Creating a craft room in unused loft space
November 15, 2012
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I am so excited about this space! I showed you my first craft space (in the unfinished basement) years ago here. Then my plan was to downsize quite a bit and I made my DIY craft table for the basement.
Well, the closer we got to finishing up the basement, the more we realized the space plan we had figured wasn’t going to work. I was trying to cram too much in there. So I did some switching around, and ended up with a brand new craft room in the process!
We are so lucky to have so much space in this house – in some ways too much for what we need. I wish we had more, say, in the family room and kitchen, and less in spaces like our loft. As the Bub has gotten older we’ve struggled to find a good use for it.
This was how it looked last time I showed it to you:
Check out those pinky walls! Ack!
It used to be the Bub’s playroom, but things slowly but surely got moved down to the basement. We still had a few toys upstairs in this dresser, and the big coffee table was his spot to work on Legos. And now that the basement is done, most of the toys are down there (and it’s awesome!), so we didn’t really need an additional space the kiddo stuff.
Soooo…we had too much in the basement, and not a real purpose for this room, so I thought, why not make it into my sewing/craft room? It’s light and bright -- perfect!
I took the craft table apart and we brought it upstairs (all three pieces were BEASTS!):
We had an extra sofa up there that I gave away to a friend and that cleared up a ton of space.
The table is AWESOME for storage – it holds a ton of stuff. I’m starting to move some of my fabric in there too, slowly but surely. The sewing machine will come up from the basement soon, but it’s in the storage room (where THEY have been hanging out), so I’m in there as little as possible lately. :/
The top of the table is our old laminate island countertop and it’s GREAT for crafting – stuff just wipes right off!:
The dresser that used to be filled with toys and games now holds a few more crafty things and my wrapping supplies:
I still need to organize everything better, but the IKEA Hemnes dresser (more about that here) holds a TON of stuff. Love it!
The wrapping paper just sits in a big glass jar:
My leftover wallpaper that I use for crafty stuff is rolled up in there too.
I was so thrilled to finally have everything set up, I worked on a little crafty somethin’ for the room:
I got the letters at Joann’s months ago (when this process started…I take awhile), and I mixed it up by getting different fonts/types. These were each $3 or $4, but I got them on sale – it seems like they are half off all the time.
I grabbed some cute blue and green scrapbook paper to cover the letters – you just spray the paper and letter with spray adhesive, then press it on:
Then use an X-acto knife to cut the paper off around the edges:
Afterwards you may have some rough edges – I just sand them down with a sanding block:
I wait till after the paper is on to paint the sides of the letters (if needed), because if I mess up or tear the paper I can just fill it in with the paint color.
I hung them up over the window (where the “Play” letters used to be):
I went back and forth on which way that “A” should go – I still don’t know if that’s the right way, but I like it. ;) The other direction looked wonky.
I have BIG plans for that window wall, as I’ve mentioned before:
My plan is to make it similar to the built ins downstairs, but this one WILL have a window seat. It’s begging for it! :)
Oh my goodness, I can’t wait! It’s going to be a little more difficult this time since the space on either side of the window isn’t equal. I think I have a plan of action now though.
But until then, it’s still an awesome, bright space with tons of storage – perfect for crafting!:
I can’t wait to get started on holiday crafts up here!
I love to see how this room has changed over the years! Here it is a few years ago:
I can’t believe how much I crammed into that space!
And after the paint job, moving the toys out and most of the furniture:
And yes, I still plan on doing the huge gallery wall on that big space above the molding. It’s been on my list…for a couple years. ;)
Do you have a spot where you sew/craft? (If you do sew/craft.) I’ve been lucky to always have an area in the house, but it’s funny how we usually end up at the kitchen table. I think now that we have this sunny spot set up we’ll use it much more than before!
Love the space so far, Sarah! You are so lucky to have such a big area for crafty fun. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a firm believer that every Mom needs a space to craft/sew/create/relax....whatever it may be that you need. I ADORE my craft space (you featured it on your blog, and can I just say thank you as I've never had so much traffic from a single post...made me feel all famous and stuff), and am just about to work in there on some crafting projects for a certain upcoming holiday =) Your new space will be perfect for you, and I love the idea of a built in window seat.
ReplyDeleteps we had a mouse issue in our past house. Those buggers are so darn cute, but not when they're in your house! We had an exterminator come and take care of business. One day, months later, my daughter was looking for a toy under the couch, and what should she pull out, but a mummified dead mouse. Ugh.
