Organizing Tips for the Creative Chaos!
A few days ago, I asked our Instagram friends for tips on organizing all the small things in your sewing room. Not your fabric stash, that's a whole different kettle of fish, but all the small items you use when sewing. Things like rulers, scissors, buttons, thread, ribbons. You get the idea!
Wow! The suggestions were incredible! One thing is for sure, everyone has struggled with how to best organize their sewing space. I have compiled the comments and put the suggestions together in this blog post. Hopefully, you will find a tip or idea that helps you to be more organized and a more efficient in your sewing. I am looking forward to implementing a few so that perhaps I will have less time wasted searching for my sewing tools.
In my sewing space, I have a cabinet for fabric, a sewing table, a cutting table and a square table. My goal is to have a spot for everthing I use, and a system to keep it tidy.
Shelves
A hanging shelving unit to free-up floor space. Shelving units are easy to find. Check Lowes, Home Depot or Ikea.The Ikea shelves with a lip are useful to keep acrylic rulers from sliding off the shelf.
Or you may want something a bit more elaborate. Ikea carries a combination work space unit (Svalnas) that includes shelves and a small work area. It is a nice slim unit and easily customized to meet your needs.
If you have the space or would prefer a free-standing unit, by far the most popular bookcase is the Billy Bookcase from Ikea.
It's obvious the Billy Bookcase would be a useful addition to any sewing space! Plenty of individual compartments for organizing all your notions and books.
You might also want to consider using a craft cart, filing cabinet with drawers, dresser, or rolling bakers rack.
Craft Cart
Craft Carts are fairly easy to find. I did a quick search and found them at Amazon, Home Depot and Michaels, just to name a few.
Martha Stewart has a wonderful craft cart. I found this on Amazon and may be available at some Home Depot stores.
Or Ikea has a rolling drawer unit called the Alex.
For an open rolling cart option, you can find the very popular Raskog from Ikea.
You can find an almost identical cart at Michaels!
Several of you mentioned filing cabinets with drawers. This one is available on Amazon. The Honey-Can-Do :)
A similar cart designed to hold gift wrapping supplies is available at The Container Store.
Whether you choose a shelf unit, bookcase, or rolling cart, you will need containers to hold and separate those notions. Here are some of the suggestions for holding your notions. Most of you agreed that the container should be clear (transparent) to easily identify what is inside! Or you may want to label your container.
Containers
Glass jars - mason jars or jam jars
Small suitcases that can be stacked and look charming in your sewing room
Vintage tins
Enamel ware wash tubs
Clear Ikea bins
The Container Store Binz
Zip lock plastic bags
Plastic tubs with lids
The divided compartment tray for jewelry making placed on a shelf or in a drawer.
Kitchen utensil divider inside drawers of craft cart or dresser drawers.
If you have wall space a peg board or cork board can be used to hold items.
Pegboards and Cork Boards
Ikea has a pegboard, Skadis, that can be hung on the wall or added to the back of the Ikea table (I use for my cutting table), the Finnvard.
Ikea sells accessories that can be hung on this pegboard to hold your notions close at hand.
A cork board could also be used and simply tack clear plastic zip lock bags to the board.
Among the other wonderful suggestions, I thought using a clear shoe organizer over the door was brilliant. Everything is visible and you are utilizing unused space.
Use Command Strip Hooks on the side of your cutting table or craft cart to hang those acrylic rulers!!! BRILLIANT!!!!
Thank you so much for all your wonderful comments on my Instagram post! I plan on maping out exactly the best strategy for organizing my space.
I hope this helps with your sewing room set-up! It is much more enjoyable and productive when the items you need are close at hand!
Cheers!