During the past year or so, as we’ve all lived through a challenging global pandemic and related stay-at-home orders and other restrictions, many of us have taken up new hobbies or returned to old ones. Cooking became a huge passion for many during 2020, as did at-home fitness, reading, and crafting.
If the latter is a topic you’ve grown to love more than ever, you might be keen to develop your skills by setting up a devoted craft room at home. If so, here are some tips for doing so.
Add a Sink
Something many people don’t think of at first that’s incredibly helpful is a sink. Having a tap right there can save you considerable time and energy. In particular, painters notice a difference when they add a sink to their craft room or studio, as they can clean brushes and wipe surfaces down right away.
If you want to spend some time making pottery or collaging, among other things, you’ll likely need to use water often, too. Speak with a plumber to see if there’s a way to put a sink in your designated craft room for ease of access, or consider choosing a hobby room that’s close to a bathroom or kitchen.
Ensure You Have Adequate Lighting
When you’re crafting, you’ll notice that the devil is in the detail in both the results you achieve and, often, your enjoyment levels. As such, ensure your craft room has adequate lighting so you can see what you’re doing. Many craft tasks involve looking at and working with intricate and often small pieces, which necessitates good vision. If your craft room is set up in your home’s basement, proper lighting is even more of an imperative.
Hopefully, the room you use has large windows letting in natural light or a skylight. If not, and for night-times, install halogen task lighting. Consider the style of ceiling fan as well. Make your room feel cozy by installing charming rustic ceiling fans. This mimics natural light and is kind to your eyes. Make sure you also have a mixture of overhead lighting installed on the ceiling of your craft room plus directed light, such as a floor and table lamp.
Consider Temperature
If you’re like many crafters, you probably find that any time spent on your hobby goes by in a flash, and hours pass in a blink. This flow state will be constantly interrupted, though, if you’re trying to work in a room that isn’t comfortable, temperature-wise. Consider how your craft room will feel during the hottest and coldest months of the year. You may need to install one large or multiple small ceiling fans to move hot air around or use one or more oscillating floor-standing or desk fans.
Plus, for heating, you might buy a radiant, gas, oil, or electric space heater or else utilize a wood-burning or gas fireplace. Another idea is to install reverse-cycle air conditioning to keep you at a comfortable temperature year-round.
Incorporate Storage
As every crafter knows, one of the issues that can stem from loving craft-based activities is that you build up an assortment of supplies and half-completed projects, all of which require significant room. The best craft zones have plenty of built-in storage and shelving to help keep all these materials organized and safe from damage.
To avoid a clutter problem, look for ways to add more storage options. For example, buy a freestanding wardrobe and drawers, install shelving on the walls, and use bins or plastic tubs for large items and shoeboxes and plastic drawers for smaller ones. It helps to buy transparent organizational tools so you can quickly and easily see what’s inside each container without having to move or open them. Plus, it’s helpful to purchase a label maker to categorize all your supplies.
Find Yourself a Large Desk
Another integral craft room component is a decent-sized desk. You need somewhere to work where you can spread out all your materials and books, tools, tech devices, etc., comfortably. Choose a table that’s sturdy and level. If it can fit under a window or other spot with natural light, that’s even better.
Set Up Different Zones
You might also like to divide your craft room into different zones for different tasks. For example, many people like designating one spot for their computer and other digital gadgets, another for messy work such as painting and pottery, and another for planning and idea generation.
You may want a specific gift-wrapping station, an area for photographic equipment, and a couch or comfy chair for reading. Set up your craft room in whichever way works for you and your needs.
A craft room might have been a dream of yours for years or something you’ve only started wishing for recently. Either way, your hopes can become a reality, even if you have a compact space to utilize. Follow the tips above to create a room that ticks all your boxes this year.