Tailor the perfect space for your creative pursuits with our round-up of craft room ideas and essentials. Whether you love dressmaking or drawing, having a dedicated room helps to focus and makes it a productive time well spent. Instead of your other half navigating around your die cutting machine and materials in the living room, create your own studio in the spare bedroom. Then, everyone's happy.
Furniture, accessories and materials for creative pursuits are bulky items. A sewing machine needs it's own table – and sure enough, any crafty hoarder can fill storage boxes until the garage is full. It's hard to get inspired and develop a hobby into a side hustle when you can't have proper access to your tools and materials. Creativity flourishes when inspiration is in plain sight and to hand.
Best craft room ideas at a glance:
• Best craft room drawing table: Yaheetech Adjustable Drafting Table – Buy now on Amazon UK
• Best craft room organiser: VonHaus Storage Trolley – Buy now on Amazon UK
• Best craft room chair: Arrow Cabinets Hydraulic Sewing Chair – Buy now on Amazon UK
Think of a craft room as an office-of-sorts for your creative making and selling venture. The centrepiece should be the table; it could a desk that's set up for drafting or a purpose-built sewing table. Next, have a comfortable chair to sit-back and enjoy a cup of peppermint tea while you look at your work-in-progress. Keep it a relaxed space by having plenty of storage boxes for craft materials, so they're close by without being an overwhelming mess.
It's important to put your personal stamp on your space. Your hobby is your reward to yourself. It's a little me-time channelled into a fulfilling purpose. Along with all your craft ideas and projects be sure to have a few of your favourite things scattered around such as a favourite mug to hold your coloured pencils and brushes. A little art book shelf, a few small sculptural ceramics and a board for upcoming exhibition posters makes it feel like an inspiring space. Plus, some lush leafy plants and lots of sunlight will invigorate while feeling like a tranquil place to be.
Craft room ideas
Best craft room drawing table
Go back to the drawing board with the Yaheetech Adjustable Drafting Table. It's a smart and budget-friendly desk with a tilting drawing table-top and two storage drawers. There is an additional side table surface that can be extended to accommodate your pencils, pens or paints. It's a great alternative to a sit-down easel as it gives you lots of table-top space for your palettes, tools and a mug of coffee. Also available in white and yellow wood colourways.
Customer review: "I'm using this nearly every day so it's had a lot of use. It's sturdy, adjusts to whatever I'm working on can take a fair bit of weight and doesn't take up loads of room. I can't fault it."
Pros
- Adjustable pencil ledge
- Easy angle control between 0-60°
- Adjustable table height
Cons
- Some customers had to take out the drawers so their legs would fit under the desk
Dimensions: | 120.5 x 60 x (69.5-92.5)cm |
Best craft room organiser
Whether you're storing nail art supplies or decorative papers, the VonHaus Storage Trolley is a must-have for any creative. With ten shallow drawers and five deep drawers, plus a table-top surface, this trolley can accommodate a variety of tools, materials and art work. It's on 360° castor wheels so it's ideal for portability, just when you need a particular resin mould or die cutter to hand. This trolley is also available with black drawers.
Customer review: "Better quality than I expected. It suits my needs perfectly for storing my many photographic small items of equipment. It does have a modern functional look, but that suits my studio."
Pros
- Easy to assemble
- Durable metal frame
- Lots of versatile storage with deep and shallow drawers
- Free range of movement
Cons
- Not overly sturdy
Dimensions: | H92.7 x W64 x D39.2cm |
Best craft room chair
Sew stylish with the Arrow Cabinets Hydraulic Sewing Chair! This purpose-built chair features effortless hydraulic height adjustment and can support weights up to 113.4kg (250 lbs). It's crafted with a solid wood seat, upholstered with the fabulous Sew Now Sew Wow fabric by Alexander Henry Fabrics. In addition, there is a discreet storage compartment under the seat for bits-and-bobs. Its 360° swivel base ensures optimal movement and stability. Plus, heavy-duty casters glide smoothly on most floors without leaving marks. Also, the targeted lumbar support improves posture while sitting for long periods.
