I need a little studio design inspiration!
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- Source: Desiree on Flicker
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- Source: http://craft-o-maniac.porch.com
I just moved to a new house and I am SO lucky to now have my very own studio!!
As I am sitting in it writing this blog post and looking for some studio design inspiration on the web, memories of how my art studio developed and morphed over all these years are flooding in…
I started painting in a tiny corner of a room while living in London, then to a slightly bigger corner of a room after moving back to Sydney 😉 Relationship ups-and-downs too my art space from a corner, to an entire room just for me, to no art AT ALL, to another corner until…
Back in 2010!
I finally settled into a rented apartment in Bondi… I was single then and certainly couldn’t afford the rent by myself so had to get a flatmate. I would have much preferred living in my own but it just wasn’t an option because of costs and also because I had to smuggle a fluffy little white dog from one place to another (99% of rental places say no to pets) hahaha
How can you say no to this cute little guy?!
I am a very homely person who takes her personal space very seriously so having a flatmate was less than ideal…
But, as my art was growing into a full time passion, I just had to get my priorities right! Since art is way more important than sleep, I moved my bed into my unused sun room (basically, my bed covered the entire floor space and as the room didn’t have doors, I hung curtains for privacy at night, yikes) and doing so allowed me to turn what was previously my bedroom into my a studio dedicated to art (and graphic design)!
I ran workshops from that room for a little while… Despite feeling a little embarrassed at the total lack of studio design inspiration there, I was relieved and grateful my students didn’t actually seem to care about that and were focussed on learning art instead 😉
Humble beginnings in my Bondi bedroom transformed into an art studio!
I eventually met my now other half Pete and ‘had to’ let my flatmate go (I had 5 different ones during those 5 years!) so I could let this lovely man move in instead. Lucky girl, right? After a while, we were able to buy a house which was a little bigger than what we needed so… As you can imagine, it didn’t take me long to claim every available corner as ‘art space’!
Unfortunately, we had unpleasant neighbours (something you can never really find out about until you move in) and were slowly getting over living in Sydney (it’s getting more and more expensive and cramped!) so…
After 3 years in that house (where we also got married, sigh), we decided to move out of Sydney (only 1hr away or so!) for a better lifestyle… And more peace so I can hopefully create my YouTube videos without worrying too much about noise!
Anyway, all this rambling goes around and around one main subject here, did you notice? The art studio 🙂
In fact, I am in serious need of studio design inspiration because where I am writing to you from right now has a large dark brown wall (who paints walls in this colour??), fake wood panelling on the ceiling (huh??), carpet (that just won’t do with paint) and not enough natural light (eeek)…
But… It is much bigger than any space I have had before, has a little private patio where I can chill outside even if it’s raining, a kitchenette and it’s own little bathroom. And even it’s own entrance guys! So if you want to come for a workshop, we will be nice and cosy in my self-contained art space 🙂
I decided to create a Pinterest board called “Crafty Spaces” as I know many of you are interested in getting some studio design inspiration as well (and who doesn’t love perving at other arty spaces, I ask??).
Click this big button to see my Pinterest board:
So whether you are working from a corner in your bedroom like I did for a while, or have your own dedicated space, the main thing is to make it ”your own”!
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- Source: jenny b allsorts on Flicker
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- Source: http://www.hearthandmade.co.uk
It doesn’t matter if you are into painting, sewing or general crafting, get a little studio design inspiration from over 100 fancy craft rooms and modest arty corners. Leave me a comment below to let me know if you found a little ‘somethin’ somethin’ to bring to your studio 🙂
I certainly hope I will so I can make an awesome space for you and I to create art together… And I will post pictures once my space has been revamped! Actually, I think I’ll start my painting my light switch covers… If you haven’t seen my tutorial, there it is:
Love to you my Creative Friend!
Mimi.
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- Source: http://www.designsponge.com
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- Source: http://connie-livingbeautifully.blogspot.com.au
So glad you got out of Sydney and into a more relaxing, peaceful place to make your beautiful art. I have a small craft room, where I do everything from sewing, to art journaling, to writing, to yoga and floor exercise. And it’s a pretty small room. I took the doors off the closet and put my writing desk in there and made sure to use every inch of space! I even have an altar in the room for meditation. I bought all my furniture from IKEA in white and left the walls plain so I could jam them up with art I make or receive. It’s the best room in my house and I love it in there! Even when it’s cluttered. 😉
Wow Robin that sounds like a great space (even if it’s small) to be in, and one that is really just for YOU. What would we do without Ikea? lol I also have a few pieces in white as I don’t want the furniture to be the focal point 😛
I need to SEE a product to remember that I have it. With that in mind, I decided to buy several IKEA carts so that everything is in the open and I can see it.
I’m the same Raine! I also have 2 ikea carts but I still manage to look at what’s in the 2nd and 3rd levels haha hopeless artists 🙂
Very excited for you Mimi – what a great project! I hope you take some ‘before’ and ‘after’ and progress photos 🙂
I live on my own in a very tiny bungalow and make a painty mess on the small table in my lounge! I now need to get the sewing machine out to alter a dress – more mess!! Its good that its unlikely no-one will see it!
Thanks Helen! I am very fortunate to now have such a big space all to myself. I know how it feels to have art supplies taking over living areas 🙂 Make sure you don’t put paint on your dress!!
Mimi, for me it is all about organization and lack of clutter… if my space is cluttered I can’t work or think or do much of anything. So I take a minimalist approach to things and have lots of things hidden away. I do like the all white cubes that you can get here in the states at Michaels. They have drawers and shelves and are very uniform. I think IKEA has something similar.
I also like to use non traditional objects to house my stuff. I recently bought two wonderful spinning silverware holders and put all my brushes, some tools etc in them. They are sitting on a shelf above my desk and I couldn’t be happier with them.
Good luck with your new space. I am sure what ever you do will be wonderful and work for you.
What great ideas Jaci! I too love to be organised and thank god for Ikea hehe 😉 But if I hide a lot of my supplies then I forget to use them so it’s a real dilemma… Love the idea of re-purposing objects like you do, that’s very creative xx
Mimi do you actually need to see all the items you have or just have a reminder that they are there?
I ask this because I have heard people say this before but after talking to them a bit I realize that all they really need is, say a pretty box, labeled Glimmer Mist… they don’t actually need to see all the bottle of Glimmer Mist open on the shelf.
I find it interesting how different everyone is.
Here in Arizona having things out isn’t an option unless you like scraping an inch worths of dust off the item every time you want to use it… and that is after only a week. I would spend all my craft time dusting.
Oh dear, I hadn’t thought of that issue! I would have the same problem if I lived in Central Australia, I think I couldn’t cope as I don’t really cleaning lol Yes, you are right, it is a common problem. I keep the supplies I use the most on my desk and those that take space in a drawer near me but yes, in the moment, if I don’t see the other ones, I probably won’t think to use them (if they are supplies I don’t use often, it’s a catch 22!). It is not a serious problem to have so I’m not complaining though 🙂
All I know is to surround yourself with things that make you smile. You should line your walls with your beautiful art and then add the things you love. You are the only one who has to love and admire your studio. Buy pretty fabrics, cool rugs, one of a kind pottery, etc. It will be beautiful and functional before you know it.
Ohh thanks for the suggestions Sue, there are so many possibilities, right? I do love pretty fabrics and colourful rugs so I can’t wait! And I do have a ”couple” of paintings laying around haha 🙂
So happy for you! One thing is for sure your studio will be bright and welcoming just like you!
I certainly aim to make it an inspiring place to create art Kate, thank you so much 🙂