A multi-purpose craft room is a dream for anyone who loves to create, but keeping it organized can quickly become a challenge. With so many random supplies, large and small, trying to manage the ‘clutter’ can be overwhelming. That’s why today I’m sharing 19 oddly specific organizing ideas for your multi-purpose craft room. How specific? These come straight from my craft room so you know they are real-life solutions to real-life challenges. My aim in showing you some of my organizing solutions is to help you fine-tune your craft storage and tackle those tricky supplies that have yet to be organized.
Ready to snoop around my creative space?
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BUT FIRST: A QUICK OVERVIEW OF MY CRAFT ROOM
Some of you already know THE ODYSSEY of designing, setting up, and organizing my craft room/studio space.
It is a large space DESIGNED TO SERVE 3 KEY FUNCTIONS:
1. General Purpose Crafting (weaving, wreath-making, painting, etc)
2. Craft Studio for Business (creative and storage space for my Etsy shop)
3. Office Nook (dual purpose for my Etsy business and my day job)
Because of its MULTI-FUNCTIONAL DESIGN, I’ve had to create organizing systems for a wide range of items, including craft supplies from spray paints to craft paper to paint brushes and paints to supplies for clay crafts, fiber arts, jewelry, wreath-making, felt crafts, weaving, macrame, and more.
And then there’s my Etsy shop supplies including samplers, tapestries in progress, finished pieces, and supplies ready for shipping including beginner weaving kits, art yarn, roving, and warp string.
And let’s not forget my dual-purpose office which has become the main hub of this area.
THAT’S A LOT OF ACTIVITY IN ONE ROOM.
If you need suggestions on designing your craft room, including large storage solutions such as shelving, tables, cubbies and bins, start here: Organizing My Craft Room/Office + Tour.
But in today’s post, we’re ZEROING IN ON MORE SPECIFIC ORGANIZING HACKS & IDEAS that I’ve implemented to keep my supplies, tools, and oddball items better organized and, hopefully, give you some inspiration for your own craft rooms.
19 ORGANIZING IDEAS FOR YOUR MULTI-PURPOSE CRAFT ROOM
Here are some of my personal favourite organizing ideas for your multi-purpose craft room – in no particular order.
1. Over-The-Door Organizer
Originally designed to organize shoes, this organizer – and others like it – are incredibly versatile. Organizers like these are often made of fabric or mesh pockets for easy access (side or top access) for any number of supplies.
These may include:
• Fabric bundles
• Felt Scraps
• Yarn and roving
• Markers and pens
• Scissors
• Tape, glue, Mod Podge
• Craft tools
Of course, over-the-door organizers are useful for a whole variety of household organizing solutions, including cleaning supplies, toys, hair care products, first aid items, accessories like hats or scarves, and a whole lot more.
NOTE: Not all door organizers will allow you to shut your door as it will depend on the space available between the top of your door and the door frame. Keep that in mind as you explore options online.
2. Velcro Tape Strips
Velcro tape strips are an incredibly versatile storage solution. Just cut them at any point along the roll and bundle any supplies or materials you have. I purchased a couple of rolls so I could identify and separate some of my dowels, below.
These Velcro strips (and others like them) are an incredibly versatile organizing supply that you can use for just about anything. This includes BUNDLING ITEMS LIKE:
• Cables and wires
• Fabric rolls
• Tools
• Paint brushes
You can also USE THEM TO LABEL BINS by attaching a piece of Velcro to storage bins or boxes and swapping out labels as needed; or use Velcro to SECURE OR MOUNT THINGS like small bins.
Using Velcro strips can maximize space, keep things tidy, and make everything easier to access when you’re in the middle of a project. It’s a handy little organizing supply for the multi-purpose craft room.
3. Under Shelf Baskets
Under shelf baskets are a type of organizer that hang or attach underneath a shelf, providing additional storage space without taking up any extra surface area. These storage solutions are a great way to MAXIMIZE VERTICAL STORAGE by taking advantage of gaps below a shelf.
I’ve used them here to MAXIMIZE MY YARN STORAGE and I’ve done the same to organize my linen closet.
My only beef with the ones I purchased is that they slide around more than I’d like. I would have preferred something that gripped the shelf a bit more. That said, they do the trick and keep my yarn storage well-organized.
SOME KEY BENEFITS OF UNDER SHELF BASKETS:
Space-saving
You can free up your main shelves for larger items and still keep smaller items accessible.
Easy access
Things stored in under-shelf baskets are usually easy to grab, and the baskets can often be taken out completely if needed.