Love it! I spend a TON of time in my craft room because it always seems like I have a project in the works. :) Click here to see the work-in-progress that is my crafty space. :)
ReplyDeleteWe moved into our first real home (no more apartment!) in June and I was super excited to finally have my own craft/blog office! It's still a *major* work in progress, but I'm having fun making it my little space. :) I'm planning on doing a letters thing similar to yours. (Though maybe now, I shouldn't?) Very cute!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to watch that window seat come into being! It will be awesome!
ReplyDeleteLove it! It is really neat to see how the space has evolved. I love that spaces can change to fit the needs we have at the moment. It's cool to not just get stuck with "this is what the room is". Can't wait to see more!
ReplyDeleteI'm sort of kind of in the process of creating my craft area downstairs...I've got some cubbies for my yarn. I like the dresser idea, though -- I have a recently homeless dresser from my daughter's room. I may just take it to the basement and load it up with crafty things!
ReplyDeleteI love how this turned out! It's such a huge space, too! Lucky you! ;-) My hubby was sweet enough to give me a space in our home for crafting/office work. I love it and it feels so nice to have a space all to my self!
ReplyDeleteYou are so lucky. Even a "mom" whose kids are grown and gone needs a room of her own! I think I'll consider turning our guest room into my craft room! Love your blog!
ReplyDeletehow did you actually "hang the letters?" kristenbaiocchi@aol.com
ReplyDeleteI see a built-in in your future :)
ReplyDeleteI don't have kids, and I need/wish I could have a craft room like yours. It is my dream to have a room just for myself (sorry DH! hahaha). Your craft room looks great already! www.fabtwigs.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteI do have a room I craft in and it's funny you said that today. I just took all my crafts to make wreaths to the kitchen table today. Just something about the kitchen ;-)
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed Thanksgiving!
What a great space. We semi-finished our basement a little over a year ago, and I thought I would have this marvelous craft room...well, our two big dogs took over...yuck-dust, grass, dirt. So, now I am eyeing our old TV room upstairs that no one uses now that the girls are not here full-time (one graduated and is on her own, the younger a freshmen in college). I have that same jar, what a great way to use it!!
ReplyDeleteIt turned out great, I love your craft table! A few months ago a created a little crafting area just for me - in one of the closets. Love to have my own space!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful space! I'll eventually get a workspace set up somewhere, but currently use my dining room table to create and store supplies, etc. in guest room/office as my house is quite small.
ReplyDeleteLove the built-ins and window seat plan - how about board and batten all the way up over the windows to the ceiling? lol...I think I love BNB w-aaay too much!
Oh Sarah...I just want to first say that I can so sympathize about the mice!! I had my first experience with them a few months ago and I'm still recovering. I even posted about the trauma of seeing one for the first time...running through my dining room in the middle of the day!! I almost had a heart attack!! Here's a link to the post: http://inside-outdesign.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-mouse-in-my-house.html
ReplyDeleteMaybe laughing at my horrific event will help you feel better about yours. :)
And then on a totally different note- I love your new craft room!! It's such a great use of that space! I love seeing how the room has evolved over the years too; it's so fun!
AWESOME! I am SO jealous. I love that it's so light and bright to work in, what a dream. I love how you put alot of thought into how to make the spaces in your home work best and work hard for you and your family. Way to go!
ReplyDeleteI sort of have "half" a craft room - I have to share the room with hubby's office. I do have my own table and he has his desk, but my stuff in still in bins. I have an old dresser that I plan to refinish and store my fabrics and supplies in, but that's a project for after Christmas. The holidays are sneaking up on me fast, so I just have time for those crafts, nothing more!
ReplyDeleteGetting ready to do this very thing!!!! I am using and old door for a desk top and inserting it into the guest closet. The hole from where the knob was will be perfect for printer cord. Looking forward to spending time in there this winter!!!!
ReplyDeleteI am totally convinced that my husband needs to give up his workout room for me to create a craft room. I truly believe my crafting is more important than his daily exercise. LOL I am jealous. I would love a craft table like yours, never mind that awesome space. :)
ReplyDeleteLove it!!!
