20 Tips to Keep Your Craft Space Looking its Best
There’s nothing like disorganisation to put you off your favourite craft, so keep that clutter at bay with these 20 easy tips
Laura Gaskill
5 January 2016
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance checklist. My favorite pieces to write center around the emotional aspects of home and savoring life's simple pleasures. Get my bi-weekly email: https://www.lauragaskill.com/thesimplelist/
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance... More
Rows of paints, jars of coloured pencils, baskets of thread – be ready to whip up gifts or just relax with your favourite craft in an inspiring and well-organised space. Whether you have a corner, a cupboard or an entire room to devote to creative endeavours, keeping your tools and materials neat and within reach will make it easier to get started. Here are 20 ideas for sorting and storing fabric, paper and more.
Sort yarn by colour
Not only do your yarns look pretty this way, but grouping them by colour also makes it easier to select yarns for your next project. If you’re stacking your stash on shelves, use dividers to keep the piles from toppling. Choosing a storage unit with cubbyholes is another option.
Not only do your yarns look pretty this way, but grouping them by colour also makes it easier to select yarns for your next project. If you’re stacking your stash on shelves, use dividers to keep the piles from toppling. Choosing a storage unit with cubbyholes is another option.
Stand paper rolls in a basket
A tall wire basket or a repurposed umbrella stand or hamper keeps rolls of giftwrap and drawing paper neat. Prevent open rolls from unfurling with twine, twist-ties or elastic bands.
A tall wire basket or a repurposed umbrella stand or hamper keeps rolls of giftwrap and drawing paper neat. Prevent open rolls from unfurling with twine, twist-ties or elastic bands.
Place loose paper in clear drawers
Sort individual sheets of scrapbooking and drawing paper by colour and type in see-through drawers that stack. Another good choice is a paper organiser of the kind nursery and primary schools use to store construction paper. Whichever method you pick, the important thing to avoid is the too-high stack of mixed papers, which makes it impossible to find what you’re looking for.
Sort individual sheets of scrapbooking and drawing paper by colour and type in see-through drawers that stack. Another good choice is a paper organiser of the kind nursery and primary schools use to store construction paper. Whichever method you pick, the important thing to avoid is the too-high stack of mixed papers, which makes it impossible to find what you’re looking for.
Put small tools and supplies in clear bins with lids
You could simply label shoe boxes for this purpose, but being able to see what’s inside at a glance makes the hunt for little items much easier. Choose rectangular, clear-plastic containers with lids for stacking. Refine your organisation further by labeling the contents.
You could simply label shoe boxes for this purpose, but being able to see what’s inside at a glance makes the hunt for little items much easier. Choose rectangular, clear-plastic containers with lids for stacking. Refine your organisation further by labeling the contents.
Store large paper and canvases in a vertical organiser or art portfolio
Oversized paper, poster board and canvases should be kept where they won’t be bent or otherwise damaged. If you only have a few large pieces, pick up an inexpensive paper art portfolio. If you have a bigger collection, you may want to invest in a large art organiser or other vertical storage.
Oversized paper, poster board and canvases should be kept where they won’t be bent or otherwise damaged. If you only have a few large pieces, pick up an inexpensive paper art portfolio. If you have a bigger collection, you may want to invest in a large art organiser or other vertical storage.
Stack fabric on shelves by colour
As with yarn, fabric is generally best sorted by hue. Keep your stash neatly folded and stacked on shelving. If you don’t work with your fabrics frequently, you may want to store them behind closed doors or in solid drawers, where they’re away from dust and light.
Keep works-in-progress in baskets or totes
Projects that are underway can be one of the most frustrating things to store in the craft area. Consider keeping yours in sturdy tote bags or baskets with handles so they can easily be moved from the storage area to your workspace and back again.
As with yarn, fabric is generally best sorted by hue. Keep your stash neatly folded and stacked on shelving. If you don’t work with your fabrics frequently, you may want to store them behind closed doors or in solid drawers, where they’re away from dust and light.
Keep works-in-progress in baskets or totes
Projects that are underway can be one of the most frustrating things to store in the craft area. Consider keeping yours in sturdy tote bags or baskets with handles so they can easily be moved from the storage area to your workspace and back again.
