Let's Get Organized: Week 35 - Tiny Studio Spaces

Finding a dedicated area for quilting can be challenging when the only space available might just be a laundry room.
But, with a little creativity and thinking outside of the box, you too can have an area dedicated to your passion.

LazySeamstress, who juggles a busy family that includes six children, takes time for her own creative projects in a sewing space in the corner of her Edwardian home bedroom. She shares these tips for others that might be in the same situation.

You don't need a huge sewing space, but if you have one, lucky you, there is lots of inspiration out there on the web, especially on Pinterest, to help you create that perfect space.
Look around your home, can you squeeze in a desk somewhere, an alcove in the dining room or your bedroom? Or even a cupboard? I've seen photos of sewing spaces fitted into old pantries and even large wardrobes, that way everything shuts away when not in use. I have used furniture designed for housing home office equipment very successfully in the past.
Ideally choose somewhere with good light, but also consider artificial light for duller days or evenings. A good angle poise lamp, possibly fitted with a daylight bulb, is essential.
Make sure your chair is comfortable and a good height to work at. You'll be spending lots of time at your machine, you need to be comfortable.
Can you fit shelving or pegboard above your machine to store essential tools and threads? I use an old printer's tray to store my threads above the larger desk I share with (my husband) Woody.
Think about fabric storage. Sometimes a blanket box will work well and double up as a window seat. I've often found under bed storage crates work well for fabric storage too. (They hold a surprising amount!)
If you can, having your iron and ironing board set up in the same room is best. But if there is no space then a table top ironing board is an adequate compromise, especially for smaller craft items and children's clothing.
A full length mirror is essential if you are making clothes for yourself. I'm sure most people reading own one. It doesn't have to be in the same room, but it is helpful if it is. I have a full length mirror in my en suite bathroom.

Finally, I know I've said here that I prefer to be away from the hub bub of family life when I work. I realize that for some people that is not an option. In which case, consider setting up your sewing space in a corner of your children's play room, if you are lucky enough to have one. Otherwise look for a space nearby, so you can work and interact with your children at the same time. For several years I sewed while Sid played quietly at my feet, Ernest though is a whole other kettle of fish, he doesn't do anything quietly ever!

Need some inspiration? Look at the variety of creative ideas we found for eeking out a sewing space where one might not expect it:

Hide your workspace behind a decorative fabric screen. Pinterest

Custom built sewing space in a bedroom closet that features wraparound
shelving, a sewing table, and pull out ironing surface. Houzz

Sewing space under the eaves in a master bedroom. LazySeamstress

Utilize a corner of a bedroom. Indigorchid

A bedroom wall serves as a divider for a well organized and functioning sewing room. Mayamade

Ikea's Norden gateleg table folds down to minimal size when not in use. Foter

Sewing room in a closet. TintheBurg

A well functioning sewing room under a staircase with only a 7' x 7' footprint. Velvetaubergine

A balcony enclosure sewing space. Pinterest

Turn an area of your living/dining room into your creative space. MyCreativeSpace

Take a free standing wardrobe and turn it into a sewing space.
Close the doors and no one is the wiser. BetterHomes&Gardens

A minimalist garden shed studio. Junkaholique

Utilize a laundry room space. Decoist

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Comments

#14 Jeanine 2018-04-11 20:05

All of these spaces are really appealing work spaces. I'm lucky enough that I have two bedrooms (one completely dedicated to my sewing and one that has my long arm) for my quilting. I need suggestions for how to control my buying of sewing machines, fabric, thread, gadgets, patterns, and books. I've managed to practically push myself out of my original sewing room (which actually started as a guest room with a small sewing machine cabinet in it.) My long arm shares space with everything that was left behind when the two kids moved out!) How do I get the kids to come back and get their stuff?

#13 Mary Williams 2018-04-09 20:20

My space was the one under the stairs. I am not sure if it measured any more than 5 x 5 with a sloped ceiling. Even still it was my happy place. Now I have a bedroom and hope to take out a wall between two bedrooms to make my space. Ahhh, luxury.

#12 Andrea Fleiner 2018-04-09 11:24

A couple years ago, I looked for pictures and ideas if you had your sewing space in your bed room. A master bed room is too big to only be used to sleep. Also, in my case, it has a great view into the garden and a big window. But when I looked I found nothing. Glad to see that I am not alone sewing in the bedroom.
In my case sewing in the bedroom has family tradition, both my mother and my mother-in-law have their sewing machines in their bedroom.

#11 Ellen Rittenhouse 2018-04-09 10:41

Over the last 50+ years I have gone from sewing table made from an old Singer sewing machine base to the kitchen table, to a corner of the dining room to other small spaces with little nearby storage. 20 years ago I had a sewing business in my husband's workshop until he built am my own space in another area. That spoiled me so now I'm redoing most of a 24' x 24' room into my sewing space. But in my mid 70's I need to make do by repurposing tables, shelving units, etc. into the space where I work and leave when it time to do other things. It is heaven to me right here on the farm.

#10 Ruth Oneil 2018-04-09 08:20

I live with my daughter and sew in my 9 x 11 bedroom. My sewing machine is in a cabinet designed to be a desk with the drop front that folds out and becomes the surface to hold the sewing machine. That surface also has a piece hinged to flip to the left as the surface to hold the fabric I'm sewing. I can close the whole thing at it looks like a regular desk hiding the machine. My bed is a trundle with my entire stash stored underneath.

#9 Quilth 2016-09-08 20:45

A friend of mine with small children used to set up her sewing machine inside an old wooden play pen in the children's playroom instead of the other way round. That way she could watch them while she sewed and the children had access to all their toys but not the needles and pins.

#8 Brendaintheboro 2016-09-08 14:59

loved seeing the variety of sewing machines - you don't need the newest or most advanced machine to sew and quilt

#7 kathie 2016-09-06 22:46

getting ready to move to who knows what kind of space but this inspires me that many things are possible so I need not worry. Space has to be made to be creative it is therapy for me.

#6 Neecee 2016-09-06 18:43

All of them them, as cute as they are, need more comfortable chairs. Roll around with no arms.

#5 Marlette0613 2016-09-05 18:19

Thanks for all those nifty ideas. Like 4RSWY, I'm in my seventies and have had a wide range of sewing areas over the years. I've only been quilting for 30 yrs but sewed my own clothes from age 10 and my family's after I married.
Now, with my converted bedroom to sewing room I'm piecing and sewing for grandkids. But, I move to the lower level (sounds better than basement since it's all finished)
to do my actual quilting on my longarm! I am blessed in so many ways!

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