It's been a while since I have done a craft room tour. Like over a year! This past January we moved my craft room out of the formal living room + dining room + office and condensed it all down to just fit in my office alone. It's about one-third of the space I have enjoyed for the last two years (see that video studio tour HERE) and that means I had to get rid of alot of stuff. In addition, I moved out my Target desk and brought in my grandmother's old Fortress desk which is wider and deeper than the previous desk. It has amazing storage though! In line with my recent posts about changing my relationship with craft supplies and how I view my space, and with this month being National Craft Month, I thought it was the perfect time to share a tour of my new, improved, lean, mean creativity machine of a craft studio, office, and film studio all rolled into one:
There are a few details I want to point out that I think might be helpful to you in organizing a space that best supports
creativity.
Organize supplies by color, with a focus on consumables (things you can use up).
Craft Room Tour
I started organizing by color in 2006 or so and it changed the way I craft. Organizing by color allows you to use products you might have forgotten you had in new and unexpected ways. In the past, I would have looked for a red brad to use on a scrapbook page. Now, I open my red and orange drawer (both colors are combined into one drawer) and look through all the possible embellishments that are red. I can use things I forgot I had, like a pretty red button or a red label sticker. This helps me use up my stash and avoid getting into creative ruts, like when I used to be on a “red button kick” and use them on all of my projects for three months straight. True story.
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Keep things in the open so they are front of mind and get used.
Keeping tools and supplies that you use often or want to use more out in the open makes it easier for you to use them. I want to use my Sizzix eclips2 machine often so I keep it on a table, plugged in and ready to go at all times. I don't want to use my serger sewing machine often so I keep it on a shelf under my work table so I can get to it but so it is not in the way.
Label everything – peace comes from being able to find things when you need them.
I use an Epson LabelWorks label maker (and ribbon printer) to label my ArtBins, drawers, and other containers. It helps me to know exactly where things are but the process of labeling also makes me think about which things go together and can be stored together. Like I might have a drawer of ICE Resin bezels and ICE Resin ephemera papers because they go together. When you have 20+ ArtBins, it is also handy to have a label on the outside so you don't have to open each one up to see what's inside.
If you add something to the room, take something out.
It is so easy to out grow your space by bringing in new things. I know I have this limited amount of square space and limited storage solutions. If I want to bring in something new, then something old has to go out. We also have limited time. Can I really use all 548 stamps sets I had? No. So I sold off 300 of them and gave away a bunch more so now I have less than 50 acrylic stamp sets. If I want more Sizzix dies, I need to get rid of the ones I don't use. And yes, with all these cases of dies, there are some I don't use and a few still in the package. This process makes you think very strategically about HOW and WHY you buy things. And it helps keep the focus on creating and not cleaning or organizing. I mean, seriously, we all hate cleaning so much but we have made that 50% or more of our time when we're “crafting”. Let's stop doing that.
Here's a pinnable quote to help remind us: PIN IT NOW
I hope this room tour and these tips have inspired you and given you some awesome ideas for your space! Here are some of my past room tours and organizing posts to check out:
- Most popular room tour I ever did, 2010
- 5 Organizing Tips
- My first video room tour, 2012
- My largest craft space ever, 2013
- My first craft room tour, 2008
- 8 Ikea Craft Room Ideas
Links to some of the organizing products used in this room:
- Ikea Expedit – Ikea Kallax is the new version
- Ikea Raskog Cart
- Ikea Stenstorp Kitchen Island (bought in the As-Is section at a discount) + casters added to the legs
- Harbor Freight Four Tray Revolving Storage
Keep up with our adventures, craft ideas, and frugal living tips by subscribing to the Hydrangea Hippo Crafty Newsletter.
Katie Smith (@punkprojects) says
March 29, 2015 at 2:53 pmI love seeing other peoples craft rooms, they’re so inspiring- I love yours! It looks so well organized. 🙂
Jennifer Priest says
March 29, 2015 at 2:59 pmThanks so much Katie!!!
Katie Smith (@punkprojects) says
March 29, 2015 at 2:53 pmI love seeing other peoples craft rooms, they’re so inspiring- I love yours! It looks so well organized. 🙂
Jennifer Priest says
March 29, 2015 at 2:59 pmThanks so much Katie!!!
