This post is brought to you by Aimee Claire.
Scrapbooking and paper crafting require a crafting environment that combines organization and plenty of workspace. The amount and variety of materials and supplies needed for scrapbooking can quickly become overwhelming if the work environment is not taken in hand right from the beginning. The best way to do this is to have a dedicated paper craft room, complete with comfortable and functional furniture, a spacious work area, good quality lighting and plenty of shelving and storage for all those valuable supplies and equipment.
If you’re not sure where to start or need a little inspiration from top craft bloggers, check out our eBook, How to Organize Your Craft Room: 15 Room Tours and DIY Organization Ideas from Your Favorite Bloggers. Download your copy today – it’s free!
Decorating and Furnishing Your Paper Craft Room
When decorating a paper craft room, creating the maximum inspiration potential is the key. Employ calmer, more neutral background colors for the walls and floor, and tap into brighter, bolder colors for the accents. Hang inspirational pictures and clippings on the walls. You can create your own wall hangings and save money on home decor – simply use materials you have to create projects like Garden Inspired Wall Art.
Furnishing a paper craft room means choosing functional pieces with an eye towards design and comfort. Shelving is, of course, a necessity, whether that shelving is open, hidden behind cabinet doors, or a combination of open and closed space. Open shelving is especially accessible and attractive, particularly when bins and baskets are used for supply storage. Closed storage units are a good choice for paper craft rooms that pull double duty as guest rooms or if the crafting area is in a community room, such as a dining room. A Floral Mosaic Shelf is a pretty and practical option you can work on at home.
Another furniture piece that is a necessity for a paper craft room is a sturdy and spacious work surface. Whether that surface is an installed counter or some extended dining tables positioned at a 90-degree angle, the goal is to have plenty of workspace.
Lighting is also very important. A variety of lighting sources should be used, including overhead lighting, targeted lighting aimed at the work space, and work lamps that may be positioned and used as needed, then put away.
Tips for Organizing Your Craft Room
After designing the perfect paper craft room, keeping supplies and tools organized and easy to find becomes the new goal. Storage options may seem as if they would be limited, but actually there is a lot of room for individuality when choosing shelving and other storage pieces.
Open shelving with colorful fabric bins as the main storage system is one option. Various sizes and styles of baskets may also be used to hold supplies. Plastic storage units with multiple drawers are good for storing bits and pieces used when scrapbooking, as well as paper punches, scissors and other tools. Make storage and organization more fun by crafting your own boxes and jars. Fancy and Fabulous Storage Containers don’t take long to make but can add so much to a drab space.
Small pieces of paper, tiny buttons and other accouterments may be perfectly stored in the tiny jars and drawers of an old spice cabinet.
Modular storage systems, which feature drawers, shelves and bins in combination, are good flexible choices for scrapbooking rooms where the storage needs of the crafter constantly change. Modular units offer the option of altering the formation of storage options, as well as adding on to the unit to expand storage as needed. Other storage suggestions include: using vertical magazine boxes for storing papers; using canning or jelly jars to store ribbons and buttons, adding a decorative touch to the room as they hold important supplies; and using a pegboard for storage and display purposes.
Need a little help in the organization department? Check out our 5 Craft Room Storage Tips You Can Use – each idea is more practical than the next.
I think any sort of crafting needs a decent crafting space. I do many different types, everything from that time I taught myself to (sort of) crochet to painting, from felt-sewing to holiday gift making, and I think that the biggest reason I fail to complete some crafts is because everything is hidden in my closet. I have pretty storage bins that it’s all kept in, but they’re up on a shelf that requires major work to access. I’m going to use some of these tips for a space when creating my own “craft zone.”