Well thought out craft room ideas come in handy for those who like to pursue their creative passions. Whether you’re a professional painter or a budding potter, having a dedicated space away from the hustle and bustle of your home, complete with all your hand tools, is the perfect way to keep things organized and get into the creative zone.
Whether you’re planning a crafting area as part of an existing home office or embarking on a brand new room design, these craft room ideas and practical tips will help inspire functional and stylish spaces.
Craft Room Ideas – 10 Beautiful Ideas to Inspire
The craft room idea is increasingly sought after as we seek to free up more time for mindfulness at home. Practicality is a top priority when designing a craft room or home office setup, but equally important is making the space an inspiring place.
“While my workspace is where things are made, it’s also a source of inspiration for me,” says Molly Mahon, woodblock printer and fabric designer. “Make sure your studio is a place you aspire to be, a special sanctuary just for you and your creativity,” she adds.
The key to organizing your craft room is to make sure you have a dedicated space for everything you need to store and do, so before investing in furniture and creating layouts, take an inventory of what you need and be clear about what your mission will be in space .
1. Turn your summer house into a craft space
(Image credit: Dan Duchas)
Away from the house, a garden room or her mind is the perfect creative space to escape the chaos and indulge in some conscious crafting. Offering full insulation, double glazing, wiring and plumbing, these self-contained spaces are ideal for killing time year-round.
When choosing craft room furniture, consider freestanding furniture as these will provide flexibility in your room layout. Opting for lightweight, portable items, like a folding table or storage trolley with casters, means the room can be easily reconfigured, which is handy if you’re working on a large project, or if your craft room doubles as a multipurpose space.
2. Consider lighting in the craft room
(Image credit: Anya Rice)
Adequate home office lighting is essential when doing detailed manual work, so be sure to position your desk or workbench near a window and consider adequate task lighting.
Charlie Bowles, director of lighting company Original BTC, explained: “Over-range floor lamps or clip lights can provide an instant solution, illuminating a target area for a specific task or activity.” (opens in new tab). “Easy to move, they can change your lighting scheme without any installation costs or the need for an electrician.”
3. Mixed closed and open storage
(Image credit: Molly Mahon)
Good home office storage is essential when organizing your home office and craft space to maximize every inch of space, consider installing custom open shelving floor mounts that can be installed around your building.Aside from being practical, the storage ideas and office wall décor you choose should also help create an inspiring work environment, explains fabric designer and woodblock printer Molly Mahon (opens in new tab).
“I love open shelving because I like having everything in my studio so I can easily find things. See my mugs for wood blocks and paint brushes, or the cute colored paint cans, I also feel happy and inspired.
However, there are some enclosed storage spaces that are handy for hiding clutter and sore eyes. If you want to brighten up your enclosed storage space in a fun way, why not give the door a fun paint idea? “Maybe have the item’s name drawn in there too — that keeps things organized and adds to the charm,” says Molly Mahon.
4. Choose a swivel chair
(Image credit: Vanessa Absnott)
Craft rooms are spaces where we may be sitting in front of our workstations for extended periods of time, so be sure to buy comfortable, ergonomic home office seating. Swivel chairs with adjustable seats are very convenient because they allow you to easily move around your workspace, plus they can be pushed out quickly to make room for larger projects.
For fabric designer Vanessa Arbutthnott (opens in new tab), “a very comfortable swivel chair” is a must in her craft room, but it also needs to be stylish. “I like to recycle vintage office chairs from online auctions, which I then reupholster with sturdy linen for durability,” she adds.
5. Create a Craft Corner
(Image credit: Future)
You don’t need a separate room to make it, if space is at a premium, try creating a creative space in a bedroom or even a shed. If you’re considering a bedroom layout with a desk, place it next to a window to ensure plenty of daylight.
For the perfect sewing craft room, a table or table placed at the right height and an adjustable chair are essential things. Provide enough storage space for fabric folded on the shelf and make sure there is enough height to accommodate large rolls of fabric. Vanessa Absnot added: “The fabric-covered box is also handy for storing leftovers and scraps used in crafting.”
Small everyday items like ribbons, pins, and buttons can easily get lost, so be sure to consider small desk storage for them. Small filing cabinets work great, or clear jam jars make things easy to see at a glance.
6. Hang an inspiration board
(Image credit: Future/Alun Callender)
No craft room is complete without a bulletin board to showcase what inspires ideas. “I love using my inspiration boards to rip off magazines, hand-printed wrapping paper, greeting cards, photos and rags — literally anything that catches my eye,” says Vanessa Arbuthnott.
There are a variety of designs to choose from, from craft room peg boards to wire designs to eye-catching padded fabric boards.
7. Consider your color scheme
(Image credit: Future)
When choosing home office paint color ideas for your craft room, consider how you want the space to feel. While creative spaces should be inspiring, just as importantly, they allow you to focus and not be overwhelmed.
Decorating in white is the perfect neutral base to experiment with color, and it will make small home offices and craft corners feel brighter, or a soft pastel will provide a hint of color and character without feeling too dominant.
Soft pinks like ‘Dorchester Pink’ and ‘Confetti’ provide warmth to the space while remaining light and airy. They’re not too serious and often make us feel uplifted and calm,” explains Ruth Mottershead, Creative Director of Little Greene.
8. Add Vintage Furniture
(Image credit: Brent Darby)
Vintage home desk ideas and cabinets with a period flair are a great way to bring personality into a creative space. With multiple drawers and compartments, this old glazed haberdashery unit is great for storing and organizing materials, while allowing you to easily see what you have and where.
9. Consider curtains
(Image credit: Hillarys Roller Blinds)
Choosing the right curtains can really elevate a craft room. While plenty of natural light is essential, sometimes the glare of the midday sun can make a work environment uncomfortable, so installing blinds to help control light levels is worthwhile.
Hannah Cooley, Product Manager at Hillarys, said: “When you get creative in your craft room, your curtains can get a little bit of wear and tear, so opting for roller blinds that are easy to clean is the most practical option.” (opens in new tab).
“Roller blinds are also very versatile and come in a variety of shades and textures, so they can be used as the finishing touch to turn your craft room into a space of colour, electricity and creative inspiration.”
10. Create a creative space under the stairs
(Image credit: Kasia Fiszer)
Knowing what to do with the space under the stairs can be challenging, as they are often small and awkwardly angled – why not make the most of them by adding a desk and transforming it into a lowercase corner? Opting for a desk with drawers will provide extra storage and ensure small craft spaces are illuminated by adjustable desk lamps.
What are the must-haves for the craft room?
Sturdy tables, adjustable chairs and plenty of versatile storage solutions are all craft room must-haves. Lighting is also key, and any craft space needs good natural light levels as well as layered task lighting.
Custom cabinets and shelves tailored to your space and combined with a variety of storage solutions designed to your needs are a great way to maximize storage space and keep your craft room organized.
“The biggest advantage of custom furniture is of course that it can fill the space and cope with any idiosyncrasies. If you put the wall higher, how much storage space you get, if you put it no more than it As deep as you need it, your room will still feel spacious.
A combination of open and closed is also often advantageous when designing storage. ‘Seamlessly integrated storage means unsightly cables, stationery and messy documents can be easily hidden away. While open shelving allows for some decorating style to display your favourite items,” adds Simon Czerniak.
Freestanding and lightweight furniture is recommended if you want a flexible layout, plus the units on casters are handy as they can easily be moved around the room if reconfiguration is required.
(Image credit: Future/Brent Darby)