Asked on Dec 05, 2013
HELP! organize craft/sewing room on the cheap. Lots of necessaries!
by Sharon E
+8
I am trying to convert a bedroom into a closet/craft/sewing room. I have so many items that are needed and can't be gotten rid of. I do everything except soap carving to give you an idea of how many things there are to deal with. Lots of clothes, lots of shoes. Low, low budget.....help please!
7 answers
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Sort and purge as much as possible first and figure out what you have that really needs to be stored. Organize how the space will be used by setting up zones (this goes for what you store too) I keep tools in one area and products in another. It takes more space to maintain chaos than order. I use a design technique called bubble diagraming when I'm redoing spaces in my home. Each bubble is a zone (the type of use for that area/space). it's a great way to think through how the space will work and if it will work to have all that in one space. Usage zones help keep things in perspective too. (TIP: If you can't bear letting go of project challenge yourself to complete one a week...do the same with product you have never used.) Repurpose as much as possible! Food cans , jars and drinking cups can be used for holding pencils and brushes or even small hand tools. Break down things... I take ribbon of spools and rubber stamps off the wood blocks to save space. (old cd cases work great to store stamps in but not acrylic stamps as the plastics will bond and ruin the stamp) One time I used bright blue plastic drinking cups for my colored pencils and had then in front of a window. It was so bright and cheerful and is still one of my favorite storage options for them. If they are something that you need to move to and from your work table you can put the cans/cups/jars on a serving tray (or make your own from pallet wood) so the whole bunch can be easily moved to another location and back when needed. >>Shelves can be made out of pallets which can be had for free so if you have access to a saw you can make whatever shelves you need. Big box stores might have larger wooden pallets and also scrap lumber (at a deep discount). It never hurts to ask. >>>Two things to avoid...deep drawers and deep shelving. Things get buried underneath and behind other things in both of these. Book cases or other 12" deep shelving is probably going to work best for most storage you have need of. I've also begged containers off of friends when they have a tin of cookies or box that I like that they are probably going to toss. I think you'll find some great things just for the asking. Hope this helps.
![Patty Hicks]()
Patty Hicks
on Dec 05, 2013
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I have the answer trust me! Go to my posts and find the one about spare room closet. The piece you make for the center of the room can divide your space. One side will be shoes and clothes. The other craft room and workspace! Check out my photos and you'll see what I'm talking about and imagine your space.
![Debbie Harris]()
Debbie Harris
on Dec 05, 2013
- See 3 previous
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Without knowing exactly what you need to store I suggest you call a store that sells shoes off the rack. Ask when they'll get their next shipment in and if they'll save the empty shoe and boot boxes for you to pick up at the end of that day. These can be either be spray painted, covered in fabric or contact paper, then labeled and set on shelves.
![Z]()
Z
on Dec 05, 2013
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wish I could help but I have more junk and clutter to organize or step back from than I can handle myself and it's overwhelming me
![GeeJudy]()
GeeJudy
on Dec 06, 2013
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If you have a full room to convert to use for these two purposes, you potentially have a fair amount of space. I agree that sorting and purging is the first thing you need to accomplish. I recently turned a small closet and a 'sitting' area of our master bedroom into a craft/sewing space. I utilized shelves on the walls with popcorn buckets from the dollar store to put items in for storage. I used the closet and under the sewing table as my storage for bigger items, material, etc. I too have a wide variety of crafting supplies - stamps, card making, sewing, beading, etc. So.... it can be done. You probably do want to divide it somehow so you have a closet space then a craft/sewing space. Maybe large bookshelves that can double as a divider and as storoage for clothing or craft supplies in bins or basket.
![Liz]()
Liz
on Dec 06, 2013
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Liz already addressed some of the suggestions I had and more, I would start with an ikea catalogue also.
![Beatrice Tangeman]()
Beatrice Tangeman
on Sep 15, 2015
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First, think about exactly what you want from this room, and write it down. I like Debbie's idea of having a divider wall between the closet and craft areas. You could make it out of cheap RTA bookcases or cabinets and face one into the closet area for shoes, purses and folded clothes, and the rest facing into the crafts area for storage. Organize the crafts area by what you use for each craft, and of course you'll need a table to work on and lights. Once you have what you actually need, you can dispose of the rest to make more room.
![Darla]()
Darla
on Sep 15, 2015
Patty Hicks
on Dec 05, 2013
Debbie Harris
on Dec 05, 2013
Z
on Dec 05, 2013
GeeJudy
on Dec 06, 2013
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