Versatile
They come in different sizes and materials, and they can be used in almost any room to organize things like craft supplies, office supplies, kitchen gadgets, or toiletries.
In a multi-purpose craft room – like yours and mine – you could use them to store fabrics, ribbon, sketch pads, small canvases, scrapbooks, tools, and so much more. Mine were a good solution for me, but there are so many other types, colours, and sizes to choose from.
4 . Shelf Dividers
If you have supplies on LONG SHELVES WITH ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE SUB-DIVIDED OR DISENTANGLED, then these shelf dividers (or others like them) may help.
I recently purchased mine to further divide and disentangle my personal yarn stash.
Shelf dividers are a great way to organize long shelves that store any number of items like:
• Yarn and fibers
• Fabric and felt
• Paper and stencils
• Quilt blocks
• Adhesives like tape, glue or Mod Podge
• Finished products like quilts or sewing projects
These and other shelf dividers also have a wide variety of USES AT HOME that can help organize your CLOTHING, SHOES, PET SUPPLIES, TOYS, BATHROOM TOWELS & TOILETRIES, and a whole lot more.
Unlike my under shelf baskets, these shelf dividers GRIP THE SHELF WELL and do not slide around – a really good, functional purchase.
5. Wide-Mouth Jars & Bottles, Large and Small
I used to go to a local coffee shop every morning that also made fresh-squeezed juice. The bottles the juice came in were the perfect grab-and-go size. One day, I realized they were also the perfect size for storing small supplies and notions in my craft space.
The same goes for any larger wide-mouth jars. And whether you repurpose your used ones or purchase them online, they are a useful way to store a wide range of items, including:
• Buttons, Beads, or Small Embellishments
• Glitter or Small Paint Tubes
• Thread Spools of Yarn Scraps
• Embroidery Floss or Thread
• Ribbons or Twine
• Jewelry making notions and supplies
• Pins, safety pins
• Pens, pencils, markers
WIDE-MOUTH BOTTLES AND JARS ARE AMONG MY FAVOURITE ORGANIZING SOLUTIONS FOR THE MULTI-PURPOSE CRAFT ROOM.
They make organizing small craft tools and supplies simple and convenient. You can ALSO LABEL EACH ONE for quick identification. It’s as simple as washing a used juice bottle or jar or even picking some empty ones at the grocery store, dollar store, and even on Amazon.
6. Miniature Jars (for Teeny-Tiny Items)
Storing and accessing teeny-tiny items (without spilling them – been there!), can be challenging. Things like T-pines, paper clips, tacks, even beads, notions, and glitter can be tidied up easily in extra-small jars.
I purchased a couple of sets from the dollar store a few years ago. I particularly like ones with a NARROW NECK so that I can SHAKE A SMALL PORTION OUT without spilling everything.
But there are so many options online or at your local craft store; it’s just a matter of finding the right ones for you.
Their compact size makes them ideal for storing tiny items that need to be kept neat and visible like:
• Sequins, glitter
• Beads, buttons
• Jewelry findings
• Tiny embellishments
• Needles and pins
• Tiny craft accessories like tiny ribbons, fabric-covered buttons, or embellishing flowers
• Magnets or small fasteners
7. Tiered Canvas & Frame Storage Cart
As someone who loves to make and collect wall art of all sorts, storing my collection of canvases and frames had become somewhat of challenge over the years. Until recently, I had been stacking them in random areas around my craft room – and it was driving me crazy!
This tiered canvas storage cart (I have two) was the PERFECT solution for me.
In one fell swoop, these corralled nearly all my small and mid-sized canvases and frames in one spot. Storing and accessing them has become so much easier now.
The main benefits in having a tiered art cart:
Vertical storage
This will maximize your vertical storage space.
Easy access
Instead of being piled on top of each other, you can easily grab any one of the frames or canvases without disturbing the others.
Mobile
You can tuck the cart out of the way and slide it out as needed.
There are a variety of other options online, including LARGE STORAGE CARTS for those who need quick access to their oversized canvases.
8. Dollar Store Dish Rack
As with my small- to mid-size frames, I had a small collection of miniature frames that were stacked and not easy to access. So I decided to REPURPOSE A DOLLAR STORE DISH RACK into a storage solution TO TIDY MY SMALL FRAMES.
