used constantly to represent parties, water, wealth, magic, and more.
This tip came from my husband, and it was a game changer.
4. Stop obsessing over sorting jewels and rocks
Early on, I carefully separated blue stones from red stones, clear from green, small from large.
Then reality hit.
After one tray dump and five minutes between sessions, everything went back together. And you know what? Clients still found exactly what they needed without my perfect sorting system.
Trust the process—and save yourself the stress.
5. Funnels and sand toys are non-negotiable
If you work with children, you need funnels, buckets, rakes, and scoops.
I pick these up at dollar stores, especially during the summer season. They are used constantly and add incredible sensory value to the tray.
Even if you work with older kids, these tools are helpful for clients whose emotional age doesn’t match their chronological age.
6. Strainers are a must
Strainers deserve their own category.
Kids love sifting, pouring, and watching sand fall through their fingers. You can find strainers cheaply almost anywhere, and they’re worth every penny.
7. Stick to similar sand colors
If you use more than one type of sand, keep them in the same color family.
Black sand looks beautiful—until it gets mixed with white sand. Then suddenly you have a tray of permanently gray chaos.
Learn from my mistakes.
8. Shop holiday sections aggressively
Always check dollar stores around holidays.
Halloween is especially great for death themes, structures, figures, trees, and symbolic items. Christmas brings houses, people, lights, and meaningful ritual objects.
Post-holiday clearance bins are goldmines.
9. Raid party supply stores
Party supply stores are full of hidden treasures.
I’ve found barbed wire (marketed as cowboy-themed streamers), cake toppers that get used constantly, and countless symbolic props—all for very little money.
Never skip the party aisle.
10. Use LED candles
I learned this tip while training under Theresa Kestly in New Mexico, where real candles were part of the collection.
Because I work with kids, I use LED candles instead. They work just as well symbolically, are much safer, and clients use them in incredibly creative ways.
They’re inexpensive and powerful additions to any sandtray setup.
11. Never stop looking—and collect souvenirs
Miniatures show up in the most unexpected places if you stay curious.
A few months ago, my nail tech gave me a small decorative item she wasn’t using anymore. My clients use it all the time—and it was free.
Travel souvenir shops are also incredible resources. On a recent trip to Central America, I found miniatures I would never have been able to source elsewhere. The cashier looked at me like I was nuts, but I was thrilled.
These are just a few of the sandtray hacks that came to mind—but I’m always looking for more.If you have your own favorite hacks or creative finds, I’d love to hear them. After all, there’s no such thing as too many miniatures… right?