ReplyDeleteRight now, my craft room/sewing studio is down in our unfinished basement as well…. It will stay that way until we either move or do the addition to our upstairs :)
http://cometothemousehouse.blogspot.com/2012/02/basement-craft-room-details-and.html
Mice are bad but I think my visitors from several months ago may have been worse. We have heard chatter in the walls and attic above our apartment for the past two years but never had anything in the apartment until this year. We went to bed one night and right after we turned off the lights, a little brown bat came flying into the bedroom and started circling the room. I was able to get it to fly out the back door but we couldn't figure out how it got in. We decided the only way must have been our bathroom vent fan. It is really old and has large spaces. So after that we ran it 24/7 until the landlord could get someone out to check the attic. We figured it would be safe to turn off the fan for a few hours one afternoon but we were wrong. Another one or the same one got into the apartment and must have hid until it was dark and then I woke up at 5:45 am to find it flying at our bedroom windows. Totally freaked us out. Good luck getting rid of your intruders.
ReplyDeleteSarah, what a great craft space! I love it! Lots of light! Your letters turned out so cute!
ReplyDeleteOh that is just so beautiful. Love how clean and crisp it looks. I do have a spot in our bonus room but always end up in the kitchen!
ReplyDeleteI love it too when I see a room evolve, I posted something similar about my living room before... made me a little bit sentimental and sometimes to makes you think of a 'what-was-I-thinkin' moment. Liking how your room is evolving. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's so smart to take full advantage of your entire home. What a super place to craft! It's so open and the light is fantastic. I'm sure you'll be so inspired working there. Have fun!!
ReplyDeleteSo very jealous of your re-purposed and bright space! Looks amazing so far, can't wait for the built-ins. Currently making space in a large storage room below grade for my crafts. However, even though it's great to have an organized space, I like to interact with my kiddos while I "work." So I too end up at the dining room table. I consider it my daily exercise, running up and down the basement stairs for supplies!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! My sewing room is a closet, tucked away in a hallway. Yours is a much better plan...
ReplyDeleteI love your ideas and the work you have done this year is AWESOME!
Looks great! My cutting table is almost the same! I love the height so I don't have to stoop over, and the storage provided in the two bookcases on each end is awesome.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: Did you ever do the wall trim behind the blue dresser (board & batten)?? If so, did you do a post or tutorial about it? I just love it and have been wanting to add something like that in a few rooms of our house. Thanks! mkraich@bellsouth.net Also, sorry for the "anonymous" but that is the only way I could get my comment/question to go thru:)
I have a couple of empty rooms that I could make into a craft/sewing room, but I find that I like working on the dining room table where I can be around the family. So, all my stuff s organized in a huge closet upstairs, and I just take it out as necessary. I do plan on getting a sewing cabinet that fits in with the dining room, so I can hide my sewing machine in a permanent spot.
ReplyDeleteI have a scrapbook room in the basement. So glad to have my own space to create! Your redone loft looks awesome!
ReplyDeleteLove that table! As for the mice, after moving to a new house, one ran right across the top of my foot while I was brushing my teeth! I jumped straight up into the air onto the toilet seat :)
ReplyDeleteBuilt ins around that window would be perfect! Can't wait to see it. I LOVE your library built ins!!! You are so lucky to have a crafting area. I am working towards getting a spot for crafting. Living in an apartment makes it tight, so I'm planning on setting up a multipurpose area.
ReplyDeleteLove it! And I'm jealous. Much more of a photographer myself, but I am looking for that elusive spot in the house to make mine.
ReplyDeleteWe get the critters too sometimes. We leave the glue boards in the storage areas of our home.
Beautiful room. My only extra room is a playroom for my grandchildren for now. Love this room.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous room! You will surely create amazing things in a space like that. I am in the process of reassigning spaces in my too-large home to make it more usable. Too much space does not equal organization, at least not in my case. I have a workshop for woodworking, painting furniture, etc., and a sewing room. I don't really do crafts. But I might, if I had a room like yours!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great space for crafting! I just lost my craft room because we needed it for a nursery, so I'm jealous!! :)
ReplyDeleteAs I read this post tonight 11/17 I'm happy to say I moved the last of my things into my New Craft Room earlier today. It's been a slow painful progress it it's finally ready for me (& grand daughter) to start crafting and my very 1st quilt. My small empty room quickly filled up with storage bins and an old dresser is now full of various materials I've had stored in a large yard paper bag. I am so excited I can almost hardly wait to get started, after holiday as my son races Motocross so we'll be camping at a dirt bike track for 4 days. But that gives me time to curl up with my Kindle for a bit. Enjoy your new room!
ReplyDeleteLoved your blog.. I am a new blogger .. would love to have you stop by The Rusty Pearl.. I loved all your inspiration and ideas.. Happy Turkey Day !!!!!!!!!!.
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