Stash fabric in wire drawers
If stacking fabrics on open shelves sounds a little too fussy, think about picking up a set of stacking wire drawers to store your stash instead. They make it easy to see the colours and patterns of your lovely fabrics, but allow for more leeway when it comes to neatness.
If stacking fabrics on open shelves sounds a little too fussy, think about picking up a set of stacking wire drawers to store your stash instead. They make it easy to see the colours and patterns of your lovely fabrics, but allow for more leeway when it comes to neatness.
Hang fabric in the wardrobe
Have a smidgen of extra space in your wardrobe? Clothes hangers make ideal organisers for fabric – to maximise space, use the type designed to hold multiple articles of clothing. Just stick with sturdier fabrics for hanging; lay delicate materials flat in a drawer or on shelves.
Have a smidgen of extra space in your wardrobe? Clothes hangers make ideal organisers for fabric – to maximise space, use the type designed to hold multiple articles of clothing. Just stick with sturdier fabrics for hanging; lay delicate materials flat in a drawer or on shelves.
Arrange spools on a thread rack
It’s not always worth it to purchase uni-tasking storage items, but a thread rack really is the best way to keep spools organised and untangled. The racks have been made pretty much the same way for more than a century, so it’s relatively easy to find vintage wooden versions at markets and antiques fairs. Or scoop up a new model at a craft store or online.
It’s not always worth it to purchase uni-tasking storage items, but a thread rack really is the best way to keep spools organised and untangled. The racks have been made pretty much the same way for more than a century, so it’s relatively easy to find vintage wooden versions at markets and antiques fairs. Or scoop up a new model at a craft store or online.
Hang tools on a pegboard
Pegs and hooks are perfect for keeping tools and supplies such as scissors, embroidery hoops and spools within reach. Add function with baskets and clipboards.
Check out creative ways with hooks and hangers
Pegs and hooks are perfect for keeping tools and supplies such as scissors, embroidery hoops and spools within reach. Add function with baskets and clipboards.
Check out creative ways with hooks and hangers
Attach scissors to a magnetic rail
A magnetic knife rail isn’t just for the kitchen – mount one above your craft table to keep scissors handy. It also holds magnetic spice containers filled with tiny items such as seed beads or glitter.
A magnetic knife rail isn’t just for the kitchen – mount one above your craft table to keep scissors handy. It also holds magnetic spice containers filled with tiny items such as seed beads or glitter.
Organise small items in lidded glass jars
Spice jars, jam jars, apothecary jars and Mason jars make excellent and budget-friendly containers for all manner of small crafting supplies, such as washi tape and buttons. Annoying-to-clean-up items, such as sequins and beads, should always go in lidded containers, since an accidental bump can send them flying far and wide.
Spice jars, jam jars, apothecary jars and Mason jars make excellent and budget-friendly containers for all manner of small crafting supplies, such as washi tape and buttons. Annoying-to-clean-up items, such as sequins and beads, should always go in lidded containers, since an accidental bump can send them flying far and wide.
Stick paintbrushes, knitting needles and pens in open containers
Long, slender items, such as paintbrushes, coloured pencils, markers and crochet hooks, stay tidy when plunked into simple glass jars or recycled tins. If you’re a painter, keep your brushes in separate containers sorted by their type: watercolour, acrylic, glue.
Check out 11 creative and affordable ways to update with paint
Long, slender items, such as paintbrushes, coloured pencils, markers and crochet hooks, stay tidy when plunked into simple glass jars or recycled tins. If you’re a painter, keep your brushes in separate containers sorted by their type: watercolour, acrylic, glue.
Check out 11 creative and affordable ways to update with paint
Employ handled baskets for frequently used materials
Open-top baskets with handles are easier to grab from a shelf and reach into than lidded bins, so make this your container of choice for frequently used materials. Seek out inexpensive baskets at markets and second-hand shops, and you won’t have to worry about a little spilled paint.
Open-top baskets with handles are easier to grab from a shelf and reach into than lidded bins, so make this your container of choice for frequently used materials. Seek out inexpensive baskets at markets and second-hand shops, and you won’t have to worry about a little spilled paint.
