Every crafter knows the importance of maintaining their workspace. Whether you consider yourself a crafting novice or an experienced DIYer, designing the ultimate space to let your creative juices flow is important. Not only will it give you a designated area to work on your projects, but it's also an easy way to ensure everything stays organized.
As it turns out, putting together the perfect craft room can feel like a major DIY in and of itself, and that's why we believe approaching this makeover with the same gusto you would as any sewing or paper project is key. You'll end up with more creative, intuitive results.
- Darcy Miller, founding editor of Martha Stewart Weddings and author of Celebrate Everything
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Put Projects in Plain Sight
If out of sight is out of mind, here's the ultimate way to ensure your projects stay front and center, says Darcy Miller, founding editor of Martha Stewart Weddings and author of Celebrate Everything!—plus, her idea doubles as decorative wall art. "My designs for past and current projects are in clear folders, hanging on a bulletin board, instead of on stacks in my desk," says Miller.
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Color-Code Your Writing Supplies
Organize pens, colored pencils, and markers by type and color to make reaching for your favorite hues a breeze. If you have to search for something, it's less likely that you'll use it.
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Use Transparent Storage Containers
If you find yourself rummaging through storage bins to find what you need, opt for see-through vessels instead. "Clear cubes help me store everything in an organized fashion while letting what's inside peek through—so I know when I need to restock on colored paper," says Miller. "And I store supplies in clear plastic tubs in a closet, all labeled so I know what goes where."
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Create a Wrapping Station
Creating a wrapping station can be a lifesaver, especially around the holidays. Dowels make finding and cutting wrapping paper and ribbons fuss-free, and extra storage compartments keep other essentials like scissors and tape close at hand.
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Keep a Color Scheme
If aesthetics are important to you, consider giving your craft room set up a color scheme. "My desktop accessories are white, gray, and metallic—even my stapler and ruler are gold-toned—and because everything is in the same color scheme, it looks harmonious, even though I like to have my tools out on the desktop where I can reach them," says Miller.
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Take Advantage of Multi-Purpose Furniture
Get the most out of your workspace by combining your craft room and home office. Craft furniture can easily double as an office desk to create a cohesive and multifunctional space.
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Add a Hutch
For the ultimate crafter, couple a desk with a cabinet hutch to deck out your space. Sewing supplies fit neatly behind cabinet doors, and paper tools tuck away securely into a drawer space keeping everything organized.
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Incorporate Light
While nothing beats natural light, there are other ways to brighten up your craft room if you're short on windows. "I have strong desk lamps—because I need bright light when I'm drawing," says Miller. "Bring in as much extra light as you need, whether that means overhead light, desk lamps, floor lamps, or all of the above."
Metallics are also a clever way to add some light to your space. "They reflect any light that does come in, whether from a window or a wall. And if you don't have any windows, you can fake it!" she says.
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Add Labels
No craft room is complete without essential craft tools. Ensure everything has its own space and add a label—that way you'll never waste time looking for what you need in the middle of a project again.
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Work With the Space You Have
Even small spaces can make a great craft room. A corner desk is the perfect solution for apartment or small-space dwellers who want to get crafty. Wall-mounted storage and risers that store jars and containers maximize an otherwise little-used corner.
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Install a Convertible Table
A drop-leaf table provides an extra area to spread out sewing projects or other crafts and folds when not in use to allow easy access to the rest of the space. Since this version is on wheels, it also rolls out into the center of the room to provide a versatile, multi-use surface.
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Utilize Vertical Storage Space
In many rooms, extra storage space can be mounted vertically on the walls above workstations or storage cabinets. Here, two simple cube-shaped shelf systems store paints, adhesive, and twine; laying the items down instead of storing them standing up means the entire collection is visible at once.
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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
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Let's go through the concepts mentioned in the article:
Importance of Maintaining a Craft Workspace
Maintaining a dedicated craft workspace is crucial for every crafter, whether they are a novice or an experienced DIYer. It provides a designated area for working on projects and helps keep everything organized.
Designing the Ultimate Craft Room
Designing the ultimate craft room involves creating a space that allows your creative juices to flow. It should be a place where you can work on your projects comfortably and efficiently.
Putting Projects in Plain Sight
To stay organized and keep your projects front and center, consider using clear folders and hanging them on a bulletin board. This not only keeps your designs easily accessible but also adds decorative wall art to your craft room.
Color-Coding Writing Supplies
Organizing pens, colored pencils, and markers by type and color can make it easier to find and use your favorite hues. Color-coding your writing supplies ensures that you can quickly locate the colors you need for your projects.
Transparent Storage Containers
Using see-through storage containers instead of opaque ones allows you to easily find the materials you need without rummaging through bins. Clear cubes and plastic tubs labeled with their contents can help you store and organize your craft supplies effectively.
Creating a Wrapping Station
Having a dedicated wrapping station can be a lifesaver, especially during the holidays. Using dowels for wrapping paper and ribbons, along with additional storage compartments for scissors and tape, can make gift wrapping hassle-free.
Keeping a Color Scheme
If aesthetics are important to you, consider giving your craft room a color scheme. By using desktop accessories, furniture, and tools in the same color scheme, you can create a harmonious and visually appealing workspace.
Taking Advantage of Multi-Purpose Furniture
Combining your craft room with a home office can maximize your workspace. Use craft furniture that can double as an office desk to create a cohesive and multifunctional space.
Adding a Hutch
For serious crafters, a desk with a cabinet hutch can provide ample storage space. You can store sewing supplies behind cabinet doors and keep paper tools organized in drawers.
Incorporating Light
Natural light is ideal, but if you have limited windows, you can brighten up your craft room with desk lamps, floor lamps, or overhead lighting. Metallics can also reflect light and create the illusion of brightness in the absence of natural light.
Adding Labels
Labeling your craft tools and supplies ensures that everything has its designated space. This helps you stay organized and saves time when searching for specific items during a project.
Working with Small Spaces
Even with limited space, you can create a functional craft room. Corner desks, wall-mounted storage, and risers that store jars and containers can maximize the use of small spaces.
Installing a Convertible Table
A drop-leaf table provides an additional surface for spreading out sewing projects or other crafts. It can be folded when not in use to save space and can also be moved around if it's on wheels.
Utilizing Vertical Storage Space
Vertical storage solutions can help make the most of your craft room. Cube-shaped shelf systems mounted on walls can store paints, adhesives, and twine while keeping them visible and easily accessible.
These are the main concepts covered in this article. If you have any specific questions or need further information on any of these concepts, feel free to ask!