Create a Small Creative Space in Your Home to Encourage Your Craft Time!
If you are a fellow creative then you know you function better when you make time and room to create! It’s a simple fact. That’s why I decided to build out a small creative space in my home. I call it our Creation Station.
Creativity is like a river that needs to flow and if it gets damned up the repercussions are rough. Lately, I have been feeling the new to draw and paint more. I used to a ton when I was a kid.
I would take lessons and work vigorously on art projects throughout school. Then life came and that particular type of creativity took a back seat to work, relationships and daily grind.
Don’t get me wrong – I do tons of creative things still, but the tactile tasks of using pencil, paints and ink to spill my thoughts on paper is void. Do you have a favorite habit or hobby that you used to groom but have let fall away? Maybe you need to follow this idea to fruition in your home too.
We have a little nook in our house that just sits unused. I had a desk there thinking the kids would cozily sit and solve equations and write book reports, but they don’t, so it’s dead space.
You likely have a spot in your house that goes unused, even if it’s a closet. (I used to have a creative work-space in a closet many houses ago and it was awesome. Just shut the door when not in use!)
This desolate nook was my chance to make a creative space the whole house could enjoy.
I dragged my husband to IKEA and literally dragged him out. Note to self and maybe you – never take the hubs to IKEA again. While I love it, the joint is not his cup of tea.
I did manage to grab a few items to design a creative retreat in an afternoon. I was on a mission for desk space, storage plus style. Bingo – IKEA for the win.
I will list the exact pieces I used below, but whatever your space size/shape/need, look for the perfect fit for YOU.
I made all my choices online before heading to the store. This way I was able to measure and make sure everything would fit together in the space as planned.
All I had to do was pick it up and put it together. Shopping online can really help you get a space like this complete quickly.
For our creative work-space I migrated all our journaling type craft supplies to this location. My daughter and I both have a ton of paints, pens and pencils, so I got a few crates at IKEA and used them to corral jars full of craft supplies.
I took a lot of things out of the bulky packaging and put them out in the open so we could clearly see what we had and use it more. BTW – if you want to see some other aweseome IKEA finds that fit a vintage style home like mine see the list here.
I used two half crates from Crates and Pallet for wall storage. The are perfect to hold jars of paint brushes and inspirational books. I might paint them, but haven’t decided yet, what do you think?
I can’t explain the way having a space carved out for what is dear to you means. It encourages freedom and growth, begs you for your time and soothes your soul in a delightful way.
When the space is dedicated you can leave a mess, come and go and have everything you need right at your fingertips. Whatever it is you do, think about making your own creation station and get back to nourishing the talents you explored as a child or the ones you haven’t got to yet.
Commit to spending time there a few minutes a day or a few hours a week. You won’t regret it and neither will the people around you – creating brings JOY!
Small Creative Space Decor Items:
IKEA ALEX Desk Base with Drawers (2)
IKEA VARIERA Box for Storage (2)
Here is a cute IKEA magazine holder hack you could easily use in your creative space too!
Marcie says
Such a great use of this little cubby space. I like it. Happy creating Kim!
Kim at Salvaged Living says
thanks Marcie! It’s nice to carve out a spot for whatever it is you like to do!
Jane says
Very nicely done, Kim. You asked for opinions about painting the book holder above the desk. I think it looks nice in the light wood finish and is a good contrast. If you’re dying for something to paint (haha), maybe the chair could be painted either white or bright red to tie in the trash can?
Kim at Salvaged Living says
Lol…i like the light wood too and no im not dying to paint anything extra!!! But the chair would look cute white now that you mentioned it!!!????????