I love looking at pictures of craft rooms and there are some AMAZING ones out there.  Some look too pretty to actually use!  My craft space is pretty small.  I think at best, it’s 8′ x 10′.  It really isn’t even a room, but a corner of a room in my office.  I use this corner for crafts and use the other half of the room for my ‘real job’ as a graphic designer.

This space has evolved over the last year and was pretty carefully planned around the way I work.  This is how the corner looked before.  (Sorry for the phone pic!)  Also, pictures are really hard to take since it’s in the basement and I have that really annoying soffit in the room that casts weird shadows.

The first thing was to install this craft station from the Container Store.  My patient husband helped me pick it out and installed it for me.

Then I got to fill it up!  Most of the containers are from The Container Store.  I could spend all day in that place.  Bringing the shelves all the way up to the ceiling added a lot of storage space.  On the top shelf, I use the magazine files for paper, patterns, and manuals.  The ribbon containers are also from The Container Store.  Everything I want handy stays on top while those drawers underneath hide the mess 🙂

The one thing I can’t seem to figure out is how to best store thread.  I like to keep my bobbins with the spool so I don’t have to match up colors and types.  For now, golf tees work!

This huge magnetic board was a DIY project using a frame from IKEA.  See how I did it here: DIY Magnetic Board.  It is such a help when I am working on patterns.  I pin the instructions up in order so I don’t have papers all around.  The drawers underneath hold zippers, notions, bias tape, etc.  Both are right next to my cutting table, which is perfect.

The next challenge was storing my fabric.  These floating shelves from IKEA did the trick.  Again, using the wall and going all the way to the ceiling provided more useable space.

The hardest decision for me was finding a craft table.  I wanted a space big enough to work on but did I want it high for cutting or low for sewing?  After 3 hours in IKEA (8 months pregnant with a 2-year-old on a Saturday) I decided on two separate tables.  They are the same, but adjusted to different heights.  If I wanted, I could make them the same height and have one big surface, but for now, I love being able to cut and work without breaking my back.  The other side is just right for sewing.  The chairs and the stool are also from IKEA. The spinning caddy in the middle keeps everything I need while I am sewing right at my fingertips.

The bins underneath the cutting table are perfect for fabric scraps.  That’s another thing I need to organize better!

I think that’s the end of the tour.  I find it incredible easy to work in this space and love having everything within reach.  What are your tips for taming the craft clutter?