Help! Craft room/office on a budget
I am looking for some inspiration on how to turn this junk room into a calm and peaceful craft/office room. It needs to incorporate an area to comfortably weave and an area to sit on a laptop to do work. We have just done the bathroom up so money is limited. I have a lot of time so can paint and decorate and make anything (within reason) that I need.
The floor is currently laminate but will be replaced with a grey (with a hint of brown) coloured carpet. We have not chosen this yet so it could potentially change.
Any ideas would be fantastic!
Comments (13)
A B
6 years agoWhat a dream project! I would have a bit of a declutter and keep everything stored in the built in storage. I'd make a curtain to replace the current sliding door. I'd definitely keep the flooring, and make my own rug to partially cover it. I'd get a larger desk and position it in front of the window. I'd decorate the walls neutrally, then have a feature wall dedicated to framing my creations over time. Enjoy!
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Comments (64)I too work from home. The change took some to adjust to. Early on it was novel and I was smug that my 'commute' was only 15 seconds - bedroom to office. Over time I found I was not working so well as I was in an 'at home' frame of mind. I combated that to some extent as follows: 1. Paint it to look and feel like an office - if not you gradually feel to much like you are at home and work suffers. 2. Layout has to be practical first, looks count second. I see your desk and I think you are like me. Filing can be an issue. It is easy to end up with a desk buried under a foot of papers and that impacts your work and your mind. Have plenty of filing space - cabinets and/or shelving and ensure a fair amount of it is within a pace of your desk. Working from home means you will need to do most of the taking out and putting away, even if you do have an occasional assistant. Being able to do that within a simple turn from your chair means you can keep doing it. Once it is a chore to do, then suddenly it all piles up. 3. Going to work in the morning - get up, walk out and then come back in to the office. It may sound strange but as a habit you then feel you are at work. I used to stumble down the stairs and into the office and then work didn't really happen properly - I wasn't in an 'at work' frame of mind. Commuting to work is a pain but it actually makes that distinction - I am now at work. For me, making sure I am dressed suitably to go to the gate and back helps with that frame of mind. 4. Lighting - again, make it like at office - bright enough and no shadows. 5. IT equipment. Make sure it has enough space. There is nothing as infuriating as fighting with a printer in a tight shelving unit when the inevitable paper jam/toner change crops up as you are rushing to complete something. Again, working from home means you will be in charge of all this too, so get it all installed correctly so that it all works without too much effort from you. Your time is better spent in your primary role, so IT needs to be there for you, not you for it. 6. Drinks etc. For me I keep all that in the kitchen. This saves space and also makes me get up and stretch my legs from time to time. I don't have any young children anymore so there is no problem going and getting a drink - no break in the 'at work' mode. If you have young children at home this point may not work for you. 7. Make sure family and friends understand that you are at work and not simply at home. There is a tendency for them to think you are at home and that they can thus disturb you any time. Working at home means flexibility but also lost time from distractions if not done carefully. Good luck with your new venture. Onwards and upwards!...See MoreHow can I make everything tie in on a tight budget?
Comments (12)Hi. If you can sew I would make your own curtains, rather than cream I would go for white and silver grey. The other option is to buy some cheap ready made curtains and either add borders in a luxury fabric or add something like a Pom pom trim etc. I would probably stop buying bits until you've sat down and looked at schemes you like. Once you've done that then make up a mood board so you can see how it all ties together. It just means you won't waste money on buying stuff you don't like. I would also look at trying to create a focal point as you don't have a fire, this could be art or a mirror over a cabinet for example. Or hang your tv above a console and add art around it.The biggest change for me atm would be to add cushions to lighten the sofa up though. I would also keep an eye on ebay, antique shops, country house auctions etc for maybe a replacement desk and a coffee table. Adding a lamp will add cosiness. I saw this fab light at george of asda the other day for £20. No idea what it looks like in the flesh but looks nice online!...See MoreHome office layout and style - help please
Comments (5)Thank you for your help. I was thinking of putting a large bookcase on wall that backs onto utility room but I want to get the desk location right first. I just need plenty of storage and enough space to work on a laptop. I would like the room to double up as a nice reading room too I think. I was hoping to have it as an office and craft room but it's just not big enough for crafting in I don't think, and my husband likes the idea of it also being a reading room too....See MoreHelp with paint colour please! Home office/guest room.
Comments (8)Its funny but I am liking the darker shades more and more. Always used to go for pastels but my tastes are evolving! The matchcards in your earlier pic, on the table, seem to be much lighter than the later pic with the fabric, not sure why. The middle colour, Paradise Found, seems to match the flower in the fabric very well so it would work. But I must be honest I love the two greeny blues more. They are very similar to Inchyra Blue by F&B. Would you go all over? I think with white shutters and white woodwork it would look stunning. Here’s a pic of Inchyra Blue so you can see how similar it is, but a little darker?...See More
Shelby L
6 years agoIKEA hacks!! I'd rip the doors off the closet and put storage in there. The desk looks useable and you can use a peg board to make some fun, easy access storage for your sewing stuff. That leaves you some room to do what you want on the other wall. Here are some ideas. Google IKEA hacks craft room and you will see endless, reasonably priced options!
Kate
6 years agoRosie G
6 years ago- PRO
User
6 years agoLove Shelby L's last pic, now that's organisation! If you have the desk area around three sides it provides more scope for different work areas. You can also have more storage over head.
A moveable craft table on wheels is very handy as it stows away against one wall, yet can be moved to the middle of the room if you need to walk around your work.
Leaving plenty of room for a comfortable armchair in one corner.
Monica
6 years agoI am beyond lucky to have a SHE SHED/Craft Studio/Summer House at the bottom of our garden which houses my craft business. I display the pretties and hide the clutter. I went for whites overall, letting my colourful supplies add pops of colour. I went for Ikea everything, used wall cabinets as base cabinets (deep cabs allow you to lose tons of stuff and clutter soon piles up in craft spaces), lots of bins makes sorting supplies easier and ensures everything has a place.
Kate
6 years agoMonica
6 years ago
PROWoodpecker Flooring
6 years agoHi Kate, you could always go for a grey laminate to help you achieve that airy Scandi feel. It might be more practical for you too - easier to clean and hardwearing. Here's some inspiration. We can see Litecraft's ideas fitting perfectly with these styles.
Wembury Winter Oak: https://woodpeckerflooring.co.uk/product/wembury-winter-oak/
Wembury Coconut Oak: https://woodpeckerflooring.co.uk/product/wembury-coconut-oak/
Kate
6 years ago
PROJohn Damien Kitchens & Bedrooms
6 years agoHi Kate
I would certainly save money by leaving the floor as is.I recently installed the attached which can easily be modified to suit your room.
Good luck with your project.
Kate
6 years ago
Litecraft