Our family of 6 moved into our current 4-bedroom house back in 2002, and since then (as you can probably guess), those bedrooms have been changing hands like a game of musical chairs. But there’s one particular bedroom in our house that has served more purposes than any other room.
Over the years, the smallest bedroom has served as my daughter Britta’s bedroom, Kell and Sten’s shared bedroom, Sten’s bedroom, a home office, a guest bedroom, and then a slightly different home office. But today, with 3 of my little birds having left the nest, that bedroom now serves as a combination walk-in closet, studio, and workspace, AKA my own personal hobby space!
And hobby spaces are exactly what we’ll be talking about in today’s post. I’ll be sharing a simple step-by-step tutorial for creating your own hobby space at home, whether you need a place to craft, sew, exercise, woodwork, meditate, read, or any passion you need space to explore! :-)
(Already have a hobby space at home? Tell us about in the comments below!)
How To Create A Hobby Space In Your Home
Step 1 – Consider The Necessities
Start by considering what you need in order to work on your hobby (or hobbies, if you have several.) Does your hobby require a certain type of lighting, or do you need access to electrical outlets or a sink?
Answering these questions will help you zero in on promising locations for your hobby space. And try to keep an open mind during your search, because even if you don’t have a lot of space to spare, an empty corner, closet, or even stretch of hallway can be transformed into a functional hobby space!
(Tip: Don’t be afraid to assign multiple roles to the same space! A bedroom could also house a crafting corner, and your guest room can be used for extra storage when you aren’t hosting guests.)
Step 2 – Find A Seat
Once you’ve decided where your hobby space is going to go, the next thing you’ll need is a place to sit (or stand, if that’s your thing.) Be sure to find a table or desk that fits your space, and choose a chair that works for whatever you’ll be working on.
Be sure to pick a chair that’s suited to your specific hobby. Would your hobby be easier in a chair with wheels, or a chair without arms? These seemingly small factors can end up making a difference, so take your time thinking things through.
Step 3 – Think Storage
Once you have the basics in your hobby space, you’ll need somewhere to store your stuff! Some hobbies require a lot of tools and materials, while others are more streamlined. Keep your specific needs in mind while you consider what type of storage will work best in your space.
Here are some storage options worth considering. If they aren’t quite right for what you need, use them as a jumping off point to find the right fit:
- Pegboard – Pegboard is functional, makes good use of vertical space, and is highly versatile.
- Doors – An over-the-door organizer is an easy way to add storage to the back of any door!
- Dollar Store – Dollar stores are a great place to find inexpensive bins, boxes, and other organizers.
- Standalone Storage – For storage that doesn’t require permanent installation, look for standalone storage solutions like clothing racks, shelving units, etc.
- Specific Organizers – Search for storage solutions that are specific to your hobby, like “sewing organizer” or “nail polish organizer.”
Step 4 – Add Inspiration
Seating? Check. Storage? Check. Now all you need is a little inspiration! Bring wall art, instructional books, and decorative elements into your hobby space that will serve as a source of inspiration and remind you of what you’re working toward.
Step 5 – Get Started!
My final piece of advice (and quite possibly the most important!) is to start using your hobby space right away, even if it isn’t perfectly decorated or even fully functional. The more time you spend working in your hobby space, the faster you’ll realize what’s working, what isn’t, and what could use some fine-tuning.
Each of these things will be totally unique both your hobby and the space itself, so it’s unreasonable to expect yourself to have it all figured out from the start! Make small changes as you go, and before you know it, your hobby space will be exactly what you need it to be!
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What’s one piece of advice would you give to someone looking to create a hobby space in their home?
