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Post by Linda on Nov 7, 2020 7:11:43 GMT
I currently scrap in a corner of the family room - I have a six foot folding table with 3 Recollections cubes on top of it and a couple of 3 drawer plastic drawers on top of them. I have a small bookcase to one side with my Epic 6, dies in QK folders, and idea books/folders - on top is a small drawer unit with random embellishments. Underneath I have a drawer unit for stamps/inks, envelopes/cards, and tools/adhesive and I have a file box with folders (mostly stamps and die cuts by theme). If all goes well and our house purchase goes smoothly, we'll be moving house late this year. In the new house, I'll have a craft space (it'll need to house sewing/scrapbooking and my computer for genealogy plus albums and family memorabila) but it'll be ALL mine! It's a rectangular room at the front corner of the ground floor -two windows (west facing) on one long wall, one window (north facing) on a short wall, one long wall with nothing on it, and the last short wall is an arched opening to the entry way. I think it was intended as a formal living room but there's a family room with a fireplace we'll use as the living room. So - it's open and visible as you enter the house so I need it to look reasonable. I'm open to ideas - my budget is not unlimited but I am hoping to buy a BHG 5x5 cube unit (I already have 2 white 4x2 BHG cube units and I know they fit my albums). My folding table is white, my sewing desk is a standard wooden desk with 5 drawers and isn't much to look at (the veneer has damage) but works perfectly for sewing and I have a computer desk that is espresso coloured. There are a couple of other desks I might be able to trade out for the computer desk- one of which is white with a hutch, the other is a dark wood) but I would need to negotiate with DH on that. I'm considering building (probably not immediately) a cutting table - basically taking the cheaper cube units (that don't fit the albums) and putting them together with a cutting mat on top that I can use to store fabric. Probably similar to this thegeekyseamstress.com/2014/08/20/diy-cutting-table/Ideas on how to pull everything together to look presentable without spending a ton of money. Painting isn't in the plan - it's a neutral creamy white with a light beige carpet. |
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Deleted
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Nov 18, 2024 14:35:47 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2020 9:26:02 GMT
Have you searched Pinterest? There are lots of ideas there. Have fun with your new room!
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Post by mikklynn on Nov 7, 2020 12:06:06 GMT
How exciting! I would work with what I have for a while first. I think then you'd have a better idea what you need - more shelving or more table top space, etc.
Spray paint works wonders, if you want all your accessories to match, like small storage pieces.
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Post by Neisey on Nov 7, 2020 13:25:33 GMT
Good luck with the move!
I know you said it is an arched doorway to the entry...maybe you could use a tension rod to hang a nice curtain?
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Post by mom on Nov 7, 2020 14:10:00 GMT
I am a huge fan of reusing furniture/items from other things and repurposing them. Painting mismatched furniture all the same color will unify things.
Can you attempt to fix the chipped veneer? Its easy and pretty cheap.
Im excited to hear what all you end up doing. Remember things take time and it will get there!
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Post by hop2 on Nov 7, 2020 15:33:27 GMT
How exciting! I would work with what I have for a while first. I think then you'd have a better idea what you need - more shelving or more table top space, etc. Spray paint works wonders, if you want all your accessories to match, like small storage pieces. I agree. If you work in the space for a bit you’ll find yourself thinking things like I wish I had.... or why didn’t I ... If you give it a little bit you can assess what your needs will be. Also, as well as looking around Pinterest & YouTube look at your preferences when you craft because someone else’s fantastic set up isn’t going to help if you aren’t comfortable crafting that way. Do you sit or stand If you stand do you stand in one place or ‘wander’ a little. Do you want to face toward the window or adjacent to the window or back to the window. For me, I prefer to sit while I craft. I want everything right there within arms reach. I don’t want to get up and go elsewhere to get something. My laptop desk is a standing desk and I don’t like it so next craft area that will change ( good thing it’s an adjustable desk ) For me, sitting with my desk to the window wastes either the window or limits how much storage space i can stack on my desk. I prefer adjacent to a window lol so I can stack my stuff up about 18” so it’s all reachable. But I do like to be able to look out the window if I hear something. Good luck with your new craft room! I hope you post pictures I love to see craft rooms and see a crafters excitement about it! ETA, I probably wouldn’t mind my sewing table at the window I do not like anything on my sewing table because it can get caught up in the fabric |
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clio
Full Member
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Dec 3, 2017 13:07:05 GMT
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Post by clio on Nov 7, 2020 17:04:55 GMT
I do fiber, book binding, mixed media & cards. We moved in early July and I have a studio space for the first time in a bedroom. Big pieces that came with us - a book case, work table with adjustable legs & some old elfa. Smaller pieces - Raskog carts & 2 6-drawer Iris carts. My sewing table is collapsible so it’s out when I need it, my machines are in a closet.
