Craft Room Layout

Now that the craft room has been painted, it's time to get this room functioning again.  Currently, I have an old (and paint-stained) folding table that I have used for the last two years as my craft table.  However, I have been exploring potential craft room ideas and it seems like a new table may be in order.  I will need to address several problems with the current (and pretty much non-existent) layout: more storage space, more surface area, and separate areas for each craft function (paper, jewelry, etc).

The size of the room is only 10' by 10', which is tiny compared to the amount of creative projects that will (hopefully) be exploding out of the room once finished.  So, where does everything go?  After staring at a blank floorplan for some time, I think I finally have an answer:

Much of the layout comes from one of the craft room inspirations I mentioned in a previous post.  The rooms were so similarly shaped that this was a very easy way to go.

1.  The first (and most important!) item to address is a new craft desk.  I found several options (which I will include in separate post) which can fit in some way in the right corner of the room.  On this desk will fit my laptop and likely some type of small container for miscellaneous items that are pretty enough to be placed out in the open.

2.  Above the desk, I will be adding new overhead storage.  I have several options in mind for this section too, but one I really like is putting two or three picture ledges to hold just enough space to lay out all of my rubber stamp collection.  Below that, I think I can also incorporate a ribbon holder which will get them out of the dusty wooden box that I currently store them in.

photo: West Elm

photo:  countryliving.com

3.  To the left of the only window in the room, I will need to buy or build (gulp) a large storage unit.  The IKEA Expedit unit is a good example for open but organized space.  Because I expect this room to still be messy, I'm not ruling out the possibility of a unit with doors, but I really like how colorful and punchy this can look if the boxes and folders are color-coordinated to match the rest of the room.

4.  Depending on the design of the craft desk, I may or may not need an extra small table that will be stored in this corner when not in use.  The table would have rolling wheels to make it easy to roll into the center of the room.  This little guy will allow me to have 360-degree access for specific projects that otherwise would be difficult to do on the larger desk.  I don't anticipate sitting when using this table, so it will likely need to stand a bit taller than the desk.  A tiny pub table (modified with wheels, of course) could be the perfect thing.  Sounds like a Craigslist or Goodwill trip to me!

5.  I will also (of course) need seating.  Something cushy and comfortable is a must, but I am not sure if I'd rather it be a stool or regular chair.  Still exploring fabric options for what I could cover it with.  I could even go completely bonkers and add something funky, like an animal print ;)

6.  The current ceiling fan is as old as the house and wiggles as it spins.  Not good!  I would love to put something fun (and kinda quirky) in here, but I don't quite know which direction I'll go in yet.  A giant shade with some fun fabric could be neat, but would it look dated in a short time?

7.  Carpet doesn't make a lot of sense for enduring many messy projects, so I will be putting either hardwood or laminate flooring in this room.  But, I will still want to put a rug or something down in the middle of the floor for protecting it.  This one from IKEA is cheap (so no heartbreak when I spill paint or glue on it) but still feels beachy.

8.  Finally, I will need some pretty artwork to be inspired by.  This shell photograph from art.com picks up the wall color and other colors I think I'd like to add to the room.

Whaddya think?  Do zebras belong on a beach?  This is my very first attempt at a "mood" or "room" board, and so far I'm pretty pleased with the way it looks!

Craft Room Paintover

My lovely craft room is finally coming to fruition (perma-smile!).

If you recall from my inspiration post and my post about the junkyard that accumulated during my master bedroom paintover, this craft room's earlier days have already had some challenges.

This past weekend was my opportunity to change all of that.  After quickly reorganizing the mess to the closet and moving a few pieces to the guest bathroom (only for the time being), I happily began my first coat. As I predicted, this room with only one doorway, one closet, and one window was MUCH easier to tackle than the large master and living room.


Because I went with neutral walls for the two earlier painting projects, I really wanted a jolt of color to keep the creativity flowing. Even though it is only a pale color on the swatch, when applied to the wall, Valspar's Distant Valley (matched to Behr's Ultra Premium flat enamel - see this post to know why) really pops thanks to the sunlight filtering into the room through the corner window.  On the paint sample, the color is a muted, calming blue.  Once it hits the wall, it becomes more teal-y (ok, not a word, but you get it) and vibrant.  Thanks to the addition of bright white trim, the room is now F-R-E-S-H!  Take a look!

"About as creative as oatmeal" before:

A(hhhhhhhhh)fter:

It's always nice to have one more room in the house I actually want to spend more time in.  This is already becoming my favorite place in the house, and one I can't wait to start decorating.  Remaining items for this room will focus around function:  separate areas for jewelry-making materials, scrapbooking/paper projects, and [the great big pile of] other.  The window still needs blinds, which Scott and I can hopefully hang this week while his Dad is in town for a visit.  We finished this room just in time to move any items in the guest bedroom and bathroom back to where they need to go!  More updates are of course coming soon, including blind installation and our first adventure with custom furniture design.  Stay tuned, and let me know what you think of the color choice!