This article was originally published on Redfin.
When you’re the type of person to make your own decor, gifts, artwork, etc. it’s more likely than not that you’ve acquired an abundance of supplies and materials. But for some of us, no dedicated space to keep said supplies, and no idea of where to start when designing a craft room. Whether you’re dealing with a small corner or an entire room, we’ve reached out to the crafting pros from Toronto to Sacramento to help homeowners like you organize and design the craft room of their dreams. So, sit back and let these tips and tricks inspire you to create your very own crafting space.
Start by prioritizing
Before you begin to buy anything, think about how you approach your crafting. Do you think of color, material, or brand first? For the next project you work on, try thinking about what supplies must be immediately accessible, which could be further away, and which could be hiding in drawers or cabinets. Remember to have fun and be prepared to change things up as you’re creating that dream space. Dreams grow and change – your crafting space will too! – One Mommy Scrapping
A good idea might be to start planning out your craft space. Do you really need all the papers, tons of embellishments all stored in different boxes? Or is it enough to have them digitally and print them out when needed? If so – that can save you tons of storage already – you just need your laptop and printer next to you. Maybe over the years, your hobby has changed. Maybe you are no longer a crochet girl but a scrapbooker? Well, then get rid of all the needles, books and wool you no longer need. You’ll make someone happy and it saves you valuable space in your crafting area. If you do not have that much space for your crafting endeavors you can also hang supplies. There is always an area next to your desk or maybe behind you. Use the boards you get for your kitchen to hang your wooden spoon on for your scissors and other supplies. Besides that, transparent boxes are a great choice as well! They allow you to see through without opening your boxes so you know what’s inside. – Digidesignresort
Hang scissors and rulers on hooks so they are always visible and easy to grab. Keep pens, pencils, and paintbrushes in pretty containers, and you’ll be more likely to keep your desk tidy. I like to use vintage jars and small ironstone pitchers. Consider using furniture, shelves, and storage bins all in one neutral color so your materials stand out and are easy to see. Invest in a comfortable chair so you want to spend time in your craft room. Store rolls of stickers and spools of ribbons in rectangular ceramic planters. You can pull right from the roll or spool. Have a small chalkboard or whiteboard handy for quick sketches and lists rather than more paper. – Smile Mercantile
Organization is key
We believe one key to a good craft room is organization. With potentially dozens of tools and hundreds of different materials at your disposal, labeling your supply containers and cabinets will help you quickly find the things you need. Collecting some of your items into plastic pages for binders is a fantastic way to keep items organized and also easily accessible. – Store SMART
When organizing your space, think outside of the box. Look at things you already have or can repurpose. For example, use muffin tins to store small embellishments like buttons, use a cookie sheet to hold magnetic dies and mason jars for pencils and markers. Those pretty little boxes that you plan to use in your art can actually be a great addition to your craft room. I like to use the “You Were Here” mug series boxes from Starbucks to hold gelatos, paperclips, sanding blocks and more. Put a sticker on the front of each of them to make them unique to your space. Not only will it save you the money you also will have a unique space that reflects your personality. – Betz Golden
The organization is more important than space. You don’t need a large space as long as you are organized. Storage with labels will keep your supplies organized and neatly hidden and give your space a clean look. – My Scrapbooking Blog
Try color coordinating
Displaying your craft supplies in an orderly and visible fashion out in the open can add a lot of fun and color to your space. For example, you could store buttons, sewing supplies, colored pencils and paintbrushes in pretty colored mason jars on open shelving. You can also take advantage of unexpected places to store your craft supplies. For example, I have a simple and inexpensive cloth shoe organizer hanging on the back of my craft room door. The organizer’s several pockets give me lots of ways to store and organize my smaller craft supplies and tools. – Mom Home Guide
Find a balance between fun and function
When it comes to creating a craft space you love, combine FUN with functional! Choose (or make your own!) decorative storage containers to brighten up the room. Turn a pretty coffee mug into a pen/marker holder. Display colorful supplies like yarn, buttons, or washi tape in clear containers or wooden bowls. Surround yourself with things that make you happy and your creativity will soar! – Caught by Design
