Top 10 Big Ticket Items Every DIYer Should Own: day 7

March 23, 2011

A Craft Room
This could be totally free for some people. For others this could be a significant investment. Now I'm not talking about a desk in the corner of your living room. I'm talking about a room dedicated solely to sewing/painting/crafting/whatever. With a large table, maybe two, closet or drawers to keep needful things, etc.

Our house is considered a three bedroom with the third floor being one giant room and half bath. However, I never liked the idea of keeping one of the kids upstairs all alone....all night. It felt weird. So instead, we turned the sunroom into a nursery and had Lily and Molly share a bedroom downstairs. And used the upstairs for my sewing room.

Once Eloise gets older I'm thinking of making the top floor a room for ALL of them to share but that won't be for at least another year. In the meantime, it's designated as my craft room. And I can't imagine life without it. Now, granted I do more 'crafting' than most people but I think everyone who shares my hobby should have a space to themselves because having to drag all of your stuff out each time you want to sew something is very deterring. Also, having a small desk to do all your work is very frustrating. Trust me, I've been there. 

For my craft room I bought a few things. First two large 6' folding tables. They can be found at Walmart. But if you wanted to spend a little more for something that looks a little nicer I'd buy these from IKEA. You need something big enough to keep your sewing machine on and never have to take it off to utilize space. My two tables put together give me enough room to keep my sewing machine, serger, cutting mat and extra room for spreading out large yardages of fabric so I never have to bend over on the floor to cut (which KILLS my back). I also have at least two folding chairs, one per table. It's a pain to keep moving one chair all around a room.

Then I purchased a whole lot of these. And put them in my closet space. Now if I didn't have a closet I might want to purchase something that looked a little more pleasing to the eye, like these above.

My craft space also has entertainment....because sometimes....sewing can be a bit boring. I have our old tv upstairs on a stand. But if you're not into watching TV, having a stereo system works well too. I used to like to listen to audio books when I worked in an office. The unabridged kind are great.
Source: weheartit.com

Having a place to relax is also nice. We have a sofa for the kids. So when I'm working and they want to see me, they have somewhere to sit or watch something. But honestly, I like to be alone when I'm working.

But maybe the most important, your space should NOT feel cramped. Now, my upstairs room is fairly large as far as craft rooms go but more likely you're going to be using the room no one wants to use as a bedroom because of its size. If that's the case, then forgo the sofa, maybe even the second table. But absolutely keep one 6' table, entertainment and space to keep your materials. I'd call those craft room necessities.
Source: None via Cat

And of course, one more major but simple thing....a large garbage bin. Mine gets filled as soon as it is emptied. And if your garbage bin is small and getting filled fast, you're more likely to leave your junk on the floor or on the desk which causes you to not look forward to using the space, which causes you to work less. It's a fact! Messy spaces, messy minds. I know I've fallen victim to this. Here's a great bin at IKEA. Here's one at Walmart. Get something with AT LEAST 11 gallons, preferably 13 or higher.

Lastly, if you have the energy left after all that shopping, I'd splurge. Paint and decorate the walls of your new room. Then use that new space to make some window dressings;) I myself have never had the energy/time to do this and I've always lamented it. Burdastyle recently offered to feature my craft room in their new book and I had to decline because mine is so blah. I was majorly disappointed. But beside that missed opportunity, just sitting in a room that makes you feel good while you're working is a big deal. It will help your work and enjoyment of your craft.

Good luck!

16 {comments}:

Stephanie Lynn said... Best Blogger Tips

Of all of the things you've posted in this series, this is what I want the most. Unfortunately, it's just not going to happen in a one bedroom apartment. :( But I am filing this away for later!

jhelene said... Best Blogger Tips

I am so excited by this post! I am currently converting our second bedroom into my sewing/craft room. It is VERY small, probably 10x12, including the closet. I am not sure even 1 6ft table would fit, but I am thinking I am going to build a 5x5 craft table with storage, and have my sewing cabinet in the corner.

Ana said... Best Blogger Tips

This I surely don't have, but dream of often of having it one day. We have a big bedroom and I have a desk where I work at. I would love to see your sewing/craft room.

