Tips for Organizing Craft Spaces

This week on the Bowdabra Blog we have been tackling craft organization! During my week-long series, I have shared ways that I keep my craft materials organized. Keeping craft supplies sorted with like items together and labeled, is hard at first, but eventually it becomes a habit, and part of your everyday craft routine. By being organized, I don’t spend precious “creative crafting minutes” searching for something, stops the buying duplicates (something I hate!), and makes my crafting space peaceful and orderly. Granted, especially around the holidays, my craft space looks like a hurricane hit it. However, seeing my craft materials strewn all over the place makes me feel very overwhelmed and uncreative. I also feel a little guilty seeing supplies possibly going to waste because I have just haphazardly, set them aside. So I make a concerted effort to keep my craft space tidy.

 

My craft space is in the far corner of my finished basement. My craft room claims only a small portion of the basement, about 10ft x 10ft. Over time, my craft room has continued to evolve. When I first began crafting, several years ago, I had lots of shelving and very large grey storage bins. I soon realized that all that shelving made me feel boxed in and the larger the storage bins the harder it was to dig down to the bottom, to get what I wanted. I soon traded the larger bins for smaller ones and I removed seasonal items from my craft room. Now, I store seasonal labeled bins in our shed. By removing the big seasonal bins – I instantly had more room.

 

Lots of table space is key! I need room to spread out and create and the more table space I have the better. By removing the large seasonal bins and shelving I had room for another table. I arranged the tables at two different heights, one for sitting and the other for standing. Both tables allow for extra storage below.

 

Lighting is also important for photographs and video posts. I had my husband install, florescent overhead lights and I use daylight light bulbs so that they do not give off an orange color. I also use large photography lights for taking photos. When all the lights are on the space is bright, cheery, and optimal for photography and video.

 

 

For me, the keys to a successful and organized craft space are:

• Sort craft supplies and place them in a small clear storage bins.
• Labels your bins so that you know exactly what you have.
• If possible, remove seasonal craft supplies and store them in a garage, shed, or attic – till needed.
• Lots of table room! By adding an extra table I have had more room to sew and scrapbook.
• No matter the size of your craft space make it your own! Experiment, rearrange, and make it work for you. My craft space is not glamorous – but it works for me – and I feel at peace while I am crafting in it!

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