Alternative patterns and plain options are also available.
Customer review: "I love this chair, the fabric is hard wearing, lovely design on fabric, also the colours are very vibrant. Found it very easy to assemble."
Pros
- 360° swivel base
- Storage in the seat
- Brightly patterned
- Lumbar support
- Height adjustable
Cons
- Few reviews
Dimensions: | Height adjustable from 45.72–55.88cm |
Best craft room stool
From pottery to painting, the MEEDEN Wooded Drafting Stool is a high quality artist's seat. MEEDEN is a brand that's synonymous with quality art materials and studio furniture so their Amazon store is the ideal place for getting your craft room decked out. This elegant yet sturdy drafting stool will help take the strain off legs and your back, especially when doing large-scale work. It has an anti-rust spiral rod and safety screw for durability. You'll be sitting pretty for years to come on this exquisite artist's stool, with its polished finish. A matching MEEDEN drafting table and studio easel are also available.
Customer review: "This is a great stool, sturdy and easy to assemble. Height adjustable is great as I needed for varying heights. It's wooden so wouldn't say it's comfortable, put a small round pad on it to help."
Pros
- Easy to assemble
- Adjustable height
- Solid German Beechwood
- Quality hardware
- Lightweight and portable
Cons
- Small seat diameter
Dimensions: | W16.5 x D11.8 x H18.9-25.6cm |
Best craft room table
www.wayfair.co.uk
As the biggest item of furniture in your burgeoning craft room, it's worth treating yourself to a superlative table. Whether it's a retirement gift or an investment in a loved one's creative career, this Jaavon 152.4cm x 76.2cm Craft Table has all the work-top space and storage one could wish for. The melamine work-top is hugely durable, being scratch-proof, plus resistant to stains and heat. Ingeniously, the three spacious storage drawers can be pulled out from either side of the table. Also, there's six cubby holes for all your crafting needs.
Pros
- Smooth white melamine table-top is scratch-proof and heat resistant
- Lots of integrated storage
- All round finish for versatile placement
Cons
- No reviews
Dimensions: | H91.4 x W152.4 x D76.2cm |
Best craft room light
Purelite 4-in-1 Crafters Magnifying Lamp has a 13cm 2x magnifying lens is built-in to the head of the lamp. 21 long-lasting LED bulbs provide illumination for detailed work. Position the lamp on a table or floor and adjust the lamp head for various tasks, from reading to crafts or repairs. Plus, there's a handy accessories tray that's customisable to your needs. The lamp is energy-saving with both mains and battery power options, boasting 20,000hrs of life and 170 lumens brightness.
Customer review: "Great height, flexibility, magnification and light. The light is adjustable with a turn button. You can use with either just the light, just the magnifier or both."
Pros
- Amazon's Choice
- Energy-efficient
- Dimmable
- Moveable
- Magnifying
Cons
- Some customers comment on faults with the switch
Dimensions: | 26 x 26 x 150cm |
Best craft room sewing table
www.wayfair.co.uk
The Yarbro 74.6cm x 38.5cm Foldable Sewing Table is a spacious work surface for your sewing projects, with a foldable drop leaf for compact storage when not in use. The drop-down section allows you to adjust your sewing machine's height to match the table-top, ensuring smooth fabric movement and ease of use. Also, you benefit from open storage shelves; useful for reels and bobbins. This table comes with a manufacturer's 10-year guarantee, assuring quality and durability for your sewing needs.
**
Customer review:** "Just the right product for my wife to use for her own sewing machine. The convenient foldable design is ideal for moving it around the rooms."
