In Desperate need of Sewing room ideas
Hello everyone !
First off, I'm not a professional :) but I like to sew and I have plenty of supplies to store too , I have some totes but they don't really look all that great all piled up in a corner , the room is located in the basement and was used as a small spare bedroom at one time , and since I don't need it for that purpose at this time I would like it to be my sewing room. The room is finished with panelling painted in a cappuccino colour and the floor is vinyl with the same shades of tan in it , it looks more like a floor that would be used in a kitchen but I will have to work with that , I like to decorate on a shoe string :) There is a window but very small and the light will need to be changed into some sort of florescent to improve it . Everything is out of place and piled up on top of a table and the old dresser and to be frank I'm really fed up to look at this sort of mess . I'm desperately in need some ideas from you ,my budget is limited so please consider this , I would like to have this done before Spring arrives ....I'm counting on your help:)
First off, I'm not a professional :) but I like to sew and I have plenty of supplies to store too , I have some totes but they don't really look all that great all piled up in a corner , the room is located in the basement and was used as a small spare bedroom at one time , and since I don't need it for that purpose at this time I would like it to be my sewing room. The room is finished with panelling painted in a cappuccino colour and the floor is vinyl with the same shades of tan in it , it looks more like a floor that would be used in a kitchen but I will have to work with that , I like to decorate on a shoe string :) There is a window but very small and the light will need to be changed into some sort of florescent to improve it . Everything is out of place and piled up on top of a table and the old dresser and to be frank I'm really fed up to look at this sort of mess . I'm desperately in need some ideas from you ,my budget is limited so please consider this , I would like to have this done before Spring arrives ....I'm counting on your help:)
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If your budget is $200 or so, I'd recommend a bookcase with doors such as the Ikea Billy bookcase for keeping folded fabric. Then add the fluorescent light fixture, one with 4- 48" bulbs, the "workshop" kind are fairly inexpensive. For the sewing machine area lighting, try a desk task light with a GE Reveal bulb in 75 Watts or greater. They are VASTLY better than regular incandescents for seeing detail when you sew. They also give a much truer color, meaning closer to sunlight.
For the rug, choose a low pile so your wheeled chair will roll across it nicely. Plain bright colors make it much easier to pick up dropped pins and threads.
Also, find some artwork from elsewhere since you are using a limited budget. Add a full length mirror when you have the extra $20.
Another thing that really helps in a sewing area is to declutter the fabric you no longer like. Give it to a daycare center or Goodwill. Then declutter the supplies such as too-old interfacing, odd spools of ancient thread, bobbins from long gone machines, useless pins, elastic that lost its oomph. Dump out every drawer and sort it ruthlessly. Line the drawers with new wrapping paper or shelf paper. Wrapping paper has more patterns, shelf paper slides more easily, your choice.
Dull scissors can be sharpened, but see if they are worth the $12 to do it. There are wonderful desk organizers for sewing from Nancy's Notions http://www.nancysnotions.com/category/supplies/organizers.do?nType=2
I especially like the bobbin sorters and thread keepers that slip into drawers. A plain drawer organizer from amazon.com can be a great help: http://www.amazon.com/InterDesign-Linus-Grand-Drawer-Organizer/dp/B00193ITHS
Go to garage sales and pick up any containers that speak to you. Think outside the box (literally) and use things like large cooking pots with lids.
Look in your kitchen to see if you have extra containers you can repurpose. A rarely-used large measuring cup can hold scissors and markers.
Cardboard oatmeal containers are versatile and sturdy. Cover with paper or fabric. They also stack pretty well.
I have a lot more piled up on the other side as well :)
Would you be able to take some more photos, showing each wall completely?
Do you prefer closed storage or open shelving?
Do you have the option of adding an electric baseboard heater, the kind you plug in?
An option for storing fabric in dresser drawers is to file it like file folders, not piled deep. Here's an example using T-shirts: http://www.darkroomanddearly.com/2012/03/diy-organized-t-shirt-drawers.html
As our tastes change, we often keep a lot of things just out of habit and because we have room for them. Deciding to make a change, as you have, to put your sewing higher in your priorities, is the first step.
I would check your local Craigslist and search for Ikea Billy or Expedit items. First photo is an expedit. Second is the billy bookshelves
http://www.daystyledesigns.com
http://www.freemotionquilting.blogspot.com
Search your Ikea website to see the unit you like best then start scouring Craigslist ;-)
meet Jordan :) he is my buddy he loves to follow me around and sits beside the machine when I sew . need I say that he was adopted from the shelter as a kitten .
I'm so glad some of the ideas and photos helped. I knew the Varde wouldn't work for sewing since there's no place to put your feet. But I'd thought if there was a place in the room for it, it might be handy to use as a table for cutting or pinning pattern pieces and that sort of work.
Fingers crossed you find exactly what you need at a great price!
I like red! I don't know about you :))http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40047675/#/70201811
Having someone else pick up or taking someone with you would probably be best. I've just looked and this weighs 133 lbs according to the website.
If you find enough cabinets that you can stack them to make two towers, you can put a closet rod between them if they are securely fastened to the walls. You can stack upper cabinets to make a storage wall that's not too deep so you don't lose your fabrics in the back. The base cabinets you use to create the sewing table part should have pull out storage inside like boxes or bins. Since they'd be behind closed doors, they don't have to be attractive, just sturdy.
If you can't find cabinets but want closed looking storage, get inexpensive book cases at thrift stores or estate sales (shorter under any windows or outlets, tall where they'll fit), paint them all the same color and hang curtain rods on the front. Then use those sewing skills and some of that fabric stash to make curtains for your bookcases. Easy access and pretty, too. Plus, when you want to change the look of the room you need only make new curtains. You could even make coordinating wall pockets to hang above the sewing table/cabinet combo. If you don't like the curtain idea, you can still use book cases and have them look neat using those fabric folding "drawers" that are so ubiquitous these days.
You mention that the walls are dark. If you can paint them a light neutral color it will help the room seem larger. If not, try to keep any furniture light. Once you've improved your storage, you can get rid of the plastic totes or use them to store those out of season shoes you mention.
Sewing rooms are a great blessing, but I will share a warning most people don't: your stash of fabric and notions and sewing stuff will grow overnight when you're sleeping and take over the house if you don't keep an eye on it. I'm pretty sure mine is crawling up the stairs as we speak....
Speaking of ikea stuff on craigslist, I JUST sold 6 ikea chairs on craigslist today. Keep your eyes open, things come and go quickly. If you're tech savvy (or have a teenager), you can set up alerts for certain key words (such as "ikea" and/or "cabinet") and you'll find out as soon as something's posted.
It is such a pleasure to have a sewing room question on houzz.
I look forward to seeing changes as you go along.