We recently completed the “updating” of my sewing room and creative space. It was so clean the other day that I thought I’d snap a few pictures to share with you. I’m always looking for cute sewing room ideas and thought you guys might like to see how I keep my space organized.
After I took the photos I realized that I had 40+, which is way too many for one post, so I’ve decided to split the post into two parts, part one shared today and part two next week. (After part two is posted, I’ll come back here and link up so you can click between the two easily).
A little bit of background.
When we moved into our home we did not have a finished basement, we planned to finish the basement about 2-3 years after we moved in, which we did. Even though our home was plenty big for us, we didn’t have a dedicated family room/tv/craft space without the finished basement. We did have a bonus room above our garage (pictured above), and we used it as a multipurpose room when we moved in. I kept my sewing stuff in the back corner of the room and the front corner had the family tv and some of the kids toys.
When we finished the basement we planned for a small sewing space for me downstairs. I picked out the wall color the cabinets and the flooring. The basement took most of a summer to finish but turned out just as we wanted it and with much excitement I moved all of my stuff from the top floor of the house down to the basement (it’s 48 steps incase you were wondering).
I used that room the basement for several years and in that time decided to take my blog from a hobby to a business. When I did that, my “inventory” of stuff grew, along with my workload. I soon found craft and sewing supplies spilling out into the nearby family room and taking over our guest room. In the mean time the room that was once the multipurpose room was turned into a toy room. Fast forward a few years and the kids didn’t play with toys anymore (doesn’t that seem like it happens almost overnight?) and the room turned into a giant storage/junk room. It bothered me a lot. I used to have dreams that I forgot the room was there and someone would come over and walk in and I’d be horrified and say something like “how was I supposed to clean it, I didn’t even know it was here!”. Yeah, I’m coo coo like that.
My husband and I talked about turning it into my sewing room and a creative space for the entire family but there was not a window in the room and I didn’t know if I could take working in the dark. Plus there was the task of cleaning out all of the crap and painting the giant walls (they were dark brown to start).
After a year or so of the nightmares, and sewing stuff all over the house, we finally decided to bite the bullet and move my stuff upstairs. A few weekends and several trips to Goodwill later, and the room was ready for paint. My husband took on the task of painting the giant walls and is still mad about it. He says it’s the worst room he’s ever painted. Even with “good” paint it took almost 4 coats to cover all of the brown.
We then moved all my stuff back UPSTAIRS (do you see the insanity here?). Those same 48 steps, but this time all up, and with more heavy fabric and paper than before.
All of us (the kids included) got a really good work out that month.
After everything was moved in we started researching ideas for windows or skylights in the room. We went back and forth on the options. I kept thinking I didn’t mind the lack of natural light, then I’d pick navy fabric thinking it was black fabric, and get mad and want a window again. Finally last summer we had to hire a contractor to redo our basement after our sewage backup (a story for another day) and figured since we would be at the house working anyway, we might as well get a few other projects done.
After talking to him, we decided the least expensive and least intrusive way to handle adding light to the room was to add skylights. The night before they went in I was so excited I could hardly sleep! I sat and watched them cut the holes in the roof and delighted when all of the natural light started flooding in.
Which fast forwards me to today… the completed space. In an “ideal” world we would have taken out the carpet and put down laminate or hardwood, but the budget didn’t’ allow for that, and now I’d have to move all the stuff back out AGAIN to change the flooring.
I’ll walk you through the room a bit.
The biggest reason I wanted to move to a larger space was so that I could have friends come over and sew or craft with me. Being a blogger can be a pretty lonely job at times, and I was starting to feel like I was spending all day in my basement with just the dog.
My kids and husband are also artsy and I wanted them to have a space to come and work on whatever they wanted. I also wanted them to have a seat to sit in if they just wanted to come and “hang” out with me when I was working.
To accomplish this, in the center of the room are two large plastic folding tables that are covered with oilcloth. It’s the perfect space for me to spread out if I need too, and the kids can come and use it for homework or whatever. At the end of the tables is a small sofa, we’ve had it for years, I just go a new slip cover for it. It’s the perfect size for the kids to sit on and watch tv.
In the corner (you can’t see it here) there is also a small desk that my daughter keeps her sewing machine on.
On one side of the room I have sewing stuff, and the other is paper/crafting/scrapbookings tuff. I didn’t get a great photo of that part of the room but its in there.
In the center of the room opposite the tables there is a large entertainment cabinet that previously stored toys. I repainted it blue (Duck Egg Blue by Annie Sloan) and it now holds my ribbons and little “treasures”.
I have my fabric in Expedit bookcases by IKEA on the back wall. The fabric is sorted by color and folded using a quilt ruler so that it all the same width.
I only have 2 flat walls in the room (due to the vault) on one wall is the IKEA bookshelf and on the other wall is my design wall, which you can see a bit in this photo. I just have a flannel design board that I bought online hanging on the wall.
