How Do You Organize a Cluttered Craft Room?

Do you have a craft or hobby room at home where you can sew, paint, draw, execute paper crafts and/or kids crafts (if you have children)? If so, it’s important to keep this space clutter-free and tidy. “Why is this so important?” you may ask. According to Skillshare.com, getting organized can make you a more productive artist.

On a similar note, the Productivity Experts are adamant that an organized workspace can help you:

1. Save time
2. Eliminate stress
3. Become more creative
4. Locate anything and everything you need with ease
5. Meet personal deadlines or goals
6. Reduce clutter
7. If you sell any of your work, you could potentially make more money

If your creativity is being stifled by an untidy workspace, have no fear. We’ve provided a few tips and tricks to help you organize your cluttered craft room once and for all, thus, help you achieve your personal crafting goals.

Tip 1 – Schedule Time to Get Tidy

The key to getting your craft room organized and staying that way is making time to do so – which is easier said than done. You can approach decluttering your craft room in two ways: do it all in one day or break it into smaller increments, say 15 minutes, over the course of several days. Each method has its benefits, but provides flexibility depending on your schedule and how you prefer to work.

Expert Tip: Once you’ve organized your craft room, keep it that way by setting aside time every week for maintenance.

Tip 2 – Perform an Overview of the Space

This step will literally take you 10 minutes – and it’s worth it! An overview consists of a walk-through of your hobby room, which will help you answer the following:

• What’s the main cause of my clutter?
• Are there any small (or large) problem areas?
• Do I need more storage solutions to further sort items? Check out a full list of craft room storage solutions.
• Where do I keep my most frequently used materials? Am I storing my seldom used items properly? (How often something is used will determine your plan for accessibility.)

Expert Tip: As you’re doing your overview, make a list of everything you see that’s contributing to the clutter. Once you’re done with your list, take a “before” photo so you can compare the end result with where you started. Just don’t forget the “after” snapshot!

Tip 3 – What to Keep in Mind Once You Start Decluttering

• Establish an Efficient Crafting Hub – Also known as a worktable, it’s important to keep this desk/flat surface clutter-free because you need a blank slate where you can lay out your materials when you start a project. On the flip side, you need to be able to clear this space off when you’re done for the day, so it’s once again empty.
• Less is More – It can be difficult to throw away items from your craft room because you may have started a project you haven’t finished yet, or it’s possible you’re waiting to start a project. Ergo, use your best judgement, and ask yourself:

• • When was the last time I used this item? If the answer is more than 6 months ago, you may want to consider tossing or donating it, depending on its condition and cost.
  • Do I have a further need for this item? If the answer is yes, think about where you can store it.
  • If I do intend to use this item again, will it be sooner or later? Again, this determines accessibility.
• Determine Accessibility – We touched on this above, but how often you use an item will dictate where it’s stored.
  • Materials you use on a daily basis can be stored in a variety of ways, such as:
    • In bins or plastic containers in your craft room closet, or on shelves and/or cubbies in a wall unit.
    • Wall-mounted containers are ideal for holding pencils, pens, markers, paint brushes, scissors, tape and other small items that are used frequently.
      • If you have a desk, you can also use drawer dividers for these materials.
    • A multi-tiered, wheeled cart positioned next to your worktable or in your craft room closet not only provides you with mobility but keeps items within reach.
    • Large items, such as a sewing machine or a desk top easel, should be kept on your workspace counter or on a separate work surface that still leaves you with enough room to craft. This helps avoid damage (which has a higher chance of happening if they’re being moved), as well as saves time when prepping them.

The materials you use less often still need homes. You can still use bins or plastic containers, but this time, we strongly suggest lids and labels. The lids allow you to stack them in a closet or wall unit, and the labels let you know what’s inside of each, so you don’t have to go digging.

For many, crafting is a creative and healthy way to relax. However, if you’re attempting to craft in clutter, chances are your cortisol levels aren’t being lowered, but rather, they’re rising! That’s why it’s important to organize your craft room – if it’s not for the love of your art, do it out of consideration for yourself.

Interested in learning more about getting organized or The Closet Works’ installations? Request a free consultation with one of our professional Designers today.