With the revival in recent years of crafting as a hobby, having a dedicated space within the home where both adults and children can enjoy pursuing various crafts is a great idea. This will ensure that other areas of the home are free from the all the paraphernalia involved in different crafts and become something of a bolthole for those who are enthusiastic about their hobby.
Which room?
Not everyone is lucky enough to have a room to set aside for a hobby but there are ways of creating this extra space if needed. A summerhouse in the garden that is properly insulated can be used for crafting all year round, or a box room can easily be converted into a studio. If the room is to be used for more than one person then a spare bedroom is the obvious choice for a crafter’s room.
Once the room has been chosen it is necessary to think about some of the essential facilities that it is going to need. If the craft makes use of electrical equipment, such as sewing machines, are there adequate power points? Is there enough natural light getting into the room? All of these points are important and if the space available does not meet the criteria then it is a good idea to think about alternatives. Can the room be rearranged so that the power sockets are more conveniently placed? Can lamps that simulate daylight be used in addition to the existing natural light?
Furnishing a craft room
One of the main points for a craft room is adequate storage. Adequate cupboard space is essential and a drawer unit is a good idea, particularly if the room is being used for more than one craft. Everything can be organised and kept separately until needed. It also ensures that at the end of the day everything can be tidied away properly and found easily again the next day.
A large workspace is also going to be needed, particularly if more than one person is using the room. Dining tables are a good choice for a workspace as they can seat several people and offer plenty of space to work on, no matter what the craft choice. They also tend to be fairly easy to clean but can be protected with waterproof cloth if needed.
Craft essentials
There are many different options depending upon the type of craft that is chosen. Children’s crafts will inevitably include items such as paints and various different types of paper, but added to this can be crafting scissors (child-friendly of course!), decorative paper punches, paper glue and stamps. For children, opt for the long rolls of plain paper as they last for a long time and are not expensive to buy.
Other craft essentials might include lamps to help out when natural daylight is not enough, a sewing machine, fabrics and yarns. Ensure that everything that might be needed is to hand as there is nothing worse than getting halfway through a project and discovering that it cannot be finished!