My plan was to slowly furnish with IKEA so we installed 3 large sets of shiny steel shelving from a big box home place as a temporary fix at a reasonable price. My supplies are in clear/toned boxes with labels. I can see everything (and find it 😉) but it doesn’t look like chaos. The surprise was that I’m so happy with the shelving I’m going to keep it. Still need to tweak the paper pad storage, but the space is working. Decided to just order a long Alexa IKEA desk and a second bookcase.
Consider outside the box options and be open to short term solutions while you get acclimated to your new space. I’ve been more productive in the last 3 months than ever imagined.
Good luck with the move & have fun in your new space!
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Post by joblackford on Nov 7, 2020 19:06:02 GMT
Oh wow, how exciting! I hope it all works out smoothly.
That space sounds wonderful. A whole room to yourself for all your craftiness. What a dream. And it'll be one of the first things you see when you come in the house? That's some pressure but potentially also a delight!
I personally agree with folks who said to live with it for a little while before planning anything too big, but a little forward planning won't hurt. I would assume those west facing windows will give you some strong sun and heat later in the day, so depending on when you craft that might be an issue, and you'll probably want to account for that in your storage plan too, if the sun will come beating in. Hopefully you can set your main desk in a spot where you have good light, and keep your computer where you won't have glare issues.
If you can face a direction with good light, maybe a nice view, and also not have your back to the entrance that would be ideal. But that might be a challenge.
I'm excited for you! I don't know anything about furniture, especially not buying new furniture, but it sounds like you have the bones of a good plan.
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joyfulnana
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by joyfulnana on Nov 7, 2020 20:34:28 GMT
no advice, my scrap space is transient and moves from room to room as I try to find something I like lol. But that's so exciting for you! Fingers crossed it all goes well! I thought about heat when I you said West windows, so that will be something to think about. I agree that scrapping in the new space will give you a better idea of what you actually want there. I would love to have a whole room to be planning!
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msliz
Drama Llama
The Procrastinator
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Jun 26, 2014 21:32:34 GMT
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Post by msliz on Nov 7, 2020 20:52:25 GMT
How exciting! I have no advice for you but wanted to share in your happiness  |
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anniebeth24
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by anniebeth24 on Nov 7, 2020 23:15:52 GMT
My scrap space is DD's former bedroom. Her two dressers have very shallow drawers, perfect for a bunch of the 12x12 iris boxes, so it's easy to keep things accessible but looking neat.
While your space isn't a bedroom, perhaps you could look for a used chest of drawers or an armoire piece that looks more like traditional furniture moreso than office furniture. Could be painted to match the desk.
Have fun planning.
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Post by refugeepea on Nov 7, 2020 23:51:47 GMT
I have a six foot folding table with 3 Recollections cubes on top of it and a couple of 3 drawer plastic drawers on top of them. I have one too with bed risers below each leg. That way you can scrap standing up or use a bar stool instead. Then there's more storage space below. |
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Post by 950nancy on Nov 8, 2020 0:32:28 GMT
My scrap room has black furniture. It looks more like office furniture than a craft room. I have two ladder shelves on either side of a comfy leather chair. These shelves can hold albums. (I have three more in the house that house my albums. They also hold a Silhouette, long flat baskets and 12 x 12 papers.
