I have a whole bin that I use for spare parts that can't be used to make an official TLG figure. I did make some customs that I have scattered throughout my LEGO room.
The rest of my figures are arranged on three 48X48 gray baseplates. I have columns that start that the front of the baseplate and go back. The figures start two studs back from the front and start one stud to the right on the sides. On the back they are on the last row but how I have them stored I need the two blank rows in the front to be able to slide it of the shelf so my fingers don't knock into them while I try to slide it out. Then the figures have two studs between them on both sides. That way backpacks and odd headgears don't bump into each other. Though on my Star Wars plate some of the Sandcrawler droids and astromech droids are not formatted the same way. I do have a Scout Trooper that is behind the Sandtrooper with the backpack from the Landspeeder and the tip of the Scout's helmet is wedged in between the two lightsaber hilts.
I have the figures arranged by theme, character, appearance, etc. My SW plate is arranged my OT, EU, and PT and CW are merged. I know it is not chronologically like my figures are arranged due to their different outfits. I just has to have OT first because it is my favourite.
On my Star Wars plate I only have a maximum of two of each figure on there because otherwise they'd overflow the plate. I have them stored on three shelves below one another so I figured instead of having them broken into two plates it'd be better to have at least two of every SW figure I own on one plate so I can just transport at least one of each figure easily. The OT overflow is on the end of my Licensed plate and the PT and CW overflow is on my Non-Licensed plate. I did have to transfer all my Rebel Soldiers onto a tan 32X16 Plate because they wouldn't fit with the rest of my OT overflow.
Finally my Collectible Minifigures are on colour corresponding 16X16 plates so they match the bag, box, and leaflet colour. I have the 16 3X4 stands centered on the 16x16 plates. There are only two rows left on both sides of the plate that are vacant. I like that because it does show off the colour the identifies the series.
Dust is sometimes and issue but it's only ever very light dust. I just like having them all out and organized instead of in little baggies.
Wow, I got carried away with my post.