Most modern parents know the importance of arts and crafts in kids’ lives and how creativity helps make them better human beings. We also know all the fancy craft stuff names and have pinned loads of ideas; now, there’s just one problem left – space!
Yes, finding and trying to set up a creative space at home is a big roadblock these days, especially since many of us live in apartments with not much room to spare. However, setting up a dedicated creative space does have its advantages.
Benefits Of Having A Dedicated Creative Space At Home:
- A space to be creative encourages more creativity
- It reduces screen time since kids have an alternative solution to spending time
- A creative space keeps things organised rather than spreading them all over the home
- A dedicated space gives kids a sense of ownership and responsibility
- It becomes a natural retreat for kids when bored or sad
Tips To Set Up A Creative Space At Home
Find A Spot With Natural Light
We know how hard it can be to find even a bit of extra space, especially if you’re living in an already-crowded apartment! But the beauty of setting up your own creative space is this – you can be creative about it!
Whatever place you choose, make sure that it has plenty of natural light, either from a window, sunlight or balcony. It is a huge factor in encouraging kids to spend time there and saving on electricity bills during the day.
Could You Keep It In A Space That’s Alive?
The last thing you want for a creative space at home is a dark, dusty corner or a neglected room in the basement or the attic. Be practical – if you want kids to frequent the space, it has to be somewhere the family hangs around. A part of the kitchen, dining or living room is a good option, as is a hall closet where most family activity occurs. Another bonus is that passing family members will also tend to gravitate towards the creative space, making it work for everyone!
A part of the kitchen, dining or living room is a good option, as is a hall closet where most family activity occurs. Another bonus is that passing family members will also tend to gravitate towards the creative space, making it work for everyone!
Get The Right Furniture
Before setting out on this step, give a thought to the activities your kids like doing the most. While you don’t want to limit their creativity to just those, it’ll help you decide whether to get a dedicated craft table with lots of drawers or maybe an easel.
Since we’re all about being creative, we’d recommend re-using an old changing table or installing a fold-down table. You can still get a rolling art caddy or upcycle an old serving trolley even if you’re using the family dining table.
Have A Simple Storage System
Well, this is probably the most challenging part when you’re out to set up a creative space at home! Of course, you want to have all your craft supplies organised, but you also want a system that’s easy to maintain. Intricate drawer units with lots of little drawers can be overwhelming for kids. Instead, have basic storage bins or tubs with labels to know what goes where. Getting them in matching colours and materials will harmonise the entire look.
Intricate drawer units with lots of little drawers can be overwhelming for kids. Instead, have basic storage bins or tubs with labels to know what goes where. Getting them in matching colours and materials will harmonise the entire look.
Carve Out A Display Space
When your children create something in their creative space, they’ll want it displayed! Clear out a couple of shelves or install new ones, so their crafts and sculptures have a proud home. For artwork, you can either have a gallery wall or a ‘painting line’ where you tie a string across
For artwork, you can either have a gallery wall or a ‘painting line’ where you tie a string across the space and hang their pictures on them. If you can, have some focused lighting for the masterpieces – it makes a huge difference!
Personalise The Space
Once the basic set-up is ready, it’s time to decorate! Kids love personalising their belongings and spaces, so try making a clay nameplate, a monogram crayon wall art or a Scrabble tile wall art with a message that your child likes. You can also use adorable clay photo holders or cute button photo frames to put up special memories – you can also fix inspiring pictures or quotes.
Bring In Some Plants
Studies show that having plants around increases creativity and keep the mood positive. Of course, it’s best to have some kid-safe indoor plants, but get creative with some DIY plants if that’s not practical! Try making flowers from crepe paper, tissue paper, corrugated cardboard, felt or even newspaper! And if you’d like your wall to bloom, try some Flower Garden Paper Quilled Wall Art!
Envision An Inspiring Space.
Take a moment to daydream about your ideal art space. Then, even if that ultimate loft with floor-to-ceiling windows is beyond reach, see if there are a few details you can make a reality.
Paint the walls your favourite colour, string up wires for hanging inspiration items and make the most of the space you have. If the light is what you crave, see if you can rearrange furniture or even swap rooms to position your art space by the best window.
List your needs and wants. From a table big enough to spread out onto storage containers and water cups, list everything you want to include in your space. Then, look over your list and note the things you need to do your work. Start with the essentials; you can always add more later.
Consider the light. Most artists agree that good natural light is highly coveted in a workspace. But the fact is, not all of us can control the quality of light in the space we have to work with, or, for that matter, the time of day we have available to make art. So if you find less-than-ideal natural light, focus your efforts on the lighting you can bring in to make the most of your space. A mix of overhead and task lighting will give the best coverage; experiment to see how different bulbs affect your work.
No Spare Room? Carve Out A Creative Corner.
Don’t let a lack of space stop you from making art a part of your life if it is important to you! A desk in your bedroom, a dining table that does double duty as a jewellery making station or an easel on the balcony can all be viable solutions. So get creative and make space where you thought there was none.
Organise Your Supplies.
Organising your materials simply and beautifully does not need to cost a lot of money. Glass jars can be washed and recycled as containers for pencils, brushes and more. Wine crates, crocks, and produce bins can hold larger items — look around your home and see what you can reclaim and repurpose.
Consider any technology that might help your work. Would starting a blog in which you share your artwork help you keep a commitment to making art regularly? If so, perhaps you would benefit from having a computer and scanner right in your studio.
Consider using a garage, shed or outbuilding. Especially for those working with caustic materials or power tools, outside the main house can be the best place for your work. Be sure the room you are working in has adequate ventilation and keep any potentially dangerous materials in a locked cabinet.