Repurpose a tiered cake stand as a portable caddy
Cake or treat stands with two or more tiers can make a handy spot to put supplies in frequent rotation. Keep it in the centre of your worktable and tuck it on a shelf or the floor when you need more room. Look for one with a raised lip on each tier to prevent your materials from falling off.
Cake or treat stands with two or more tiers can make a handy spot to put supplies in frequent rotation. Keep it in the centre of your worktable and tuck it on a shelf or the floor when you need more room. Look for one with a raised lip on each tier to prevent your materials from falling off.
Create a pop-up sewing corner
If you’re short on space, a folding table and ironing board can be stored in a nearby wardrobe, with the sewing machine and fabric stash on a small bookcase. Set up the table when you’re ready to sew, then fold it away when you need to use the space.
If you’re short on space, a folding table and ironing board can be stored in a nearby wardrobe, with the sewing machine and fabric stash on a small bookcase. Set up the table when you’re ready to sew, then fold it away when you need to use the space.
Put storage on wheels
Rolling cabinets can be pushed out of the way, stacked two-deep or wheeled into a cupboard when you need more room. Just pull them out for crafting time.
Rolling cabinets can be pushed out of the way, stacked two-deep or wheeled into a cupboard when you need more room. Just pull them out for crafting time.
Enable a desk or dining table to do double duty
Often the only work surface available for crafting is your desk or dining table. But getting your craft supplies out (and cleaned up again) can be a pain. To make it simpler, keep inexpensive plastic tablecloths or a big roll of butcher paper on hand to cover the surface, and put your most-used supplies in easy-to-grab containers that can go from workspace to storage in a few seconds.
Often the only work surface available for crafting is your desk or dining table. But getting your craft supplies out (and cleaned up again) can be a pain. To make it simpler, keep inexpensive plastic tablecloths or a big roll of butcher paper on hand to cover the surface, and put your most-used supplies in easy-to-grab containers that can go from workspace to storage in a few seconds.
List project to-dos on a blackboard wall
Take a cue from ultra-organised pros who must stay on top of multiple projects, and manage your holiday gift crafting with a blackboard list. The visual nature of a blackboard wall makes it ideal for keeping track of your gift ideas, shopping lists and to-dos all year round.
TELL US…
Are you a crafter? If so, are you devoted to one craft (such as knitting or sewing) or do you like to dabble? Share a photo of your favourite crafting spot in the Comments below.
Take a cue from ultra-organised pros who must stay on top of multiple projects, and manage your holiday gift crafting with a blackboard list. The visual nature of a blackboard wall makes it ideal for keeping track of your gift ideas, shopping lists and to-dos all year round.
TELL US…
Are you a crafter? If so, are you devoted to one craft (such as knitting or sewing) or do you like to dabble? Share a photo of your favourite crafting spot in the Comments below.
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"I can play around with different color combos for projects by placing different skeins together in their jars and living with it for a while to see if I still like the combo."
What a fabulous idea, naughtyknits! I am going to copy that immediately! So glad you shared that.
I can't imagine sorting yarn by color. I went to a yarn store once that had theirs displayed that way and it was completely useless for finding what I wanted. Mine is sorted by weight (and other categories, such as WIPs, UFOs, assigned yarn with patterns, etc.) in large plastic see-through bins, sealed against moths and dog hair (no matter how much I wash and brush her, my German shepherd produces so much loose hair that she has dog hair on her dog hair).
When my youngest moved out, I decided to turn her room into my knitting/spinning room-- resurrected some old Ikea shelving, bought bins to hold all my yarn, reassigned a bookcase for my fiber books, put my needles in a pretty vase, organized all my spinning fiber and fleeces in the closet. (I refuse to post a picture and expose the size of my stash.) It was wonderful to have it all in one place. I left the bed in there for use as a guest room. Then my daughter moved back in... *sigh* I had to clear the closet and can no longer spread out work on the desk and have overflowed to the rest of the house again. But she does have to share the room with my yarn.
I make cards and I have found small tool storage from Bunnings ideal for small items as the drawers can be pulled out. Paper in drawers. Recipe holders are great for holding a book or magazine with a design I'm using. It's a matter of using anything that works. I like the idea of a pegboard as my desk can get cluttered.