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I’ve mentioned this fact about 25,000 times already, but I really cannot stand Spring and Summer. OK, I like being out and planting flowers and veggies, tending the garden and having a cheeky BBQ outside, but if I had to choose it’d be October throughout the year, crisp mornings and crunchy leaves aplenty.
That said, Spring does give you a chance to tidy up and organise things. I have a lot more energy during the colder months, but I do always have a gigantic clearout during June/July to sort through stuff and donate/bin things I no longer need. Also, I tend to find lots of unfinished projects during my cleaning blitzes which is also a bonus! So, in the spirit of this I decided to write an updated craft room organisation post to share some cool inspiration and ideas for curating a cosy, bright and inspiring craft space! I am blessed and very privileged to have a craft room but you do not need to have a dedicated space for these tips to work. No matter if your craft area is a tiny corner of a room, an airy studio or an office you share with your significant other (THE HORROR) there’ll be something helpful here for you, crafty friend.
Curate a fun gallery wall
Gallery walls are one of the most versatile and impactful ways to express your style at home. Whether you’re working with a large blank canvas or a cozy corner, the right mix of art and layout can turn any wall into a statement. I chose prints and illustrations that match the bright colourful vibe of my room, including artists I adore like Keith Haring and Yayoi Kusama, but there are also some personal illustrations featuring places I used to live and designs with statements that give me energy and inspo on a daily basis.
Unsure about how they’ll look? Before hammering any nails or getting the sticky tabs out, lay your pieces out on the floor or use painter’s tape on the wall to map it out. Common layouts include:
- Grid – Uniform sizes, symmetrical spacing.
- Salon style – Mixed sizes in an organic but balanced arrangement.
- Linear – Horizontal or vertical alignment with even spacing.
Pro tip: Keep 2″ to 3″ of space between frames for breathing room, or create clusters of smaller prints combined with one or two larger ones to add interest.
Create dedicated spaces for specific crafts
I’m not much of a sewist (I am NOT a sewist) but I do display my sewing machine with pride in the hope that one day I’ll learn how to use it! No matter how big your space is, or what your craft poison is, it’s satisfying to have specific areas for specific interests. It also helps keep things organised, something that most of us crafters need help with most of time – Am I right? In a compact setup, vertical and hidden storage is your best friend. The dresser under the machine in the image doubles as a sewing cabinet, helpful for storing fabrics, thread spools and patterns, or in my case, packaging materials and business cards. Some other ideas for dedicated spaces are:
- Yarn winding station – set up your yarn winder and swift together so everything is out when you need it and fancy a quick yarny whizz!
- Blocking area – Setting up your blocking board(s) in a sunny space means you can get your squares a-blocking quickly and keep everything handy.
- Project planning desk – Arrange your notebooks, sketches, swatches and whatnot together and ready so you can scoot over and get your ideas written down when inspiration hits.
Also, don’t forget that a clean work area helps you focus on the task and keeps your materials neat.
Pro tip: A minimalist setup helps you reset quickly between projects and reduces creative overwhelm.
SHOP: ALFA Next 10+ sewing machine.
Go for a rolly book nook
When space is limited but your book collection keeps growing (I feel you), it’s time to get creative. Enter: the humble utility cart! Originally designed for kitchens or craft supplies, these rolling wonders are now a favorite among interior lovers for everything from bar carts to mobile offices and yes, even book nooks. I love stuffing mine with my favourite books – especially if they’re aesthetically pleasing – and this rolling cart from IKEA helps me save space and looks pretty, too!
To make the most out of your rolling cart, try these techniques:
Instead of cramming books in randomly, think in layers:
Bottom shelf: Magazines, small books, tarot decks, or crochet guides
Top shelf: Tall books, art volumes, or daily reads
Middle shelf: Crafting, knitting, or hobby-specific titles
Whether you’re an avid reader, a maker, or a little bit of both, a utility cart can be the ideal solution for organizing your books and creative tools in a small footprint. It’s a movable feast of inspiration, and it looks fantastic doing it.
Splendid Tip: organise your books by genre to make it easy to find everything.
SHOP: IKEA RÅSKOG trolley.
Reuse, repurpose and add cute details
I was looking for a raised shelf thingy for the top of my shelves to add some extra space, so instead of buying something brand new I grabbed an old wooden unit, cleaned and repainted it and gained a fantastic storage area! It’s still pretty empty, but I’m enjoying adding adorable details like my favourite pen pots to give it character.
I always recommend looking around your home for items that can be reused before you take the plunge and trot off down to the shops and fill your basket with new stuff. Firstly, and without getting preachy, it’s better for the environment (and your pocket) and you can remove clutter and reuse something and secondly, it’s a lot of fun to make something out of nothing and add a special, unique touch to your space.
Awesome tip: keep things personal and meaningful instead of cramming your space with clutter (unless you’re a devoted maximalist, of course).
SHOP: Kawaii face silicon pen pot.
Make use of swatches
Us knitters and crocheters know that swatching is boring yet important, but sometimes you can be at a loss about how to use them once you’ve finished, right? Yes! So what can we do? Use them as decor! I really like pinning mine up on my grid board and admiring them alongside some fun granny squares to add a splash of colour and keep track of stitches, shapes and textures in a functional yet attractive way.
Tip: contrast colourful swatches with plain or neutral pegs/clips and vice versa.
Make your own kind of storage
Another money-saving tip is making your own storage baskets. Not only do these baskets look great, but as they’re made of textile they are stretchy and can store a heck of a lot of yarn – way more than standard storage boxes! To make your own crocheted basket, simply crochet a plain circle using your crap yarn held triple or quadruple, increasing evenly until it’s the size/circumference you want, crochet around the circle until it’s the height you want, add some handles and you’re good to go!
Super tip: use colours that match your decor and use scrap yarn or yarn you already own to reduce your stash and reduce waste.
Invest in display storage
Some people love open storage solutions, others think OMG! MOTHS! BUGS! DUST! but I am obsessed with it! It’s true that this kind of storage does open up your stash to the possibility of discolouration through sun exposure and extra dirt, but nobody can deny the beauty and inspo that comes from keeping your yarn out and visible. Plus, it’s so Instagrammable! If you’re up for some xtra cleaning and maintainence this might be the storage solution for you.
Amazing tip: use transparent boxes (like mine in the top shelf) to store your yarn inside the square shelves or grab some attractive metal storage crates – these are especially useful for storing hanks!
SHOP: IKEA Kallax cabinet, La Redoute wire baskets, Primark “I’m the Problem” cushion cover.
I hope these tips will help you curate the best space you can imagine! If you found themhelpful don’t forget to share and comment on this post.
Happy crafting!
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