Tracy Evans says
March 29, 2015 at 3:42 pma wonderful organised room. I loved your tour and your storage is fantastic. A gorgeous room to create in. Tracy x
Tracy Evans says
March 29, 2015 at 3:42 pma wonderful organised room. I loved your tour and your storage is fantastic. A gorgeous room to create in. Tracy x
Susie Bentz says
March 29, 2015 at 4:33 pmI am trying like heck to purge! Your room is so organized. Such an inspiration! Do you have a post for your camera set up? I would love to see that! (and I did get a *little* queasy – but it was worth it!) 🙂
Susie Bentz says
March 29, 2015 at 4:33 pmI am trying like heck to purge! Your room is so organized. Such an inspiration! Do you have a post for your camera set up? I would love to see that! (and I did get a *little* queasy – but it was worth it!) 🙂
Betsy Skagen says
March 29, 2015 at 5:15 pmFantastic tour and ideas Jennifer. I especially like the one about keeping colors together.
Betsy Skagen says
March 29, 2015 at 5:15 pmFantastic tour and ideas Jennifer. I especially like the one about keeping colors together.
Kristen says
March 29, 2015 at 8:20 pmLove your craft room. I’m trying to re-do my craft space and definitely got some good ideas. Do you move the other things off your table when you use your eclipse?
Kristen says
March 29, 2015 at 8:20 pmLove your craft room. I’m trying to re-do my craft space and definitely got some good ideas. Do you move the other things off your table when you use your eclipse?
Tara says
March 29, 2015 at 9:38 pmJennifer – this is an amazing space. I am truly inspired! Do you happen to remember the name of the cabinets you got from Hobby Lobby? I’m in love!
Tara says
March 29, 2015 at 9:38 pmJennifer – this is an amazing space. I am truly inspired! Do you happen to remember the name of the cabinets you got from Hobby Lobby? I’m in love!
Debby says
March 30, 2015 at 2:17 amYou did an incredible job going into a smaller space. I purged last year and work hard to use before buying. I am not terrible successful when it comes to paper, I am with more permanent items. Thank you for sharing and inspiring.
Debby says
March 30, 2015 at 2:17 amYou did an incredible job going into a smaller space. I purged last year and work hard to use before buying. I am not terrible successful when it comes to paper, I am with more permanent items. Thank you for sharing and inspiring.
Joan says
March 31, 2015 at 5:28 amEnjoyed your tour and loved all your organization. I love the idea of drawers with all the same colored embellishments and inks together. Thanks for sharing.
Joan says
March 31, 2015 at 5:28 amEnjoyed your tour and loved all your organization. I love the idea of drawers with all the same colored embellishments and inks together. Thanks for sharing.
Nancy says
March 31, 2015 at 5:49 amBeautiful job ! I love your room , you inspire me to redo a few things in my room ! I love creating but part of the fun for me is also organizing my craft space. Enjoy your day 🙂
Nancy says
March 31, 2015 at 5:49 amBeautiful job ! I love your room , you inspire me to redo a few things in my room ! I love creating but part of the fun for me is also organizing my craft space. Enjoy your day 🙂
Rochelle Spears says
March 31, 2015 at 6:28 am“If you add something to the room, take something out” is my favorite rule. This is how I stay organized, in control, and motivated. 🙂 You have a nice room! We organize similar…. by color, storing “like” items together, etc. However my paper is out of control. Lol That is what I hoard!!!!! 30+ Iris containers full of paper!! eek!! But they are all organized, labeled and easy to get to… And honestly fun to look through! Lol Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Rochelle Spears says
March 31, 2015 at 6:28 am“If you add something to the room, take something out” is my favorite rule. This is how I stay organized, in control, and motivated. 🙂 You have a nice room! We organize similar…. by color, storing “like” items together, etc. However my paper is out of control. Lol That is what I hoard!!!!! 30+ Iris containers full of paper!! eek!! But they are all organized, labeled and easy to get to… And honestly fun to look through! Lol Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Ann in PA says
March 31, 2015 at 3:11 pmThanks for the tour!!
Ann in PA says
March 31, 2015 at 3:11 pmThanks for the tour!!
Mitzi says
July 19, 2015 at 10:12 amTotally have craft room envy!! I’m in LOVE with your craft room! So well organized, colorful and therefore a great creative space! I came across your page linked from another. I’m less crafter and more jeweler and I’m looking to redo and organize my studio. But I just wanted to say, I am impressed!
Jennifer Priest says
July 19, 2015 at 10:30 amThank you so much 🙂
Maria @ Pastels & Macarons says
October 24, 2015 at 2:54 pmSimply amazing! Massive craft room envy right now! 😀 x