Hey everyone, I’m in the middle of a 100% studio make-over which is taking longer than anticipated – so I am not yet set up to craft again. I don’t have a project to share today, but I do want to share with you what’s going on here in my world:
First of all, for nearly a year I have contemplated the re-model and to try and figure out how BEST to fit my studio back together. Made notes of things that don’t work, things that do, things I love, things I dislike… I’ve also been cleaning and purging my studio this whole time too. One small drawer, one bit at a time.
Here is a photo of it circa exactly 3 years ago:
As you can see cardstock used to be housed on the ground (and patterned paper is in that brown cabinet next to it). My die cuts and sewing supplies were up in that far corner under the TV. I can see my purple chair – which means my computer desk right there bottom left had not yet migrated to the closet.
Over the last 13 years of living here I’ve revamped this room OFTEN. But here’s the mistake I made every time:
I never emptied it 100% and thoughtfully put each thing back.
This time is different. About 2 weeks ago I started painting (the room was empty!) and then I had the floors re-done. You can imagine what a piece of carpet that had been my studio floor for 13 years looked like!!
The day before the new carpet went in I went in with masking tape on the floor and plotted out the 3 big pieces of furniture I own and how I saw them fitting back into this room. I made some sketches of how the little stuff would fit – but honestly that just can’t be figured out in advance too well.
Once the three big pieces were back in I re-measured, re-tested, and reconsidered what I NEEDED. Now note that I think adorable shelves, cute cubbies and drawers, and other beautiful studio stuff is grand. I really do.
The thing is… I need hardcore heavy weight holding no limitations type stuff! A big box of photos weighs a LOT, let alone 10 of them! So in addition to thinking about space constraints, I’ve been thinking a lot about how I craft, how I use this space, and what is useful to me.
The sewing machine has to have a space about 3x bigger than it. period. Otherwise I just move and shuffle things every time I use it – and I use it a lot. There are a few other things I know too – for example:
- Paper on floor level = bad
- Embellishments out of packages and stored in small drawers or containers = good
- Things need to be stored simply. No fuss no dedicated spot for one specific small item
- I like to have multiple working spots so people can craft with me and/or I can leave wet projects and move on to things elsewhere
- I need to better utilize my wall space
- The more I can store away, the easier it will be to keep clean
- Simple. Can’t say that enough. The storage must be simple.
As I find my storage solutions, work with what I have here, and continue this process I will be doing regular blog posts to share with you the process and (eventually) the finished studio!!
Thanks for the update. I don’t have a dedicated craft space, well, correction, I do, it’s just my bed. Which I’m ok with, it’s comfortable. Sometimes I have storage issues. Like everyone else. You’ve put a lot of thought into how your space can work the best for you, that’s awesome. Good luck with it. Thanks for keeping us posted. Michelle t
You are lucky to have a room to craft it. I hope that one day I will too. I like to see and hear about other people’s storage/craft room ideas, Pintrest is a good place to gather ideas. For now I am trying to make the best use of old tv armoire that is in sad need of make over. Its stands in a tiny corner of the living room and I have to share the kitchen table with everyone when I get things out to craft. But you make it work when you love to craft. : )
Looking good, May. Can’t wait to see it all wrapped up. You’re inspiring me to want to totally redo my craft space, which I share with my husband. Oh, if only there were time…
Hey, maybe you’d like to take a trip to Michigan and help me! 😉 J/k. LOL.
You are doing such a great job remaking your studio! I wish I had a spare room for that. Now my crafting space is also our living room.
Great progress, May. Please keep on updating us. I will be starting the same project in 1 week. There won’t be new paint and flooring, that was done just a couple of years ago. But, in the meantime I have inherited all of my sis-in-law’s stash and tools which are piled 3 foot high on a table in the room. Everything has to come out and I have to do the purging before I can see what needs to go back in, And, like you, see what storage pieces I actually need. Looking forward to seeing how you find solutions.
This is great! I really need to make some tough choices and get my room done too. You are definitely inspiring me to get after it!
I love what i see happening here! And the flooring is beautiful. it is easy to forget when you have a home-based business, that this *is* your job and you need a work space that you can actually do work in. it’s shaping up beautifully. Thanks for listing your priorities because they are helpful to those of us who are just hobbying but who want a craft space that works!
Such a great idea (but a big job!) to take it all out and really think about what you want with your space