Stay mobile with a rolling cart. Whether you have a spacious studio or are working in the corner of your living room, a rolling cart would mean your work can come with you anywhere. Wheel it out onto the deck to work outdoors, or use it to stow your messy supplies out of sight between sessions.
Keep artistically inspiring props at hand. Be on the lookout for objects and materials that inspire you every day, and give these items pride of place in your home studio. Then, when your well of inspiration is running dry, just looking at your special collections could spark a new idea or project.
Include space for displaying your work. Keep a record of your work and get inspired for further explorations by displaying your art. A long picture rail is wonderful for propping up the artwork. A magnetic rail or picture wire is great for quickly clipping up works in progress, along with other bits and bobs of inspiration.
Keep Your Dream (Space) Alive.
Just because you may have to make do for now with that basement studio or closet craft space, it might not always be that way! So keep an inspiration file of ideas for your dream space, and take small steps to realise that dream. That could mean saving up for a space you purchase, of course, but that is not the only solution — sharing space with other creatives can allow you to get more room than you could otherwise manage on your own.
Be true to yourself. Don’t simply follow trends but hunt out designs and ideas that you love. Designs that say something about you. Vanessa’s Swedish designs inspired Britain in the 1950s but with a Gustavian twist. They are neither quaint nor fussy; they are classic designs with a nostalgic English style. Shown here are the pinks coordinated with light and dark greys, a very contemporary and relevant colour palette, just with a beautiful soft touch.
Give Yourself Room To Move.
Don’t underestimate the amount of desk space you will need as there is nothing worse than being cramped. I need lots of room to spread out fan decks and colour charts and a space to put together fabric samples and other interior finishes for my work. Most creative jobs or hobbies will also require this, so ensure your creative space gives you room to move.
Keep the clutter tidy! Inevitably you will have scraps of fabric, paint samples, reels of cotton etc., to find room for, so don’t forget to factor in shelving with room for storage boxes and magazine files. Keep the colour and design theme running here by covering boxes in fabric or painting magazine files.
Have a notice board. These are great for inspiration and finding a place for the latest school photo or timetable! A notice board avoids all the bits of paper left lying around the house and, when upholstered in a co-coordinated fabric, adds to the look of the creative space. If you have a collection of magazines or imagery that you want to have on the show, consider innovative display systems that also act as artwork for the room.
The boring bits. With technology comes cables; even if you rely on a wi-fi system, boosters, chargers, and other requirements still seem to be. In addition, you will often need a dedicated printer, so don’t forget these boring but necessary details when planning out the space.
Lighting.
Ideally, you will have three types of lighting here. Overhead lighting, possibly in LEDs that give the room full lighting. Mood lighting in a table or floor lamps, if there is space, is fabulous for a room like this, particularly if you are fortunate enough to have space for an occasional chair or sofa. Finally, task lighting on the desk is vital. For a calm environment, I often eschew the overhead lighting and use a desk lamp in the evening if I am working on the computer. Ensure that when you are setting up any room in the house, always give yourself lighting options, and remember that table and desk lamps come with those pesky cables!
A Comfortable Desk Chair.
It is an absolute necessity if you spend a long time at your desk. At the very least, you should have some decent backrest and a comfortable cushion, but a true desk chair that you can set exactly for you is the best idea. Remember that you can reupholster as there is nothing to say that you must have a black office chair!
Designate A Spot: The first step in creating the ultimate creative place is to create the physical space. Next, you can train your brain to jump into creative mode by designating a set space for work — after all, that is why artists have studios. It is to be your creative haven, so treat it well and treat it with plenty of respect.
Keep your desk cluttered: We’ve told you this before: Clutter makes you more creative. Before you brush this off, hear us out! A study from Psychological Science confirmed that disorder encourages creativity. They said, “People greatly preferred convention in the tidy room and novelty in the messy room.” We certainly like the sound of novelty. So, go forth and mess it up!
Make It Comfy And Cosy: Since you plan on spending a lot of time in your workspace, you should ensure that it’s as convenient and comfortable as possible. Psych Central suggests that you make it as cosy as you’d like and stock it with plenty of snacks so that you can spend lots of undisturbed hours there. If you’ve ever tried to get work done while hangry, you know what we’re talking about.
Conclusion
The most important thing to remember when you’re going to set up a creative space at home is this – don’t just set it up and order the kids to go in there and ‘do something! Instead, spend time with your kids in the creative space – it’s a lovely opportunity to bond and make beautiful things together. Having a parent involved in the creative process will encourage kids greatly, and your new space will soon become the family’s favourite room to have a good time!
FAQs
How Do You Decorate Your Room Creative?
- Simple Gallery Wall. Filling a wall with stylish decor doesn’t have to be complicated.
- Rainbow Mobile.
- Washi Tape Wall. Try creating easy DIY room decor with washi tape. …
- Teacup Candles.
- Hanging Flower Vases.
- DIY Macrame Decor.
- Photo Clipboards.
- Glass Hanging Candle Holders.
How Do I Get To Creative Space?
- Put Someone Else’s Mindset Into Your Mind.
- Use Similar Image Searches to Trigger Creative Associations.
- Use an Environment to Extrapolate Creatively.
- Talk to Yourself or Get in a High-Level Conversation with Another Person.
What Is A Creative Room?
A creative space where ideas flow freely to form unexpected connections that transform into tools and projects and engage with the market and the people that count. Creative room is not just for the consumer.
How Important Is Space In Creativity?
A dedicated creative space allows for cross-functional / project team collaboration without interruption and will house all the necessary tools and technology to support the creative process. In addition, an ideal project team space will support the sharing of ideas by making thinking visible during the creative process.
What Is A Creative Place?
We define Creative Places as multi-tenant housing, workspace, co-packing, and retail real estate projects that are affordable and target creatives and benefit their neighbours.