Whether you use a dish rack or even a vertical desktop file organizer, these rigid storage solutions are great for organizing supplies like:
• Picture frames
• Wood art panels
• Art canvases
• Foam board
• Small plywood
• Small acrylic or plexiglass sheets
Dish racks (and vertical desktop file organizers) are a staple at local dollar stores, but you can also find different styles online from plastic ones to metal ones, bamboo and wood options as well.
9. Thrift Store Baskets
In 10 Weaving Tips for Faster, Easier Frame Loom Weaving, I discussed my love of thrift store baskets as temporary storage for projects in progress.
I especially like WIDE-MOUTH BASKETS so I can see all the skeins of yarn and supplies I’ve tossed in there.
These baskets are a great way of corralling items together and moving to any work surface around my craft studio or home.
BASKETS WITH HANDLES are also handy as they make moving from one creative space to another that much easier.
Whether you choose a basket with or without a handle, both are functional, affordable, and pretty pieces that make the creative process all the more enjoyable.
10. Small Fruit Baskets
If you visit pop-up fruit and vegetable stands during the summer, you’ll often find yourself bringing home small plastic baskets. These are the PERFECT SOLUTION FOR SMALL STORAGE CHALLENGES.
I only have one at the moment – this small fruit basket with a handle – that I thought was absolutely adorable and practical for storing yarn scraps. But there are so many other uses for them, so don’t overlook these for your own small storage needs.
11. Twine
Much like Velcro tape strips, twine is useful for bundling craft supplies of all sorts. For my purposes, twine is particularly useful for SEPARATING AND DISENTANGLING DELICATE SUPPLIES. Notably, dried florals which I use for both decorating and crafting.
Twine is EXCEPTIONALLY STRONG and can bundle together large and small objects. You can bundle and organize a wide range of items with twine, including:
• Loose Ribbons
• Partial/Loosened Yarn Skeins
• Scrap papers or notecards
• Fabric Scraps
• Wooden Craft Sticks
12. Small, Stackable Drawers
Of all the storage solutions I have in my craft/office space, THESE STORAGE TOWERS GET THE MOST ATTENTION.
But, you know what?
These are not single towers at all, but STACKS OF 3-DRAWER SYSTEMS.
I decided to buy multiples and stack them this way because my desk had NO DRAWERS.
Each tower has four 3-drawer storage systems stacked one on top of the other. They are clear, plastic drawers that I labeled using cardstock paper.
I use these to organize things like pens, pencils, markers, tape, glue, staples, paper clips, small tools like a utility knife and hole punch.
Keep in mind: While I LOVE this little hack, the taller the stack, the more wobbly the tower becomes. It is made of plastic and is probably not meant to stack more than two (maybe three) at a time. Be sure to use it for storing lightweight items (i.e., pens, single hole punch, utility knives, for example) and steer clear of heavy tools.
THAT SAID, I have been using my tall stacks for a few years now and absolutely love this storage solution!
13. Wall Mounted Hangers
For miscellaneous projects and supplies in odd shapes, try wall mounted clothing hangers like these ones. Prior to installing them, I had a whole variety of fibre art and oddly-shaped pieces that I could not easily store or stack anywhere.
So, this was my solution.
Here I was able to store a wide range of items such as weaving samples, weavings in progress, wreath forms, metal rings, and more. These hangers are great for those unusual items that don’t have a home – or need a temporary home – before you continue work on your project.
If you want to see how I installed my hangers, check out my YouTube video, Organize & Clean My Craft Room, where you can see me mount these starting at the 4 minute 35 second mark.
Mine are COLLAPSIBLE and so are many others available online. Wall mounted hangers are useful for a wide range of organizing challenges for supplies like:
• Fabric
Drape fabric over a hanger and hang on your rack
• Ribbon Rolls or Washi Tape Rolls
Grab some S hooks and hang ribbon or tape rolls
• Fabric Bolts
Hang bolts of fabric
• Storage Pouches or Tote Bags
Hang small storage pouches or tote bags filled with beads, sequins, or other small embellishments.
14. S-hooks
Speaking of hanging stuff: S-hooks are a handy little way to hang small supplies and projects, both finished and those in progress. Currently, I’m using them to hang some circle weavings in progress.
I’ve also used S-hooks to hold macrame projects in place as I am knotting (check out any of my diy macrame videos in my Fibre Crafts Playlist HERE). But of course they have a much wider range of uses in a multi-purpose craft room, such as:
• Hanging Spools of Ribbon
• Organizing Fabric
Hang small bolts of fabric or fabric rolls from a rod using S-hooks for easy access.