This has been a very helpful post for me. I’ve never been one to have a hobby, well at least beyond reading. I’ve started doing some decorative crafting for our home and am beginning to accumulate items that are pretty much all over the place! These tips are wonderful and will help me get organized and help me to feel as though I’m somewhat organized. My very favorite is Tip #5. Yes, you must work in the space to discover how to best set it up to suite your needs. Good advice. Thank you very much. P.S. Love your clothing/hanger set up!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for your kind words, Nancy. Good luck with getting organized. Just do a little at time and it won’t be too overwhelming. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Jillee, love these tips. But, I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many sweaters, except maybe in a dept. store!! :-) Well, at least if we all come to visit you at one time we can be kept warm, right? Hey, once I had to make my craft area in o corner of our living room, which was interesting…and creativity at it’s finest! First, I went to flea markets and garage sales and got lots of great containers, holders, and gadgets. But what really worked well was a couple of room dividers. I painted them as I wanted, each side could be customized and used for walls! On the side of the crafting area, I hooked on all sorts of flat baskets to hold lots of books, papers, and even tools of the trade. In the corner, I placed a big table, similar to the tables churches use in their fellowship hall and sat some shelves on one end. Though this was not totally private, it gave me a “hideaway, craft, hobby room” that I could call my own!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have dozens of quilting books. My husband hung 4 ft. long gutters to my craft room wall and I put them on the wall as horizonal as well as vertical storage and they’re decorational as well. Just make sure to allow enough space between each row! (I have 4 rows)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This was great! I have been wanting to start an at-home Snake Farm and this gave me some great ideas and advice! Thanks, again!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Erik, I am sure you are a really nice person, but, I am REALLY glad I’m not your neighbor!! Unless “snake” is a name for a squiggly sort of party favor that you make for parties! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I am very lucky to have a fantastic space for my crafting. The one piece of advice I would offer people who are just setting up a craft space is this. Organize your items from the beginning. I am a scrapbooker, rubber stamper, card maker. It is a lot easier to catalog each item you have as you purchase it than to try to organize it all at once. When I get a new stamp, die cut, or punch, I make a copy of the front of the stamp and place it in my 3 ring binder just for stamp sets. That way, I don’t accidentally buy duplicates, or if I am looking for a particular greeting or image, I just flip through my handy binder. I have a binder for die cuts as well. I pretty much have this organizing thing down to a science, haha.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m a glass artist and instructor so the best place for my studio is the garage. I’ve got 600 square feet dedicated to my craft. There’s still a large closet used to store household tools and paper goods like TP and paper towels.
But the most important thing with a crafting space, whether it’s a corner or an entire room, is that it’s respected by the other members of the house. I still have to remind family members not to use my space as a drop off point or catch-all if they pass through.
Another thing I find important: when I’m done for the day I take a few moments to clean up and put my tools and supplies away. That way I can immediately get started working the next time I’m there.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great ideas, Jillie! When we moved into our current home last September, I chose the smallest bedroom to be my reading room. All of my books are in there, my large desk is in there, as well as a tv, stereo, and all of my vinyl albums & cd’s. It’s a great space for me to play on my laptop, listen to music, to just be. My little dog likes to hang out in there with me too. My husband divided the other spare bedroom, and converted it into walk-in closets for each of us. Mine is not completely organized yet, but one step at a time.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Can you share where you found the teal chair and ottoman?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.https://www.homedepot.com/p/MODWAY-Empress-Upholstered-Armchair-in-Laguna-EEI-1013-LAG/305551758
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I don’t see the ottoman anymore, but here is the chair.
Thank you!!
Great ideas. I store some of my stuff like scrap booking supplies in an old dresser in the spare bedroom. My sisters used it when they lived at home. We don’t really have craft room at home. The clothes reminds me of my clothing storage . My bedroom isn’t small but the closet is small. So my dresses and Winter skirts are in a closet in the basement. My other stuff is in plastic storage boxes. I used to keep them in our garage – but couldn’t get them. So I now just have them under the spare bedroom bed. So much easier to get access to.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Good tips thanks Jillee. Love your colourful wardrobe but surprised your sweaters aren’t hung in the folded over style you’ve shown before to prevent stretching and hanger marks on the shoulders.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Beth, I hang my crew neck sweaters folded. However, it’s a little tricky to do it with cardigans, so I hang them. : -)
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