Craft rooms are great additions to any home, as they allow the creative juices to flow more easily, and let you explore new and exciting hobbies where you can always create something new.
If you’re trying to set up the ideal creative space from scratch, you might not know where to start. The following guide can help you.
Encourage as much natural light as possible
Natural light will be a huge help for all different crafts, as they will enable you to see everything you’re doing more easily, and more realistically. This is particularly important for painting or drawing.
Not only that, but more natural light helps to set up a more positive headspace for you, and helps you to feel more positive.
Therefore, filling up your room with as much natural light as possible is going to be a bonus for both your craft and your wellbeing.
Set up a private space
If you live with others, you might want your craft room to be your own safe haven. You may want to be alone to escape into your craft and create something new.
That means it’s important that your craft room be as private as possible, away from the rest of the house. You could choose a spare room you have to yourself, with a lock on the door, or you could try for an alternative workshop, like garage space or out in the garden — anything which allows you to have your own privacy.
Get ample storage space (shelves)
Good storage space in the form of both open and closed shelving units is essential. Many choose IKEA's excellent shelving designs (Kallax, Ivar, Lack, Expedit, etc), but shelves might be the easiest thing to create in the world -- maybe you should make or refurbish them yourself as your first project?
Don't forget a countertop or table, which is always handy no matter the craft, and maybe even consider a mobile storage unit such as this genius IKEA hack from Jennifer:
Include everything you need
This could be all equipment needed for one hobby in particular, or maybe you’re looking to try a few. Planning and making sure that your room is always full of everything you need means you can more easily jump on creative impulses and get the best out of your craft. This might be canvases, painting supplies, fabrics, woodworking tools or GST sewing machines.
Fill your room with things that inspire
Your craft room should best help you to think about those things you want to make, and help to get you in the best creative mood. With this in mind, your craft room should be conducive to that.
If you’re inspired by color and patterns, then make sure you decorate your craft room in a way which speaks to you, rather than bare, white walls. Implement artwork that inspires you if you’re hoping to paint and draw, and even fill it with things you could use as objects for still life.
Also think about items which make you feel more relaxed, like plants or flowers. Avoid anything which may be too distracting, such as a TV or smart devices.
Plan for mess!
No craft room is complete if it isn’t going to get a little messy. You don’t want to have to worry about marking anything, ruining anything or tidying up too much if you’re in the creative zone, so planning out your room to accommodate for mess is key.
You may want to think about surfaces which are easily wipeable, laminate or wooden floor instead of carpet so that it can more easily be cleaned and covering any soft furnishings with slipcovers if needed.
When setting up your perfect craft room, be sure to stick to what works for you, and with what you need from a creative room.