Brittany said... Best Blogger Tips

Thanks for the tips! I want to incorporate these ideas when I move into my new house next week. I share my sewing/craft room with my homeschool room, and that way I can sneak in a bit of sewing while the kids are doing their work. I hope the room will be big enough! I had a lot of closet storage in my old room, but this new one has a small closet. I definitely need to get some of those storage drawers that will look nice enough to line my walls.

Anonymous said... Best Blogger Tips

All these are great tips, and the pictures are a nice inspiration. But I was hoping to see you craft room :(

erinkate said... Best Blogger Tips

A studio is my number one dream right now. Every time my sewing machine knocks something off my vanity, every time I have to dig a pattern out from beneath a stack of tax returns, I dream of a studio. I do all my work on one shallow antique vanity and I've gotta say, it's the pits.

Olyveoil said... Best Blogger Tips

Love this post. I have my daughters old bedroom, but will be moving out of it to allow her daughters to move into it. Let's say one of my children moved out, multiplied, and moved back home...lol. And I thought I was home free! So, my dh is building me a good-sized building in our back yard for my very own studio! Thanks for the ideas. I've incorporated most of them already, but will have to definitely add a larger can/bin.

Debbie...(O:
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Unknown said... Best Blogger Tips

Great advice. I really need to declutter my craft room. It's a bit of an obstacle course at the moment. I've never thought about entertainment while crafting - I'm going to bring down my iPod dock (that doesn't get used in our study) and get some music, french lessons or audio books going!

Ellen said... Best Blogger Tips

We just bought a house, so as of the 8th April I will have a craft room. I'm so excited! It means I can move off the dining room table in our open plan current house, and it won't look so much like a bomb site when people drop round. The big bin is a good plan :)

flynn said... Best Blogger Tips

This is a great post! I use my laptop to watch videos on and it's great not only for background during the boring moments, but to do things like watch your invisible zipper tutorial while I'm trying to figure out which is the front on mine (thx, btw)

P.S. Paint. PAINT!!! Bright and awesome rooms make my fabric choices seem less garish :)

Grosgrain said... Best Blogger Tips

@EllenEllen,
RE: Bomb site
I used to sew downstairs until we started finding pins all over the floor. So I've definitely been there too. At least now, no one but me and Brian go upstairs.

Grosgrain said... Best Blogger Tips

@Craftmaker
I know. It's too messy to photography now but I have a photo somewhere of when it was clean and I couldn't for the lie of me find it. After 30 minutes of pouring through my old archives I gave up.
Bummer.

I do plan on fixing it up so when that day happens I'll post LOTS and LOTS of photos

Melanie said... Best Blogger Tips

I am finally getting around to getting our second bedroom converted to a sewing room. Slowly but surely the husband is helping me get shelves hung. I'm using an Elfa desk and shelves for the sewing machine. I've got a row of baskets on one side that are great for extra bobbins, scissors, etc. And on Black Friday I scored a huge folding cutting table and mat from Joanns for dirt cheap. I love that it does collapse so if I need more space, I can push it against a wall.

Jenna said... Best Blogger Tips

I whole heartedly agree!!! When I was in high school I came home from a weekend at the shore with my mom and found a corner of the attic dedicated to a studio for me. My dad made a table that could be raised and angled like an easel, shelves and area to store paintings. Best surprise ever! My boyfriend knows when we move in we need studio space, but he doesnt disagree- I told him it could be his photography storage too :-)

DKB said... Best Blogger Tips

i dream of the day i will have a craft room. I will make my children share a room in order to get a craft room. Since we are 4 living in a 1 bdrm, my space must be put away every day. Its such a hassle and keeps me from sewing. Sometimes its just not worth the hassle to get everything out for 15min of work. I do all my cutting on the floor and my sewing table is a little wooden TV tray. Before i had the 'table' I used to sew standing up at the kitchen counter- all 14" of it!

Grosgrain said... Best Blogger Tips

@DKB
Wow. And I thought I had it rough.

I'm guessing you live in the city?

If you do, at least you have a lot of culture surrounding you. I have to really go out of my way to find some.

 
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