Craft Storage Solutions For Small Spaces

How to Store Craft Items in a Small Home Office

If you're short on space in your home office, it can be tricky to find a place for all your craft supplies. But don't worry, there are plenty of clever ways to maximise your storage and keep everything organised. From wall-mounted shelves and vertical bins to repurposing household items, here are some ideas to help you make the most of your small space.

Declutter and measure your space

Decluttering and measuring your space is the first step to storing your craft items efficiently in a small home office. Go through your craft supplies and be ruthless in deciding what to keep and what to discard. If you haven't used certain items in a while and don't foresee using them again, it's best to let them go. This will free up space for the things you use regularly.

Once you've decluttered, it's time to measure your space. Figure out the dimensions of the area you have available for your craft storage. Consider the walls, floor space, and any nooks or crannies that can be utilised. Think about whether you want your craft supplies to be on display or hidden away. If you want them out of sight, measure the inside of cabinets, closets, or drawers that you plan to use.

After measuring, you can decide on the best storage solutions for your space. Consider vertical storage options like shelves, pegboards, or wall-mounted cups and buckets to maximise space. Look for multi-purpose furniture, such as a cubby or bookshelf, that can hold a variety of items and is easy to rearrange.

If you're working with a tiny area, clear plastic bins or baskets that can be tucked away in various spots are a great option. You can also repurpose household items like glass jars, baskets, or vintage drop-down desks to store your craft supplies attractively and affordably.

Remember, the key to successful craft storage in a small home office is to be creative and flexible. Make the most of every inch of space available, and don't be afraid to think outside the box!

Use a combination of shelves, drawers, and bins

Using a combination of shelves, drawers, and bins is a great way to store your craft items efficiently in a small home office. Here are some tips to maximise your storage:

Shelves

Shelves are a great way to utilise wall space and keep your supplies organised and easily accessible. You can find shelves at thrift stores or yard sales, and give them a fresh coat of paint to match your home office aesthetic. To make the most of your shelving, use containers, bins, or baskets to organise your craft supplies. These can be purchased or even made from cardboard boxes. Clear plastic storage containers are ideal for seeing what's inside at a glance. You can also line the shelves with jars, baskets, and bins of various sizes and add labels to easily locate each item.

Drawers

Drawers are perfect for storing small items that can be easily lost or misplaced. Clear acrylic drawer organisers are great for holding frequently used items such as scissors, glue, pins, and tape measures. You can also use shallow bowls, vintage items, or pillboxes found at flea markets and garage sales to store small items like sewing supplies. For larger drawers, use drawer dividers to separate and organise your craft supplies.

Bins

Bins are excellent for storing bulkier items or a large quantity of supplies. Plastic containers with flip-top lids are ideal for small craft supplies and can be stacked and stored in cabinets or closets. Clear, airtight containers are perfect for paintbrushes, pipe cleaners, paints, glitter, and other small items. For items like twine, string, or yarn, a paper towel holder can be used to keep them neat and tangle-free.

By combining these storage solutions, you can effectively store your craft items in your small home office, making the most of your space while keeping your supplies organised and easily accessible.

Label everything

Labelling is a key part of keeping your craft supplies organised, especially if you're storing them in a small home office. Here are some tips to help you label everything effectively:

Choose a Labelling System

Decide on a labelling system that works for you and your craft space. You can use labels that are colour-coded, feature words, or both. Colour-coding is a great way to differentiate between categories of items, while words can help you quickly identify the contents of each container. You can also create a master list or inventory that maps out where everything is stored.

Be Descriptive

When labelling your craft supplies, be as descriptive as possible. Instead of simply writing "paint" or "glue", include details such as the type of paint (acrylic, watercolour, etc.) or the colour of the glue (white glue, hot glue, etc.). This will make it easier to find what you need at a glance.

Label Containers and Bins

Clear containers and bins are great for storing craft supplies, but they can become cluttered and disorganised if you don't know what's inside. Label each container with the type of craft item it holds. For example, you might have one bin for paintbrushes, another for glitter, and another for small items like paper clips or rubber bands.

