Organize Craft Room

This page explains how to organize a craft room. A craft room is for activities like sewing, quilting, scrapbooking, painting, gift wrapping etc. A properly organized craft room will allow you to be more creative and productive.

Please read my articles on tips before you organize the craft room. That article will help you get through these tasks a whole lot easier and help you keep your results once you are done.

Depending on the size of the room and the number of items you have, it could be a large task to organize the craft room. It will take time. Have realistic goals. Split tasks into small chunks, so you can complete them in a reasonable amount of time and make progress. Do what you can in 1 or 2 hour maximum. Set this as your goal. You might be tempted to do the next task but proceed only if you have time left in your 1 or 2 hour time limit. If not, wait for the next day or weekend, otherwise you will be exhausted. Also look at what you have accomplished for inspiration and motivation.

Your first task when you organize a craft room should be clearing items in open areas as explained in article Home Organization Tips (when you begin). Separate them into five categories and appropriately arrange them as explained in that article. You could categorize “Keep Here” items further into tools, materials etc. If you do multiple crafts, categorize items for each.

Essentials in this room are desk(s) or counters, chair(s), ample storage for supplies and a wastebasket. Depending on your craft you might also need cutting mat(s), ironing supplies etc.

An L, U or T shaped furniture arrangement will work better if you like to work alongside family members or friends. This arrangement will also provide a large work surface area.

An office chair on casters will allow you to easily move around the work area and access the tools and materials you need.

The most important thing to consider when you organize the craft room is appropriate storage. All tools and materials should be stored in such a way that they are easy to find and readily accessible when you need them.

If your desk has built-in storage, keep the most frequently used tools and materials like scissors, glue gun, scrapbook papers, paints, brushes etc. in them. Otherwise, you can use plastic carts with drawers that can go underneath the desk to store tools and supplies.

If you are right handed keep the most often used items on the right side and vice versa.

Make the most of available wall space when you organize the craft room. Install shelves above the work area. Use clear plastic containers to store materials. Label and stack them on the shelves with often used ones on the bottom shelves. You can also hang peg boards painted the same color as the wall to hang often used tools.

Reuse clear jars like peanut butter, jelly, jam, coffee and baby food to store smaller items (beads, buttons, ribbons, pins etc.). You can also use plastic food storage bags to store beads, bows, buttons etc. Put these bags in a plastic box.

You can also utilize a closet with bi-fold or swinging doors as a craft area. Create a counter across the back of the closet. Install shelves above it for storage. You can install bulletin/chalk/magnetic board above the counter. Install pegboards on the side walls to store tools.

Hanging wrapping paper organizers are available for under $10. This organizer with clear pockets will hold all your wrapping supplies like wrapping paper, ribbon, scissors, gift tags and tape in one place for quick and convenient access. If you have a swinging closet door, utilize it to hang the wrapping paper organizer with an over the door hook.

You can also store greeting cards in the craft room. Group them by occasion.

If you have guests only a few times a year, convert the guest room closet into a craft area. You can get a garment rack when you have guests.

If you don’t have space for a dedicated craft room, or if you are not handy enough to install shelves, you can use an armoire with a pull-out work surface that is specifically designed for sewing, crafts or scrapbooking. The price for these armoires starts at around $300. You can put it in the guest room, family/living room etc. Bookcases, storage cabinets or armoires can be used for additional storage.

Here are some ideas to organize the craft room for a few of the common hobbies. Some of these ideas are applicable to other hobbies as well with minor modifications.

Sewing/Quilting:

If your hobby is sewing or quilting, a bulletin, magnetic or chalk board will be great to write, draw or post design ideas, sewing patterns and fabric swatches on. If you have a closet in your craft room, you can use hanging accessory shelf to store fabric. Fold and stack them according to fabric type. Use separate ones for big yardage fabric and for stashes and fat quarters. If you don’t have a closet, you can use a portable one. They come in different sizes and are available at supermarkets. If you don’t have space for a portable closet, fold or roll them and arrange them vertically in stackable containers or carts (see the photo). This arrangement lets you see everything at a glance and also take what you need without taking the ones on top. Using vacuum storage bags to store bulky fabric, like fleece, microfiber etc. will save space. These reusable bags compress when the air inside is taken out using a vacuum cleaner. They are available in a variety of different sizes and shapes. Manufactures of these bags claim that they are airtight, watertight, mold, mildew, bug and odor proof.

Over the door ironing board organizers (available at super markets for under $15) will hold all your ironing supplies (like ironing board, iron, spray bottles etc.) in one place within easy reach saving you time. You can utilize the back of the craft room door or the closet door for this organizer.

If you don’t have space for an ironing board, an ironing mat (also called ironing blanket) is available at supermarkets for under $15. Put it on the counter or table top to iron. You can roll it to one side or put it away when not in use.

Art (Drawing/Painting):

If you do water color, oil paintings etc. plastic multi drawer mini organizers can be used to store paints and brushes, drawing supplies like pencils, charcoal etc. These transparent organizers let you see the contents and can be stacked.

These containers can also be used to store other hobby materials such as threads and yarns too.

Useful tips when you organize a craft room:

Label the containers and drawers for easy identification of tools and materials.
Arrange beads, threads and yarns, fabric etc. by color, size, pattern or type.
Arrange scrapbooks or photo albums by year.
If your craft room or area is carpeted, use vinyl remnants for easy clean up from spills. Chair mat(s) will make it easy to move the chair around.
Make the craft room an off-limits space for small children and pets to ensure safety.
Put materials in their appropriate places right away when you are done using them and also when you buy new ones.
Keep only the things related to the current project on the table.
A 3 ring binder is a great tool to organize design ideas and reference pictures. Use divider tabs to separate ideas for different crafts.
Use magazine files to store hobby related magazines.
Keep large quantities of painting supplies like oils (for example linseed oil) and solvents (like turpentine) in the garage because they are flammable. Store small amounts in your craft room for immediate use.

Once you organize the craft room, you have more time to create because you are not wasting time looking for tools and materials. It is essential that you maintain it.

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