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!

Good grief, can’t believe I forgot that bit! The only full wall has a huge piece of cotton batting stuck to it with command strips, fabric does indeed stick to it!

Get yourself a kettle and/or coffee machine. My sewing room is in the attic and I got a coffee machine second hand and have a thermos for milk.

Oh bloody hell @wowfudge why did I not think of that!!!

Don't forget a biscuit tin too @MadSweeney .

& a bottle of deionised water from tescos (only a quid last time I was in) so you don't have to descale your iron.

If we have an unlimited budget, one of those plug-in electric 'rise & fall' sewing tables so you can alternate between sitting & standing..

This is getting exciting now, thinking of the possibilities... How about a strong mini shelf close to the work space for your mug & biscuits - to minimise tea spills in the sewing area?

@BlackSoggyOnion I know and join you on the floor. 😢

I used to have a sewing room but now it's a bedroom as we are trying to sell the house and people have no imagination, not sure if I'll get a sewing room in the next house but I shall follow this thread and live in hope of the DC actually leaving home one day...

I promise to come back with photos when it's finished!

Magmatic, I've ordered a flannel-backed tablecloth to attach to the largest free space as a design wall- they are definitely a must-have!

Luckily, this room is downstairs, so I am never far from a nice cup of tea.

This room is a big treat for me: both my daughters have left home now, and as I've quite recently been diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer, I feel it's about time I had a chance to really indulge myself, so I am being unashamedly selfish

I bought a huge second hand table for forty pounds -enough room for a1 cutting mat, sewing machine and (still boxed) overlocker!

And good on you for being self indulgent.

So far, so good! It's on the way. I will use this surface for cutting out, and DH has said he will spray paint the coloured boxes on the rack in white tomorrow. He's put the big mirror there to help bounce the light around a bit. I will either have a kitchen base unit underneath, or perhaps just my big plastic storage boxes with fabric in. I can always rig up a curtain thingy to edge round the cutting table, so it won't look too untidy.

Looking good!

So sorry to hear about your cancer & well done for indulging yourself. You know we're going to want to see pics of what you make too...

I've got 4 Alex drawer units next to each other from Ikea (fdifferent sizes and colours available)

www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/storage-furniture/drawer-units-storage-cabinets/alex-drawer-unit-oak-effect-art-10278342/

Bought some cheap storage boxes from The Range to sort everything. Some days I enjoy just sitting there and opening and closing the drawers

Do you stroke your fabric too, caranx? I do

I managed to get hold of a couple of pedestal units that work were chucking out. They're perfect: nice deep drawers of differing depths, on castors, fit under my cutting table.

We've just moved and once we've sorted all the other rooms, I shall have time to set up my own craft room. I'm enjoying looking at the photos here and hearing people's suggestions! I've been scouring Pinterest for lots of ideas. I'm definitely getting lots of shelves and also pegboards - I've seen photos of spools of thread hanging on a pegboard, that's what I'm hoping for!

Ta-Daaaa!

How lovely! You deserve it - enjoy your new room.

Wow it looks lovely! I dream of a sewing room of any size, yours looks just fantastic. I’m sure it will be a haven of calm and creativity! Enjoy it!

Love seeing the photos of other people's sewing rooms.

All my tips have been covered by other posters already. Only one I'd add is the little Raskog trolley from IKEA, so handy for all those little bits if you need to move from station to station.

I'm seriously thinking of getting a gravity fed iron for my room, but just not sure if it's worth it or not.

Well that looks bloody fabulous!
May all your stitches be perfect

I'm well on the way to completing a project I'd started months ago- I just love having a proper dedicated space to work, it's brilliant!

Your room looks fabulous, BitOfFun!

We are downsizing due to my recent diagnosis with a neuromuscular disease and I am finally getting a sewing room! A diagnosis makes you realise you need to start doing the things you've always wanted to do, doesn't it x

I bought a second hand Ikea Norden gateleg table to upcycle as my sewing table. And yesterday I discovered that Hobbycraft are selling gorgeous craft trolleys for £25 in their sale instead of £50! They are like the Ikea Raskog trolley, and I've got one in a lovely blue-green.

I'm also planning on a day bed with a trundle underneath so the room can double as a guest room.

I'd love to see more pictures of sewing rooms for inspiration!