Label by Category

Group similar items together and label them accordingly. For example, you might have a section for "painting supplies" with labels for different types of paint, brushes, and palettes. Or you might have a "sewing section" with labels for fabric, thread, needles, and scissors.

Label by Project

If you're working on multiple craft projects at once, you can label your supplies by project. For example, you might have a bin for "embroidery project" with all the necessary threads, fabrics, and patterns. This will help you stay organised and ensure you have all the supplies you need for each project.

Update Labels Regularly

Craft supplies tend to be dynamic—you may use them up, replace them, or add new items to your collection. To keep your labelling system accurate and useful, update your labels regularly. This might involve crossing out items you no longer have or adding new items to the list.

Use vertical storage

Vertical storage is a great way to save space in a small home office. Here are some ideas for using vertical storage to organise your craft supplies:

Install Vertical Shelving

Wall-mounted, vertical shelving is a great way to keep your craft supplies neatly organised and easily accessible while using minimal space. This type of storage will also help keep your supplies off the floors and tables, giving you more room to work on your crafts. You can find shelving in various sizes and styles to fit your space and aesthetic.

Incorporate Vertical Bins

Building upward rather than outward with vertical bins is an easy storage solution, especially if you're working with a small space. Bins are perfect for storing items such as ribbons, threads, and scrapbook paper. You can find vertical bins in various sizes and colours to fit your needs and aesthetic.

Use a Pegboard for Wall Storage

A pegboard is a highly functional and customisable way to store numerous supplies in a small space. You can purchase a pegboard panel at a hardware store and cut it to the size you need. Paint it a colour that coordinates with your craft room, or leave it as is for a more industrial look. Pegboard hooks and attachments come in various shapes and sizes, so you'll be able to store a variety of craft supplies.

Buckets and Hooks

Using a combination of mounted hooks and buckets allows you to make the most of your vertical space. Buckets can be quickly detached and brought to different workstations, making it easy to transport your supplies. This storage solution is perfect for small items such as paintbrushes, pencils, markers, and scissors.

Wall-Mounted Cups

If you have a surplus of pens, pencils, paintbrushes, and markers, consider using wall-mounted cups to keep them organised and easy to find. Simply repurpose old cups or jars and mount them to the wall—it's an easy and inexpensive storage solution!

Colour-code your supplies

Colour-coding your craft supplies is a great way to keep your small home office neat and tidy. It's an effective way to keep your supplies organised and easily accessible. Here are some tips to help you get started:

Choose a Colour Scheme

Decide on a colour scheme that works for you. You can choose colours that match your office décor or go with a rainbow theme. Assign a specific colour to each category of craft supplies, such as painting, sewing, knitting, or paper crafting. This will make it easier to identify and locate the items you need.

Label Your Supplies

Once you've selected your colour scheme, it's time to label your supplies. Use coloured stickers, tags, or markers to indicate the category of each item. For example, you might use red for painting supplies, blue for sewing, and green for knitting. Stick the coloured labels to the items themselves or to the storage containers you use to organise them.

Sort and Store

Now, it's time to sort and store your supplies according to their colour-coded labels. If you're using shelves or storage bins, dedicate a specific shelf or bin for each colour. That way, you'll always know exactly where to find what you need. For example, all your painting supplies will be together on the red shelf or in the red bin.

Create a Colour-Coded Inventory

Create a colour-coded inventory list or chart to keep track of your supplies. List each category of craft supplies and its corresponding colour. This will help you remember which colour represents which type of supply. You can also use this list to note down the quantities of each item you have, so you know when it's time to restock.

Extend Colour-Coding to Your Workspace

If you want to take colour-coding to the next level, you can even colour-code your workspace. Assign specific areas or zones in your office for different types of crafts. For example, you might have a red zone for painting, a blue zone for sewing, and so on. This will help you stay organised and efficient as you move between different projects.

By implementing these colour-coding strategies, you'll be able to keep your small home office craft area neat, tidy, and well-organised. It will be easier to find what you need, and you'll spend less time searching for supplies and more time being creative!

Frequently asked questions