Please join me in welcoming today’s guest blogger, Kat from StudioKat Designs. She shares some useful tips on improving your creative space. Kat’s also giving away a copy of her latest pattern, The Quattro – see below for your chance to enter.
I know I’m a pretty lucky girl. A year ago we built a sewing studio under our old sun porch—a room completely devoted to my creative work. Absolutely everything I need, to handle every possible creative and business task is within easy reach. I have Internet access, a TV, a stereo, and best of all, wrap-around windows with a view out on my pastoral backyard, so there’s lots of natural light. It’s quiet and serene and I have never been more productive and creative in my life.
But, it wasn’t always like this. Until last year, I had to fight for my creative space. In fact, in our old house and it was always a hassle getting started on a project. Sometimes it seemed like I spent more time dragging everything out and then packing it all back up when I got done, than I spent working on my project. Ugh. But, I did it and through the years, I actually got pretty good at carving out the creative space I needed and maximizing its potential.
So… whether you’re working with a lot of space or just a little, here’s some tips that might help you:
1. Claim It
Clear a space that’s just for YOU and set up shop. Take a room if you can get it, or a corner of a room, or a closet. Even a table will do. The important thing is that you have a space that you can call your own and feel assured that your family won’t disturb your in-process projects and supplies.
2. Organize It
The smaller your work area, the MORE important it is to be organized. Invest in some good quality storage units so that the amount of time you spend searching for the items you need is minimized, (if they’re cute and easy to look at, so much the better). Nothing can break your creative flow more quickly than having to continuously stop and hunt for the items you need.
3. Personalize It
In addition to being organized, your work area needs to be as visually inspiring as possible. A good way to do this is by adding items that hold emotional significance for you. Photographs are an easy way to personalize your space, as are handmade items, souvenirs etc. Are you inspired by color? Consider adding a small design board so that you can hang fabric swatches, sketches or magazine clippings that you find interesting. Your decorated space should look inviting, and should make you feel relaxed and motivated to work in it.
4. Brighten It
Even if your room is normally bathed in ample natural light, there will be times that you will need to augment it with additional lighting. Appropriate lighting can lift your spirits, that’s for sure, but let’s face it, it’s really hard to maintain energy and forward momentum in a dark dank corner.
5. Green It
Plants are a wonderful way to add energy to a lifeless workspace. Use only living oxygen-generating plants, not lifeless fake ones. This is especially important if your workspace has no windows to the world outside. Bring yourself back to nature by adding some plants to your workspace, and you’ll find yourself enjoying the environment more.
Now go DO It!
Take a moment now to survey your creative space and jot down a few changes you’d like to make. How can you make your workspace even more relaxing, livable and attractive? If cash is tight, set a budget for how much you’d like to spend on personalizing your space. Think about your favorite places to hang out. What is it about those places that make you feel so good? How can you modify your creative space to create a similar feel?
Don’t have the time or resources for a complete workspace makeover? Then just change one little thing each week. Add a photo. Buy a plant. Clean up the junk pile. But most of all, get busy creating!
So how about you?
Do you have a dedicated space for YOUR creative work?
I’d love for you to leave me a comment here and then…
And answer the following question about this post for a chance to win our NEWEST PATTERN,
The Quattro in honor of Quilting Gallery!
What have you done to make YOUR creative space more organized, relaxing or inspirational?
Winner will be announced on Saturday morning, June 18th on the StudioKat Designs blog.
StudioKat Designs offers original handbag patterns and designs so you can create your own unique pieces of “art-to-wear”. And here’s where you can find Kat on the web!
Visit us:
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