Maximize the space you have
Whether you are crafting for fun, indulging in a new hobby or starting a small business, where you craft is just as important as what you craft. Unfortunately, many of us crafters do not have an entire room to dedicate to our guilty pleasure. As you may have already experienced or will experience, one can never have too many crafting supplies. Eventually, you will want to expand into other areas of crafting to become more versatile or more competitive. So, let’s talk, maximizing very small spaces. Repurposing already existing furniture into what you need, in a tiny corner, while on a budget. Crafty Belle’s Corner, literally started out in a corner. Being able to utilize a small space in the home that was easy to tuck away was important, as it was functional. – Crafty Belle’s Corner
At the heart of every craft room is the workspace where the creating happens. Whether it’s a desk or a standing table, you need to maximize that space so you have enough room to work. Too many storage containers on your desk or table get in the way and leave you feeling cramped. Using organizers that hang out of the way, like the Holster Brands Hobby Holsters, are the perfect solution. – Holster Brands
Keep it simple, but make it your own
I would suggest lighter colored walls to avoid making your craft room look super busy. Using supplies as decor is always a must for me, it can be a great source of inspiration. Last but most definitely not least is to never hide your supplies in deep drawers or cabinets, in my experience it creates clutter and causes over-purchasing of things you have stashed away. – Crafters HideOut
When designing your new craft room it is important to examine your own crafting habits and preferences. If you choose the materials for your projects by colour, then store them by colour, but if you choose materials by brand, storing them by brand will make more sense for you. And while it’s true that shopping is half the fun of crafting, it pays to shop mindfully so that you’re not accumulating products at a faster rate than you can store and use them. If out of sight is out of mind for you, then clear storage containers, open shelving, pinboards for new products and over-door clear pocket storage will keep things tidy, but in your line of sight. While it’s nice to have a craft room that looks like it belongs on Pinterest, the most important part of your design is that it be functional for you, the way you craft, plan and enjoy the space. – Dawn Lewis Imagery
Let there be light
Make sure you have plenty of light to fully see your supplies and your projects as you work on them. Low-lighting is a mood killer, and it makes it hard to manage small, detailed work.
Natural light is best, but lots of spaces require an artificial lighting boost. Think about bulb type and color temperature when you set up your space. Choose a mid to warm light for an inviting atmosphere, and consider LEDs for their efficiency. (If you want to be annoyed, blinded, or look like a crypt-keeper, go with fluorescent lights, but otherwise, we recommend avoiding them.) – PIXITE
Incorporate a cart
I like to put often used crafting tools in a movable cart or trolley, with wheels. This allows you to have your tools close at hand while being able to work anywhere in the room. Use bins/baskets/cups from the dollar store to keep everything organized and in its place. – Too Much Love
Make it a sanctuary to foster your creativity
I would start by saying that it is extremely beneficial to have a dedicated creative corner in your home. It can be a small table in a corner where you would have a sewing machine if you like sewing or your paints and brushes if you paint. Make it all about you! I strongly believe in mood boards and the power of images. If you have space, cut out some pictures from a magazine and put them on a pinboard! Quotes are fantastic too! Always use those who inspire you and dream big! The craft room can be your sanctuary. I can guarantee that you are a calmer, kinder and more focused person after spending time crafting. – Makers United
At Circle, our crafting oasis is our very favorite of all the spaces our team occupies because it feels peaceful and immediately elicits inspiration and creative flow. We have designed ours to be bright and well organized, with light walls and some natural wood and organic details so that there is a spacious feeling and the creative work itself “pops.” Having varied lighting options within the same space, plants, lots of creative mediums available to experiment with, and a view of the outdoors when possible keep fertile ideas flowing! We also believe in up-cycling and using reclaimed materials to have less environmental impact, and so we love sites, yard sales, and salvage stores that offer furnishings and even crafting supplies that meet that criteria. Happy creating! – Circle Creative Collective