Sewing/craft room ideas

[BitOfFun]

My lovely husband is decorating and fitting out my sewing room, so I'm looking for your best tips- what little things have you found makes a huge difference? What couldn't you do without? What was a waste of money? What kind of chair is best for sitting at your machine? What lighting? What is the most convenient way to store your fabric?

Any useful information gratefully received!

Omg, I'm so jealous.

I don't have such a wonderful room, but I have always hankered after two ikea kitchen islands, placed back to back for cutting. They are at the right height, nice and big, loads of storage.... I saw the set up in a sewing shop once, and it was just amazing.

I'm going to have a repainted kitchen base unit with a big granite slab on top (thanks to the skip I found it in ), so I'll be cutting out on that.

I raided IKEA for mine. Shelving units, Kallax storage boxes, a make your own table which is three tables tops attached to make one huge table, a desk with large drawer which houses smaller things like scissors, and pins, and then shelves in the side for boxes of thread.
I have four windows in my room (it was that room that sold the house to me really) so don't use a lot of artificial light, but I do have two lamps by my desk that I use when working late. One is a spotlight that you can shine wherever you need it and the other is a standard lamp.
I also have a sofa and a radio in mine, and a space to have the ironing board out permanently.

Thanks delilah- I will definitely be hitting Ikea!

I got a large curved led light that curves over my right hand side. Gives brilliant lighting.

That sounds like a great idea, thanks! I definitely need some task lighting.

I love my Horn sewing cabinet hornfurniture.co.uk/.

I have even been known to use it as my tea/coffee station at parties as it's so neat.

Ikea for mine.
I used the 'Algot' shelving system to add the desk, shelves and baskets for my fabric. The 'Skadis' peg boards fit directly on to the Algot. I used the Skadis accessories like the clips, shelves, roll holders etc. I have an LED under cabinet light beneath the shelves as well now as well as a craft lamp.
Love my room, it's my happy place.

Oh my word, that looks BEAUTIFUL!

ALL the lighting
My table is against the window for the best light, plus it gives me something to look at when I stop for a breather
A proper office chair with wheels. DP said the wheels would be annoying on carpet, but not having them is so much worse
A permanent ironing station. I’ve just covered a board with batting and thick cotton, and have it on top of the malm 5 drawer unit I keep my fabric in. Utilises the space without having to have rickety ironing board up and is perfect height.
I have the ikea peg boards next to my table, I keep cutters, scissors and rulers on it, means can quickly reach them when I want.
My table is made from the biggest Ikea table top I could fit in the room, and those adjustable trestle legs. I’ve stick the top on with Velcro so the table can be taken apart quickly when the room is needed for guests
A really posh chair bed for DP to sit on and watch football on his phone when he feels neglected
I wish I’d got a telly on the wall that hooks up to internet, would be really useful to watch YouTube tutorials and bloggers etc whilst in my sewing room

For my birthday next year I’m going to have a shelving unit made that is right size for my big books, and also to keep machine on. My table isn’t big enough for cutting mat and machine so have to keep swapping

There’s a fb group for sewing rooms specifically. But I get jealous of Americans with huge spaces quite a lot so have to limit myself on it

Oh, I think it would kill me - I'm having a hard enough time drooling over MadSweeney's workstation...I keep wanting to stroke the page!

These are all fab ideas, thankyou. I agree with you about the ironing set-up, I'm definitely going to do so,thing similar.

Ooh, DH has just got me this for £20...

Pic didn't post, doh!

Ooh!

Omg are you a quilter? Please tell me you're a quilter & you use fat quarters.. Ikea Billy-bookshelf-style cd storage - our local quilt shop has these & the fat quarters fit exactly inside like cds! Makes browsing for fabrics a pleasure!

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I could almost lick them

Pinterest is the place to go and salivate over.

Oooh & Kaffe Fasset had this felt wall & you could just press your cut-out squares/triangles onto it & they'd stick whilst you play-around arranging pleasing shapes...

@BlackSoggyOnion
Is that Tiki patchwork in Kew? 😀

I need to cover my surfaces now with assume kind of fablon. I've started working with concrete and I'm scared of making a mess 😊

Oh yes @MothershipG but she's closing down

I am so so so so jealous of people with craft rooms, my stash(Es) are boxed and hidden all over the house.

Anyone in the midlands NEEDS to visit the fabric guild in Oadby, Leicestershire. They have tonnes of import quilting cotton, batting, wadding. By the yard or fat quarter and really really reasonable prices. I ration my visits to save my bank account.

BlackSoggyOnion, yes! I'll do that- fantastic idea!