Arranging your craft workspace at home
Any serious crafter knows how important it is to have a well-arranged workspace. Everything should be organised and within easy reach, otherwise precious time can be lost in searching for misplaced items. The right amount of space is also important. Those who are lucky enough can commandeer a spare room to host their production work, but others may have to content themselves with a small area in the dining room or lounge. Think of how the home is presently laid out, and it will soon become clear where there might be a space that’s not in frequent use.
Where to work
Having decided on the workspace available, crafters will need the right surface to operate from. Those involved in sewing or painting will need a fairly large working surface, and dining tables are often the best option. They offer plenty of room to set up equipment such as a sewing machine. Place a protective cover over the table to protect it from working materials and utensils, particularly items like scissors or craft knives.
However, dining tables are not the best option if they also need to be used for dining! Moving everything several times each day can be time consuming, and will quickly get a little tiresome. Wherever possible, a dedicated craft space such as a spare room is the ideal answer. If the craft space is fairly small, then space saving items such as a fold-down table and collapsible chairs could be the best solution.
A comfortable chair is a must. Serious crafters can spend hours each day perfecting their chosen art, so it makes sense to have a good quality chair that provides maximum comfort. The room should be warm, and natural light is a priority since artificial light is not adequate for some crafts.
Organising the space
Those who are using a spare room might be able to make use of the furniture already there. A chest of drawers or a wardrobe offer plenty of storage space for craft paraphernalia. Under-bed storage is often a good option for bulkier items. Those making use of a lounge or dining room as a craft workspace should ensure there is a sideboard or cupboard that is given over to craft items only, so everything can be put away.
Those who use small items for crafts such as scrapbooking or making cards will appreciate a storage unit with small drawers, so that supplies can be organised into separate categories. Clear plastic drawers allow the user to see what is in each one without spending precious time searching.
Those who knit might find baskets useful for storing yarn, and folders with clear wallets are ideal for keeping patterns clean and accessible. Shelves fitted to a wall can also be great storage solutions, particularly in small spaces.
At the end of every day it is important to tidy up as much as possible, so that at the start of the next day the crafter can happily begin work without facing a mess.
Of course I don’t always get round to the tidying bit.
