My friend Kacey Bradley is back today with some smart, easy-to-implement tips
on how to transform absolutely any space into the DIY craft haven of your dreams.
There’s nothing better than coming up with a great idea for a craft and getting your hands on the supplies to make it happen. Whether you enjoy knitting, painting or more extensive crafts like woodworking, there’s a special joy that comes from the act of creating something. It’s a passion that can’t be ignored, which presents the first issue crafters often run into — finding space to do what you love.
When you tour a potential new home or apartment, you’ll be led through the living room, the bedrooms and the kitchen. Every room has a clear function — but unless you’re about to live where a craft lover has been, it’s not likely that you’ll see a space pointed out as the “craft room.”
As much as you can love creating something new, it can be challenging to make an area your own. Read on to get inspired, so you can turn any space into a dream craft room — without needing to brush up on any interior decorating lessons.
Make Things Comfortable
Where you craft makes all the difference in how you enjoy the process of your crafting. Imagine that you love to embroider. Picture yourself embroidering in a cubicle under fluorescent lighting. Now think about how it would feel to embroider in a plush armchair next to warm, bright lighting.
The key to enjoying any craft is being comfortable. What fabrics do you prefer on chairs or couches? What wall paint soothes you? Do you prefer certain types of lighting over others?
Set up your craft room furniture so that it will help your crafting as well as keep you comfortable. Put extra throw pillows on any couch or chair and lay out a soft and cozy blanket. You can even store away a space heater for those winter days when your feet and fingers will get cold quickly. Go with your gut to find what makes you comfortable, and then work with it so you can enjoy that comfort while making a craft.
Utilize as Much Natural Light as Possible
Anyone who’s worked on a project by hand knows that the right lighting can transform a seemingly impossible craft into something you know you can conquer. Being able to see the fine lines and navigate around materials makes all the difference when you’re trying to make something.
A good overhead lamp might be worth looking into, but if you have free time during the day to spend in your craft room, opt to use a room with plenty of natural lighting. Natural lighting in places like a sunroom will brighten up the room from all angles, so you won’t have to readjust how you sit or position your hands just right to keep working. Always make sure you have lamps set up close by your workspace for nightly crafting sessions, but windows will provide the best lighting for any project.
Maximize Closet Space
It’s easy to convert a typical office space in your home into a craft room, which means you may have a closet you can work with to store supplies. Unless you renovate and make it a walk-in, though, you’ll probably have a typical coat closet with a single shelf.
Shelving is a great way to maximize your closet space. Try a shelving unit that hangs over the door if you’re a renter, or you can get a set to install on the wall if you own your home. You could even put a small bookcase in the closet to get the most use out of the space if you find one in a style you like.
Hang a Pegboard
If you saw a picture of a pegboard, you’d probably be able to picture it in a typical workshop. Tools would hang on it over a work table covered in sawdust. The reason pegboards are used in so many workshops is because you can quickly shift how you store things on it, so you’re not permanently stuck with one method of storage.
You can use a pegboard in an indoor craft room, too. Find or make containers to hang off the pegs that could hold small supplies like paint brushes or thread. There are many different cute and reliable containers you could attach to a pegboard that would hold your supplies — and they can still be removed and rearranged as needed.
Being able to organize your craft room will transform how you feel in it. Easily locating what you need and walking into a space that’s clean will help you feel more relaxed when it’s time to get creative. You’ll always know where everything goes without having to take up floor or drawer space.
Use Color
Something else you can think about when it comes to your craft room is what color palette you’ll use to decorate your space. The colors around you actually influence what mood you’re in. You might opt for brighter, warmer colors like yellows, reds and oranges to feel the best when you sit down to work.
If you don’t like those colors, however, don’t worry! Try including whatever colors are your favorite in things like wall paint, curtains, furniture and even room accessories like planters or lamps. Having the right hues for you will make your craft room feel like home.
Make Your Craft Room Uniquely Yours
Just like everyone will make a different craft when given the same set of tools, everyone will design their dream craft room specific to their individual tastes. Think about how you’ve decorated rooms in the past and what’s made your heart happy. Do you like hanging things on the walls, painting or having a nice big rug on the floor? Work those elements into your craft room! Think about incorporating warm colors into the space, utilizing the natural light from windows and using storage to keep things tidy. You can always go back and tweak the room a bit if you finish and feel like it still needs work. Happy crafting!
Kacey Bradley is the blogger behind The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations and cultures, all while portraying her love for the world around her through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts. Along with writing for her blog, she has written for sites like U.S. News, SUCCESS, Ruffled, and more!
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