If I could guess, we all could probably use an organizational revamp for our craft corners, stations, and even rooms.
With the tangled strings and left over materials piling up, it can cause a pretty cluttered space. In 2011, Princeton conducted a study and even found that clutter can make it more difficult to focus on a particular task, therefore leaving many unfinished projects to add to the disorder. To help get you started in the right direction with your storage, I’ve compiled a quick how-to guide below!
Dedicate a location
First things first – find your area. Crafting can have the power to take up an excessive amount of space, if you let it. A great way to avoid this is setting limits on where you spread out your work. Setting aside a portion of your living space dedicated to be an area solely for your crafts is a great first step. This will allow them to be safely spread and suitably protected as well as provide an area to keep all extra materials and essential tools. Make sure this space is also functional for guests to help you create!
Bonus tip: When deciding where to locate, be sure to be cognizant of your spacial needs. If you have the room, there are many creative ways you can go about showcasing your work. A reliable way to display and store crafts is an empty bookcase!
Proper storage containers
Many crafters can be found guilty of throwing their supplies into one bin or even a universal plastic bag, just to be sorted out at a later date. This not only can cause damage to the materials and tools you are using, but it can also become quite a headache when you are starting a new project and can’t find the exact item you need. Investing in a multi-purpose storage container will relieve you from the unnecessary stress of trying to rifle through a million different types of glue or trying to find that one specific paint brush! Maintaining this organization will ultimately allow your future projects to run more smoothly and can even increase the lifetime of your tools!
Bonus tip: Invest in clear containers so you are able to see what bin you are grabbing without the added step of opening the top!
Label everything
Once you secure your proper storage containers, this step should follow pretty closely. Labeling your containers ultimately goes hand in hand with effective organization. Purchasing a label maker is an easy buy, and will provide value for years to come. Once your bins are labeled it’s important to continue to put the correct materials within them, this can make a world of a difference when you are letting those creative juices flow!
Bonus tip: Make a storage bin index. Coordinating with the labels you made, create typed lists of everything that is stored within each bin. Have this collection of lists stationed close by so you can officially lose the “where is that?!” panic!
With all this in mind, it’s important to enjoy this process as well- make the crafting area your own! Create a space that allows your creative side to shine, while also developing a proper place for storage. Comment below with your best storage advice!