Craft Corner Dreams

When we moved into our bungalow six years ago, I had always planned on transforming this sad, sad little spot in our basement into a functioning Craft Corner.

In the ensuing years, I’ve collected odds and ends – chairs, tables, small storage cabinets – with the idea of putting it together, slowly, bit by bit. And then finally, two summers ago I thought I was ready to put all my efforts into it. I began by painting over an old hand-me-down Ikea desktop from grad school (oh the blood, sweat and – mainly – tears that desk has seen!) and then had hubby add table legs to it. I then cleaned up an old vintage table that used to be my childhood dining room table in the hopes of making it my ‘new’ crafting surface. I was on a mission: sleeves rolled up, bits of paint on my old yoga pants, crouched on the basement floor, pulling things apart, putting them back together…I was determined!

And then…I got distracted.

Well, maybe not distracted as much as uncertain – uncertain about how to organize and style an unfinished corner in our basement. Did I want shelving units or wall-mounted shelves? Where should my easel and paint supplies go? Where should I place my ‘new’ vintage table given space restrictions? Do I want plastic, cardboard or basket storage containers? What about all my yarns!? And perhaps the biggest question on my mind:  can an unfinished corner of the basement stay unfinished and yet become a stylish and cozy space to create?

And when uncertainty creeps in, I have a lot of moments of “oh look, flying cats!” to distract me 😉

But just last month, after bending – and bending – my husband’s ear, we came up with a visual concept and layout that I can wrap my head around:  light and bright, a bit vintage, and lots and LOTS of storage!

And while there are still a few lingering questions about how to make an unfinished space stylish, I am up to the challenge!

So now that I’ve come this  far (it’s only taken 6 years 😉 ), I am eager to move even further towards achieving a functioning craft corner. And as with any big project around the house, my husband and I will be working together to get the job done (God help us 😉 !)

So as we move forward on my little craft corner, I promise to post progress pictures along the way. With a general concept in place and plenty of internet inspirations before me, I am now more excited than ever 🙂

In scouring the web for inspirational photos, I’ve seen plenty of lovely craft room ideas – many of which are large, spacious and beautiful. Yet none have captured my attention as much as the smaller craft spaces. I don’t know if it’s the ‘cute as a button’ feel they exude or if it’s the creative use of a small space that appeals to me, but these spaces are inspiring! They make me see the possibilities that can be achieved in the smallest of rooms, including my little craft corner of the basement.

So here they are, my top 10 Small Craft Rooms that have inspired me and, I hope, will do the same for you:

1.  Cheerful Pops of Colour

 Source:  The Crafted Life

2.  Pretty Pastels

Source:  Decor8

3.  Light & Airy

Source:  LBG Studio

4.  Fresh & Eclectic

Source:  Fjeldborg

5.  Cool & Vintage

Source:  Eclectically Vintage

6.  Rustic Charm

Source:  The House That Kat and Fred Built

7.  Vintage Dream

 

Source:  Apartment Therapy

8.  Sweet Sewing Corner (with a yarn storage cabinet!)

Source:  Kotbury

9.  Bold in Black & Gold

Source:  Design Sponge

10.  Back to Basics: Black & White

Source:  Fabric Paper Glue

Not all of us can have an entire room dedicated to crafting, so why not carve out a craft corner somewhere in your home, whether it is your bedroom, your office or, like me, somewhere in your basement?

Happy crafting 🙂