Pros
- Folds up
- Purpose-built to accommodate a sewing machine
- Adjustable table-top
Cons
- Requires assembly
Dimensions: | H49.2 x W74.6 x D38.5cm |
Best craft room tool set
www.etsy.com
Whether you're an hobbyist or an expert, this is The Complete Sewing Box comes with a whopping 512 sewing bits and pieces. Handy scissors, threads, a mini steam iron and more are contained in a stylish acrylic storage case. With glowing reviews and a Star Seller rating on Etsy, this organised sewing box is bound to exceed expectations.
Customer review: "Well worth the price and very fast delivery! It came very well packed and every item was nicely wrapped as well in a cute wrapping paper. It's obvious you put so much effort and I can't thank you enough!😊"
Pros
- Comprehensive sewing box
- Etsy Star Seller
- Gift idea
- Free delivery
Cons
- Try keeping it perfectly organised!
Dimensions: | Not specified |
Best craft room finishing touch
www.etsy.com
Every artist's studio should have a Flexible Wooden Artists Mannequin Doll. This 12-inch figure can be decorative or used for getting body poses and proportions right. Its joints articulate the same way as a human body moves, so it's the ideal quick resource for figure studies. Alternatively, customers have commented that they simply hang their jewellery on theirs... which is entirely in the creative spirit too.
Customer review: "Absolutely brilliant, great quality and excellent customer service. Very happy to recommend."
Pros
- Quality
- Decorative and practical
- Helps get human proportions right when drawing
Cons
- Some customers comment the package arrived damaged in transit
Dimensions: | 30cm (12 inches) |
FAQs
How do I set up a craft room?
Whether it's a conservatory or a spare bedroom, setting up a craft room begins with considering your specific creative pursuits. A sewing room is a different prospect to a pottery studio, therefore the layout should cater to your needs. However, certain basic factors apply regardless of your craft.
First, ensure there's a comfortable place to sit, ideally with a craft table for your main activities and a smaller side desk for additional tasks or storage.
Having ample space to move around is essential – consider it a form of feng shui – giving yourself plenty of room to work, plus being able to stand back and review. This is especially important if you have large equipment, such as a dressmaker's mannequin. Clutter is the enemy of productivity, so take time to organise your space.
Utilise bookshelves to organise and display your crafting materials, keeping them easily accessible yet tidy. Underneath desks, consider placing plastic boxes on wheels for convenient storage solutions. These can hold supplies and tools, allowing for easy access while keeping the workspace clutter-free. If you're using paint, messy rags and old brushes, have a set of deep drawers that are easy to clean and durable, such as metal or sturdy plastic. Organise small items like buttons and trinkets with little boxes that have separators. Think of these as toolboxes for your creative projects. Check out these 12 super storage hacks from Hobbycraft.
Maximise wall space for hanging tools and inspirational images or artwork. Install wall-mounted cubby holes to store materials. A simple washing line with clips, allows you to stand back and look at a piece of art work you've created. Also, it's a good idea to have a hook for your crafting apron.
Lighting is crucial for detailed work. Invest in a flexible and movable lamp to illuminate your crafting area effectively. Also, set your easel or desk up with the best natural light source and a window view.
Spillages happen whether by artistic accident or by design. Be sure to have a bin, some J-clothes and rags (old t-shirts are great) to mop up messes. Wipe-clean tableclothes are ideal for protecting work-tops.
Lastly, adorn your window sill with flowers or plants to add a touch of inspiration to the space. Your functional craft room will be a comfortable and productive place to enjoy your creative pursuits.
Where can I get some arts and crafts inspiration?
Discover arts and crafts inspiration from various sources such as crafting blogs, social media platforms like Pinterest and Instagram, art exhibitions, craft magazines, online forums and local craft stores hosting workshops and demonstrations. It's worth looking around your local area to see if there's any local art groups that you can join.
Also, here's our pick of our favourite creative TV shows.
Natalie Knowles is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for Yours, specialising in home appliances. When she's not testing sparkling water makers, she flexes her creative flair as an artist.