My Top 2 Tips for Managing a Small Sewing Space
Sometimes my tiny sewing space gets to a point where stuff is crammed into every drawer, I can’t find things readily, and too many projects are on my flat surfaces because there’s nowhere else for them to go. Grrr!
We moved into this house a year ago and I decided last week it was time for a clean out and reorganization of my tiny sewing room. Boy, was it worth it in the end!
You can come along on my sewing room clean out by watching the video I made all about it, AND read on for two of my best tips I have for managing a very small sewing or craft space.
Two Tips for Managing a Small Sewing or Craft Room
I have another post with even more tips for sewing room organization, and I still hold to those strategies, but I made that post and video when I had a very large sewing loft. When we moved here, I had to get pretty creative about the best use of my new sewing room (you can see it read about it here).
My top two tips for organizing a tiny sewing space are:
First, opt for closed storage.
Many peoples’ first instinct is to keep their fabrics stacked on shelves and visible, even if this means they have floor-to-ceiling shelves stuffed with fabric. Then, they store other things like patterns, trims, and notions in clear bins, also stacked on open shelves.
Having everything out and visible like this is completely overstimulating, especially when it gets messy (and it will get messy). Not only that, your fabric could get dusty and possibly even fade along the edge that’s facing outward. Eek!
Instead, opt for closed storage options. My giant cutting table is a former dresser that we repurposed into a cutting station by putting a new top on it. Its drawers hold my entire stash of fabric, all my patterns, plus many notions and tools.
Instead of stacking my fabrics in these drawers, I fold them and store them upright, file wise. During this clean out, I went a step further and organized my cottons my color! It’s so easy now to find a fabric I’m looking for. I couldn’t be happier with my cleaned out drawers.
Since my supplies are hidden away, my walls have room for lovely things that bring me joy in my sewing room, rather than towering walls of messy fabrics and ugly bins of supplies!
Second, when you run out of space, do NOT just add more space. Clean out instead.
If your designated spaces are stuffed full, the answer is not to add more storage. That is how people end up with bins of fabric in their spare bathtub, their garage rafters and in the crawlspace. Don’t be a hoarder!
If you need to clear some space, your options are to plan some projects that use some fabric up, or clean out your stash and donate some to make room. And, it goes without saying, don’t add to the stash before making the space. Resist buying fabric when you already have plenty! Use it up or clean it out.
I hope you enjoyed my sewing room clean out! If you want more tips for sewing organization, here are some posts you might like to read:
A tour of my current small sewing room
A tour of the sewing room when I taught classes out of my home