• Hanging baskets/containers
Attach small baskets to a rail, rack or pegboard
• Small buckets
Attach small buckets filled with beads, sequins, or other embellishments on a rail, rod or pegboard
• Hanging small craft bags or craft kits
Use S-hooks to hang craft kits or bags that hold multiple supplies together—like knitting bags, sewing kits, or scrapbooking kits.
S-hooks are super versatile and can be a game-changer in a craft room for organizing and maximizing vertical space. They come in a wide range of sizes, colours, and materials.
15. Slim Baskets
Extra-small slim baskets can be a useful way to subdivide drawers, baskets, and bins where you have a lot of small supplies and tools that need sorting.
I first purchased mine to divide up my clay sculpting tools. I wanted an easy way to access them in a closed container that I could tuck away.
These miniature baskets were the PERFECT solution for separating my tools and the PERFECT FIT for THESE STACKABLE CONTAINERS.
This way, I can store them any which way – sideways, too, as I’ve done here – and THE TOOLS WILL NOT SPILL OUT or move around the container.
I also use these slim baskets for storing and corralling other items all around my craft space.
16. Small Bowls
Practically every craft room should have a small bowl or two for those grab-and-go items. They can help ORGANIZE SMALL ITEMS or serve as CATCH-ALLS for miscellaneous supplies.
Like some of the other storage solutions on this list, small bowls are useful for storing or corralling things like:
• Beads, buttons, and small embellishments
• Pins and needles
• Thread and bobbins
• Paper clips and small fasteners
• Tiny tools
• Beading wire and string
• Craft gems and stones
• Found objects for mixed media projects (washers, old keys, buttons, etc)
Small bowls help you stay organized by containing small supplies and keeping them in plain sight, making it easier to find exactly what you need without rooting through drawers or piles. They’re especially useful for keeping your workspace clear while you work on projects.
17. Clear Cylinder Container or Vase
I purchased several cylinder vases from the dollar store a few years ago for both storage and decorative purposes. I use them as storage for my rulers, shed sticks and shuttles, knitting needles, punch needles, rug hooking tools, driftwood, dowels, and all sorts of small tools and supplies for quick and easy access.
Cylinder containers are fantastic for organizing all manner of craft supplies—especially for things that need to be easily visible or accessible.
You can find them online BUT unless you are using them as decor as well, I recommend visiting your local dollar store instead!
18. Store Glue Upside Down In a Jar
I told you this would be oddly specific!
I store all my opened liquid glue upside down in a jar or small container. This keeps the glue settled along the opening tip so you don’t have to shake and wait for it to come out.
Storing glue upside down can offer a number of benefits, especially for ensuring that your glue stays in optimal condition and is always ready for use. Here’s why it can be a good idea:
Prevents Clogging
When you store glue upside down, gravity helps keep the glue near the tip of the container and reduces the chance of the nozzle becoming clogged with dried glue.
Easier to Dispense
Storing glue upside down ensures that the glue is always at the tip, so when you’re ready to use it, it’s much easier to dispense, even if you’re at the end of the bottle.
Keeps the Nozzle Clean
Storing glue upside down helps keep the nozzle clean because the glue stays within the bottle, preventing it from drying around the opening.
Saves Time
When you’re working on a project, it can be frustrating to wait for the glue to come out of the bottle. With the glue already near the tip, it’s quicker and more convenient to start gluing right away.
Storing glue upside down can be a simple but effective way to keep your glue in top condition and make your crafting or DIY projects more efficient.
19. Tiered Utility Cart
A tiered utility cart is a practical and space-saving addition to any multi-purpose craft room. I purchased this one at IKEA a few years ago, but you can find all kinds at various price points on Amazon, Wayfair, Michaels, Etsy, and elsewhere.
I use mine for projects in progress. I’m able to place one or multiple projects on this cart, wheel it around to any work surface, and when I’m done for the day, I can tuck it away or leave it next to my workstation.
Whatever project you are working on, whether its sewing, quilting, paper crafts, painting, or any other creative endeavor, a tiered utility cart of any kind is an extremely useful item to have.
FINAL THOUGHTS
It can be tricky to organize a general purpose space, especially a craft room. But I hope that these organizing ideas for your multi-purpose craft room has sparked some ideas for those trickier supplies, tools, and projects-in-progress that have yet to be stored or organized. With a little planning and a few smart storage solutions, you can transform your craft space – whether it’s a closet or an entire room – into an inspiring, functional area that’s ready for any project you tackle.
Happy organizing,
Need more organizing ideas and inspiration? See these related posts on A Pretty Fix:
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