Hello, hello!
For entirely too long, my creative space was an epic disaster. There was stuff thrown literally everywhere. And despite my best efforts, things were just getting worse.
I read anything and everything I could get my hands on about organizing. And yet I still couldn’t figure it out. Let’s face it, though. When all I was doing was rearranging and reorganizing, I had very little time to actually make stuff. And I kept thinking to myself why is this so difficult?
Fast forward a few years and guess what? Cristi – 1, Creative Space – 0. Yep, I won! I went through every single thing I owned, sorted and purged, and basically started from scratch. How did I manage to survive what seriously seemed like a never-ending process?
Don’t forget to join us in the 52 Weeks Facebook group where you’ll find lots of insight + inspiration for getting your craft room organized and using your stash!
Of course I started with a plan. You can see my step-by-step planning process + get all the free printables I used to put together an awesome creative space here. And when I had a plan, I broke things up into manageable categories, rolled up my sleeves, and got to work.
Are you overwhelmed by your creative space… or any space, for that matter? Check out these three secrets for organizing your creative space when you don’t know where to start because, contrary to what a lot of people think, you definitely can have your cake and eat it too. You don’t have to choose between being creative and being organized.
If you have a lot of space
Empty out your entire creative space, lay out your workspaces, and bring things back in one at a time. By doing it this way, you’re essentially starting with a blank canvas. Sure, it takes time and space, but the end result is awesome. And it totally isn’t as overwhelming when you’re looking at only a few things at a time. Make sure to sort and purge as you’re bringing things back into your workspace and don’t forget to use this opportunity to rearrange if you’re starting over.
Depending upon how much stuff you have, you might be able to manage this within a day or two. I try for approximately twice a year to give my space a thorough deep-cleaning and it takes me a weekend to empty the entire studio and put everything back again. I also wipe down the walls, scrub the floors, touch up paint if necessary, and clean all the windows. It’s definitely doable.
If you have some space, but not a lot
Put several boxes in the middle of your workspace. Label each of them by category. Of course, don’t forget to sort and purge as you work. When you find things that are nowhere near where they should be, put them in the appropriate box and keep going. The fact that you’re not running things here, there, and everywhere helps you organize more quickly as well as keeps you focused on what you’re actually doing. You could even set a timer and only work in 15-minute increments.
You want to create boxes for things to give away and things to toss, but you can also use the boxes to sort mixed media & art journaling supplies or sewing & quilting supplies. Maybe it makes sense for you do this with just about everything in your creative space and then go through each box and sort stuff into more specific categories. Once you’ve managed that much, give yourself a pat on the back and go shopping for containers. Remember, you’ll need space to grow too.
If you have no extra space
Grab a few old sheets or lightweight blankets and cover all but one of your workspaces. Focus your efforts there. Sort and purge. Toss everything that doesn’t belong in a basket or bin for the time-being. Once you’re finished, keep going. Eventually, you’ll be able to see your entire creative space again. And hopefully, it won’t be anywhere near as overwhelming. As far as the overflow, you can put it around-about where it belongs, but stick to organizing one space at a time.
This works to eliminate the overwhelm that comes with too much visual clutter. Some of us are just more sensitive than others. If you’re in need of some motivation, try starting with the workspace that’s the worst. Once you’ve conquered that, everything else should be easy. Getting the hardest part of it out of the way first will definitely give you the motivation to keep going. After all, making progress keeps you motivated and gives you a reason to keep going. And that’s an accomplishment in and of itself, right?
You can totally do this! Don’t let yourself forget that. Sometimes we get so caught up in the logistics that we lose perspective. Organizing is one of the few times in life when we actually get a do-over. If it doesn’t work out the way you had hoped, try again. If you’re not happy with something, change it.
Do you have a secret for organizing your creative space when you don’t know where to start? Leave a comment and share.
We all make mistakes when it comes to our creative spaces. Some of us just happen to make more than others. I’ve definitely made my fair share of them over the years. I love to shop and I love to organize, which always seems to get me into trouble. Coupons make for some pretty powerful persuasive tools, don’t you think? I mean, c’mon… 40% off? Sign me up! So, it sounds like maybe you’re having a hard time getting your workspace organized. Maybe, you’re frustrated because you have too much stuff and not enough space. You might even think your creative space is a lost cause altogether. Or you think you know what you want, but you’re really not sure. Either way, you’re overwhelmed. So you’re definitely a creative person and you’ve got this space, right? And this space just happens to be overflowing with paint and ribbon and paper and beads. I’m sure you’ve always dreamed of having the perfect studio, one where each and every piece of furniture matches and while we’re at it, all of your organization is awesome. Let’s not forget the $500 rug you fell head over heels for. I love having separate workspaces for each thing I do. That’s just how I think. My brain neatly compartmentalizes things into categories. For me, that looks a little something like this. Please keep in mind that this isn’t an all-inclusive list. I’m just trying to give to an idea of what my sorting process might look like. Make your own awesome DIY scrapbooking kits using supplies that you already have with free printable instructions! Save time and money! You’re definitely going to want to check it out! This week, I thought it would be fun to talk about how I organize all the small things in my creative space. So let’s take a tour inside all of the many baskets and bins I’ve collected over the years and see what’s where at the moment. This is by no means everything, but it at least gives you an idea. So many of y’all asked for a condensed summer version of the 52 Weeks to an Organized Workspace challenge. And let’s face it, sometimes getting in there and getting things done really is the way to go. After all, isn’t the whole point to make stuff and not spend all your time organizing it? When I was organizing my creative space a few years ago, I spent endless hours on Pinterest looking for ideas and inspiration. I created a half-dozen or so boards filled with all of the latest and greatest organizational finds. Anything and everything I thought I could ever possibly want got pinned. And you know what? I still love looking at all of those amazing creative spaces. Do you have too much stuff and too little space? Are you frustrated and overwhelmed with your creative space? It happens and I’m willing to bet there aren’t too many of us who haven’t been there and done that. A few years ago, I shared the 5 Biggest Mistakes I Made When Organizing My Creative Space. Needless to say, that post has quickly become number one. I’m talking hundreds of thousands of page views. Clearly, I’m not the only creative mama who needs a little bit of help with this.Craft Room Organization Hacks for Creative Mamas
The 5 Biggest Mistakes I Made When Organizing My Creative Space
The 52 Weeks Challenge
10 Tips For Organizing Your Creative Space On A Tight Budget
How To Create Craft Room Workspaces that Work For You
How To Make Your Own Awesome DIY Scrapbooking Kits Using Supplies That You Already Have + Free Printable Instructions
How I Organize All The Small Things In My Creative Space
Get Back to Basics with Creative Space Bootcamp
How I Organized My Entire Creative Space
12 Awesome Hacks For Organizing Your Craft Room + Free Printable
After all, that’s why we’re always rearranging and reorganizing. We’re constantly finding new and better ways of doing things… or in this case, organizing things. Check out these 12 awesome must-see hacks for organizing your craft room.
5 Mistakes To Avoid When Organizing Your Creative Space
Looking for more insight & inspiration? Here are the top 10 most popular posts + how to get your free printable workbook from The Keeper of the Memories. You’re definitely not going to want to miss these!
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