Saturday, September 5, 2009

Starting with shelves

For any space, especially a small one as I have, shelves are the alpha and the omega of organization.
Shelves are an easily obtainable addition to your creative space. They can be found (sometimes even for free) on Craig's List or Freecycle, but are absolutely worth purchasing.

I purchased mine at Staples they aren't the greatest quality, but they are inexpensive. These tall ones run about $50, but go on sale for 50
% off every other month or so. They
also deliver for free!

As you can see here, I have built shelves to utilize the dead space up above my work areas. I have shelves like this on both ends of my room. It is amazing how much storage space you can find if you really look, and get a bit creative.

Building this shelf cost me less than $40. It took a sheet of plywood, a couple of 2x4s, a few brackets and a handful of screws. For the 2 hours it took to put up, I have 35 square feet of "found" storage space. That is about $1 per square foot!


This is the second "found" space shelf that I have. It is above my sewing table. This is the hardest to get to shelf in my sewing room so it houses things I rarely use as well as holiday ornaments and other household items that have made their way into my sewing room.

If you look closely you can see that I even have storage boxes under my sewing table. They only take up the back half so that they don't get in my way when I sew.
I use the cork board behind my sewing table to put photos that give me inspiration, quotes and order notes. At the moment it has a bunch of my girls' artwork which I always get inspiration from.

34 comments:

  1. Wow Melissa, I need to do this, My work space is organized chaos! Great articale.

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  2. great Melissa,I love the way you have everything organized. I can post my style too.It is a bit different but still easy to handle.

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  3. Great job! Makes me want to tackle my sewing room.

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  4. WOW...JUST WOW!

    I've never seen such organizational beauty like this before. Your shelving is just wonderful and I love how everything is in its place.

    I aspire to things like this but sadly have too much of an eclectic nature and while I like to think I can be organized it looks anything but.

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  5. This is amazing! I can barely open the door to my room and have to slide my feet through all the clutter on the floor to wade into it.

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  6. Wow! You have a lot of stuff! I love how you organized it...all in view. I need to get to my room. Ug.

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  7. I'm amazed, this is such good organization, and it must make working more enjoyable too. I read your thread about niche marketing on etsy! Thanks for sharing!

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  8. This gives me some great ideas! Thanks for sharing!

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  9. Holy Crapola, I am not about to show my work space, I have two bedrooms totally dedicated to workshop and beading supply/shipping. And it is a constant struggle for me to keep organized.

    My hats off to you, you have an amazingly well organized shop, Dave

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  10. Oh that's BEAUTIFUL!
    Now, where can I buy a room???

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  11. I am MADLY in love with this blog since I get absolutely dorky excited about organization when it comes to craft supplies. lol Thank you!

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  12. You are my ideal! I am currently organising my creative space thanks to my other half. Have blogged about it - pics will be added this weekend when we've finished...

    Would love you to visit me http://www.originalmischief.blogspot.com

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  13. I am trying to organize my space. I also have a small craft room, and in my husband words "too much junk" LOL
    thanks for the pics and ideas :)

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  14. WOW... this is great sharing... I love how your work space is organized..... i wish mine is like that too......

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  15. My mom would want to go container shopping with you. She loves plastic storage boxes. Nice studio, I wish mine were that pretty.
    http://scrivenersretreat.blogspot.com

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  16. Wow....I want this ...want to come and do my place up!!!

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  17. I am drooling at the amount of fabric you have :D Great storage ideas

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  18. Hi there, I came across your blog through a link to your forum post in a recent etsy news letter. Great tips for staying organised. This is a wonderful work space and lovely blog. Thank you Julia.

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  19. I am in love with your organizational system. I wish I had that much room. One day, one day.

    (aka Nutcase101)

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  20. what an awesome working space :) I'm jealous

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  21. OOH! LOVE IT! All those shelves hard at work!

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  22. I want a work area that is as pretty and organized as yours is! Shelves above your work area are a great idea... one I might have to implement as well. Great tips and photos!

    Stephanie

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  23. I am soooo motivated to organize my workshop better after reading this! What great ideas! Thank you!!

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  24. Great article and love what you have done - please, please, please come over to the UK and organise my work space for me:)

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  25. Melissa your space is so neat and organized. I dream of having that kind of space one day. Right now, I'm working in a space bedroom that is overrun with bookcases over flowing with books that I just *can't* part with, my grandmothers antique highboy which I use for storage, and my computer armoire, printer, etc... Oh, and my mini photo studio so it's always ready for pictures.

    Definitely not as organized and clutter-free as what you've shown. *sigh*

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  26. This room is great!! I can't wait for the day that I can dedicate one room to my crafting...right now I fight for space in a livingroom nook, on top of the fridge...if only I could talk my hubby into converting part of our 3 car garage. lol! ; )

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  27. Wow! You are so organized. Some day, I will tackle my work space.

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  28. Wow, so beautiful and organized at the same time!

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  29. Wow impressive! Can you swing by Ireland and sort my unorganized mess out ;)

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  30. I LOVE YOUR SPACE. I keep myself pretty organized too. I'm a bit of an organization freak..lol CHECK OUT MY SPACE http://rosesdesigns.blogspot.com/

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  31. Amazing. Great organizational tools! I am tryihng not to feel shame here. :)

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  32. You are soo organized! I am inspired to get there, finally.

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