My sewing machine is on a table opposite my cutting table, with my ironing board close by. I love having all 3 close especially when I’m working on quilts.
I also have a serger and sit down long arm machine on another wall close by. My bolts of fabric are under this table. The room is large but the space is odd because of the sloped ceilings so there are really not any “walls” to speak of, so it can be challenging to find ways to organize everything.
Also near my sewing table, is a peg board. I bought it at Lowe’s an painted it pink. We mounted it with 1×1 boards and it’s the perfect spot to hang all of my rulers.
Next week I’ll share with you a bit more on how I keep things organized while I’m working, but would love to hear your suggestions in the mean time. What are you best tips for keeping an organized sewing or craft space?
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Your Husband and family deserve a medal, you are one lucky lady, your sewing space is fabulous
Your room is fabulous- well done! The first picture has a cart with pineapple bookends which looks very useful. Will you tell where you got it?
What a great space…I especially love the natural light you now have with the skylights. I’m not sure if I missed it, but what is the name of the wall color? It’s a nice white without being too stark.
Wow! I really need to clean out my room and re organize it!! I have been doing little projects, but I am due with baby #2 in 3 months and want the space completely cleaned up since I will probably not be sewing/crafting for a little while after this baby comes. Hardest part is that this is the first time we have bought a house, but being military I know come a couple years we will probably move again… I love this house, and the space. It’s just hard to commit to something! Thanks for the inspiration. I think I know what I will be doing during “nap time” today. I can’t wait to see the rest!!!
Wow! This looks amazing! All of you working together really made this room come together. I am so glad you had your sewing stuff out of the basement before the sewage back-up too! What kind of long arm do you have? That has been on my list for a very long time!
Way to go on the painting, Jeff! I noticed that you were using Oilcloth on the tables. What are some good sources for that or laminated vinyl fabrics? Looking to make bibs that are just wipe off easy 🙂
Christie Kasteler
Thanks for sharing your space. We are planning to move my sewing space and seeing the way others do things is helpful.
What a fabulous new room you have! Enjoy!
This is a wonderful craft area. All that time and energy to create such a beautiful. I know it was a long process.
Wow you have got a dream room for yourself now. Just love it. It must be a pleasure working in there. Can’t wait to see more pics.w is you many many years if happy sewing!
Love it! My last house had my sewing space over a garage..and had 3 skylights. Loved the light streaming in, esp. in the MI winters. Same problem with walls, or rather lack thereof. I partially solved it by getting a cabinet at Goodwill, painting it, and placing it perpendicular to the wall. Behind it was a set of bookshelves that held some of my folded fabric. I used several Ikea 4-drawer metal storage units (no longer made) under my cutting/pressing board. Now I have the challenge of turning a basement into my sewing/quilting space.
AWESOME SPACE! I love everything about it and I hope you have many happy days of sewing & crafting in there. Good Luck!
Your space looks great!!!! The natural light made a huge difference! I love your place feels so welcoming!
Great job!
Nice! Wish I had that kind of space, but I may never come out of there! Lol. Enjoy!
I am glad I kept this email. The husband and I were talking about adding a room above the garage so I could have a sewing / scrapbook / craft room. One of my concerns was lighting. I will need to print out your photos for layout ideas.
So glad I could help!
Fabulous design for your designing pleasure!! I am jealous and applaud you on those amazing skylights!! Congrats!!!!
That is so beautiful!!!!
I have sloped ceilings too, no flat walls to speak of one I had closets built between door to nowhere (crazy), and the other is stair wall. I love how you arranged room.
I am appreciating the pictures of your sewing room. As a sewer I love seeing how other sewing rooms work or are arranged.
I have had some back problems and I am using a broken office chair. I noticed your chair on wheels by your sewing machine. After using my Kola machine cabinet and cutting cabinet I have been wanting a nice chair and I do know Kola has beautiful chairs but I do not want all the padding. Can yyou please tell me the name of your chair and manufacture? Thank you!! Jan
The chair doesn’t have any labels on the bottom.. I did see one last week at my local Home Goods, do you have one in your area?
Really wonderful photos
Discovered your blog a few days ago through Pinterest, and then found this post today. I LOVE how you have organised your room. I also love looking at other people’s craft rooms and one day when I get my own craft room I want it to look like this. You are so lucky.
I love how much space you have. My craft room is in a small spare bedroom. My husband put up a huge pegboard (4 x 8 feet) on one wall above my sewing table. It’s awesome!! I’d love to send you a picture. I love your idea for folding your fabric the same size. I’m going to try it.
I feel as if I have had a personal trip around your lovely sewing/crafting area. I love it! I will never have anything as spacious and organized as yours, but you have given me many ideas and encouragement to start working at my small (bedroom) space. Thank you so much for sharing.
Just something I’m trying to get right…..What is the best way to set up sewing machine to get the best light? I have windows facing NE and 1 South. Somehow my presser foot still seems to always be dark. under the needle! Any recommendations? Thanks!