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Post by mom on Nov 8, 2020 2:14:58 GMT
I was working in my space earlier and thought about you. One of my storage pieces is a dresser that belonged too my daughter when she was alive. It has 4 drawers and I use it to store inks, card making supplies, and stuff like that. So when you see in my space, it just looks like a wood dresser but it holds a ton for me. When I moved my scrap space upstairs, I had this dresser I wasn't using and would never get rid of. So I put it to work for me. My point is, think outside the box and you may have or be able to find things you already have or find inexpensively on FB marketplace to reuse.
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Post by hop2 on Nov 8, 2020 12:43:35 GMT
I’ll second an armoire especially if it’s one of those with shelves inside the closet part. Very handy but you can close it and poof it’s neat.
I also suggest as you start looking at pieces you look at ‘office armoire’ that will also give you many varied option with close ability
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Post by grammadee on Nov 8, 2020 16:08:04 GMT
How exciting, Linda! What a great problem to have! Took me 30 years in this house to get a coordinated useful set of craft storage space, and I keep this room in such a state of disorder that I have to close the door to the living room if anybody comes to the house  . Using the cubes sounds like a great idea, both for albums and for the base of your cutting table. What colour is the wood trim in the house? Can you coordinate spray paint with that and tone everything to match? If you are worried about chips on the front of it, can you put your sewing desk facing a wall beside the entrance so it is not the first thing people see when coming through the door? That's what I did with an old scratched teacher desk with a hutch on top for years. |
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GiantsFan
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Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Nov 8, 2020 16:08:33 GMT
Yay! I love having my own space. I just wanted to reiterate what others have said. Try to use what you already have around the house and think outside the box.
In my space have the "espresso" color IKEA furniture, I found a cheap wooden desk in a very similar color but I prefer to stand when crafting. So I bought a set of 6" bed risers and since I'm on the shorter side it works perfectly for me. And when I sit to color, I use an extra bar stool that we already had.
My bedroom has too many doors and windows and the armoire didn't fit, so I use it in my craft room. It's not quite the right color but I have a 1x5 shelving unit in front and when you walk in you see the dark shelving unit.
Just a thought, can you get or make one of those folding room divider screens and put it your room in front of the arched door-way? That would block any one from seeing a mess on your desk.
One thing to remember is you can always change it up until you find what works for you.
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Post by Basket1lady on Nov 10, 2020 11:34:28 GMT
I’ve had my studio space in either the formal living room or dining room for the past 10 years. I love it because it’s close to everyone. I don’t feel like I have to carve out time to craft because I grab 15 minutes here and there throughout the day since it’s so close to the kitchen or kids doing homework (when they lived at home!) But you’re correct—it does need to be kept tidy, at least more so than if you were in a spare bedroom or the basement. One thing that I find helpful is to use a counter height table and storage underneath the table. The storage doesn’t take up any space in the room and I can sit or stand when crafting. I went with the old Jetmaxx storage cubes that Michael’s sells now under the Recollections brand. They are modular and fit 2 high under the table, for a total of 16 under a 6’ square table. I also have a 5 x 5 IKEA cube storage unit and use a lot of baskets to keep things hidden but accessible. This is a photo of my old studio space in our formal dining room. The wall on the right is windows and there are two bookcases in the left corner that you can’t quite see where I stored paper, books, stamp supplies, and some other odds and ends. The room was 10 x 10, so it was fairly small. I did have my sewing machine and fabric in another space in the basement, but I brought back a ton of fabric when we lived in Seoul! You can find entertainment center armoires on FB Marketplace or Craigslist for very cheap. As in $50 or so. They would hold a lot and with the doors to hide everything, that could be a good solution. Also, a $5 paint pen can fix a lot of scratches on furniture. |
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msliz
Drama Llama
The Procrastinator
Posts: 6,419
Jun 26, 2014 21:32:34 GMT
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Post by msliz on Nov 10, 2020 13:25:48 GMT
I'm so sorry, mom. I didn't know you had lost a daughter. |
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clio
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Dec 3, 2017 13:07:05 GMT
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Post by clio on Nov 10, 2020 16:25:10 GMT
One thing I forgot...we have hardwood floors & I prefer to work standing up. Ordered a Wellness floor mat the length of the desk that’s coming. It’s very cushy and was worth the investment. Never underestimate the importance of happy feet. 😉
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