New craft room

[Crafty Amanda]

I'm so excited, I'm finally going to get my new craft room! The room is going to be framed next weekend and then the drywall hung and finished. So probably another 2 weeks before I can actually use it.

My brother is going to build me workbenches on 1 or 2 walls, 1 at standing height, the other at sitting height. I also want to have a tall cabinet, like an office supply cabinet on another wall. The room is 7x10, but after it's finished, I would guess more like 6.5x9.5.

There will also a strip of electrical outlets along the wall so that I can have everything plugged in without unplugging other things to use them. I plan to get either a jigsaw or a scroll saw and a drill.

I need some advice on shelving and storage. I have two garage type containers, those organizers with all the little drawers in them, and I have those filled with little woodsies, wiggle eyes, etc, etc. All of my other craft supplies are in Rubbermaid type containers for now.

Would love to hear from anyone that has an existing craft room:

How do you have it set up?
What works best?
What wouldn't you do if you redesigned?
Where are your shelves, work surfaces, etc?

Any advice is GREATLY appreciated!

I have my own sewing room which I love. We took out the hanging rod in the closet and installed shelves top to bottom. I have a countertop (with two outlets) along one wall with my sewing machine (in it's cabinet) beside it. The ironing board is next to the sewing machine. I definitely recommend buying an adjustable office chair. And make sure your work surface is at the right height. An inch too high or too low makes a big difference.

I have the plastic drawers on wheels sold in the office-supply stores. I love them! Make sure the drawers come out completely; then it's easier to find what you're looking for.

Good luck! I'm sure you'll love it.

[justGina]

I would recommend those vinyl (I think)-coated wire racks and shelves like you see in pantries. I think you can get the stuff for them at home improvement centers. Then you can put up those track thingies and adjust 'em and switch 'em around at your whim.

They look good, too.

Here are some examples: http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS...00013260&DRC=4

[kimmyo]

While I'm not fortunate enough to have an actual craft room I do have a ton of craft supplies stored in my shed. Here are just a few things that have worked well for me:

1) Peg board on a wall....you would be amazed at the possibilities

2) Wooden dowels are great for storing rolls of ribbon on

3) Clear plastic storage boxes stacked and labeled of course

4) Small filing cabinet for craft booklets and magazines

5) Cleaning supply totes work great for keeping your paints and brushes together and you can move it from work surface to work surface

I'm excited for you and your new craft room! I can hardly wait to come over and craft with you!

[bettdev]

I bought a house a few months ago, and now I too have a craft room. FINALLY! (although we call it the computer room.)
I bought a huge cabinet (from a thrift shop), the top part has 3 shelves behind doors, and 4 open shelves below. All my fabric is folded, and stacked on the shelves inside the cabinet.(and out of sight!)
Next, I went to Dollar General, and purchased 3drawer desktop chests. These have 3 sliding drawers per unit, and stack on top of each other. After adjusting the shelf, 8 of these fit on the bottom shelf perfectly. The next shelf up has 4 of the larger sliding drawer units on it. The top shelf has all my project 3-ring binders, supply catalogs, and idea books together where i can find them. All of the drawers have clear fronts, so I can see what I have, and WHERE IT IS!...this has ALWAYS been my downfall,....never being able to find what I needed/wanted to use!
My next mission is to set up a permanent place for my sewing machine. As of now, I have to use a card table when I want to sew....am looking (Again) at thrift stores, to find the perfect big desk. this way I can also have my jewelry board sit on the slide-out keyboard drawer, and access it without moving everything.
All of my ideas have come from years of trial and error when it comes to storing my sewing and craft items. I figure the new storage items will pay for themselves, just by allowing me to find what i need, instead of going and BUYING MORE!
Good Luck! Bett

[ggaylec]

I have a shelf in my craft closet (not big enough to call a room 5X8) that was put in for my craft books and magazines. when you look at the shelves they just look like regular shelves but they are angled slightly downward toward the back wall. This keeps the books from sliding out. It really seems to help.

[Scooby]

for my craft books and magazines. when you look at the shelves they just look like regular shelves but they are angled slightly downward toward the back wall. This keeps the books from sliding out. It really seems to help.

What a great idea!!!!!!

[Craftylady]

I am so glad that you are getting a craft room. I myself have a craft room but very small work area. I use a lot of the storage totes that are clear they are great for storing and label all totes. I also use those plastic shelves for storing things on. I use magazine racks to store all my magazines and smaller paper style books in. I also buy notebooks and magazine olders to store my regular subscription magazines that and mark the outside with the name and year.With the 2 in binders I can put one year in them. I have a regular craft table that has a built in plug on it so when I am hot glueing or needing other types of items for electric it s handy for me. I have 2 roll carts with drawwer in them. If you like to paint I would recomend getting a wire rack to store your paints in.
Have fun and be creative.
Craftylady

[losflores]

We are closing on our new house this coming Tuesday and do I have alot of cool ideas for my Craft/Guest room! I have so many things planned that I KNOW it is not going to all fit on this page! Yup...this is the look Humberto gave me when I started yammerin about my plans, but he is a good sport and he WILL jump in a do alot of it...after all, HE is the carpenter!
The main thing I would suggest before you finish the wall where you are setting up your sewing area is to install some Spice Racks...the cheap ones work...in between the studs of the wall for thread and such to sit in...you can also put in tubes of fabric paint too. I am going to have to cut into my wall to do this and I am going to Finish the outside portion with wood frames from the Dollar Store to dress it up. You can paint the frames however you like or leave them as they are!
Another thing I am going to do is to build a shelf just above the door frame and have the shelf run around the entire room...this will be a good place for my plastic containers that I need with my supplies and binders with my books...and yet they are not going to be in my work space. My room is 12x12, but remember, this will aslo have 2 murchy beds for guests too, so that takes a little room out of my walls.
The things I use alot will be stored UNDER my main work table which will be cabinets (from the salvage yard). The top of this work table will be set up to lift and attatch to the wall so as not to hinder the space I need when I have to let down the "Murphy Bed" when we have guests.
In the closet there will be shelves from floor to ceiling with a space between them that will have 3 small clothes bars...I hang all of my larger pieces of material and this is a good place for them. If you have a Wal Mart close to you, you can go in and ask them for their throwaway pants hangers and I am sure that they will be more than happy to do this for you.
This place is going to take me a bit of time, but if you want to e-mail me, I will be happy to give you more of my ideas...Michele
E-mail= losflores2001@hotmail.com

[Craftylady]

I also have a rack on the back of my door that has shelves on it and it works great for storing glues, varnishes and spray paint. That way you can keep some of the more harmful stuff out of childrens reach. I also have many other little things on there to. I use the little drawer containers than men use for nails and what nots for my beads and wiggle eyes. I sure hope this will help any one who might use this helpful info.
Have fun,
Craftylady