Organisation is Key!
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If you’re anything like me, you find it hard to keep all of your craft materials organised. I’ve really had to cut down over the years, but I recently found a solution that finally works for me (sort of!). We don’t have unlimited space in the house like lots of the influencers you see with dedicated craft rooms, so I had to compromise and find a solution that worked for both of us (sound familiar?).
Everyday on instagram, I see pictures like these. And while they look amazing day on 1 , it’s very hard to maintain an area like this that’s actually in use. Don’t let social media trick you into thinking this is the norm!
So what did I do?
I got this unit from IKEA, the Tonstad. It has sliding doors which makes it perfect for hiding away a mess but the doors also click out really easily if you’d rather have your beautiful craft collection on display. The shelves are also adjustable so you can customise the height of each one. I bought all of my containers in The Range but you can just as easily buy them at Walmart, Amazon or somewhere similar.
Check out some craft storage options here: UK and USA
My cricut maker and mini heat press fit on top too, so they’re not taking up a whole shelf. It would also fit a sewing machine too, rather than a Cricut. I made custom labels for all of my containers on my cricut maker and will be making a tutorial on that very soon!
But where do you start?
Look through everything you have and make 3 piles: Keep, Donate & Trash.
Whatever you’ve decided to donate, get it out of the house ASAP. If you’re anything like me, the longer you have it, the more you’re tempted to keep it.
Of the stuff you’re keeping, make a list of categories and sub-categories.
For example, you might have:
Stationery: Stapler, staples, paperclips, rubber bands etc
Cricut: Vinyl Rolls, Vinyl sheets, blanks, infusible ink, vinyl trimmer etc
Card making: Cardstock, stamps, ink pads etc
Have a look online or in a store for containers that would suit each category and then decide what you can group together. For example, I didn’t think I needed separate containers for rubber bands and clips, so I grouped them together into one. I did the same with vinyl sheets and blanks. Make sure if you’re buying online that you double check the dimensions of each container! I’d also highly recommend containers that can stack too. This way you can maximise your space.
Don’t overbuy when it comes to the storage. Buy slightly less than you think you’ll need because you’ll be able to group things together to save space. You also want to future proof it and leave some room for when you inevitably buy more or take up a new hobby!
Make labels for each container. If you have a Cricut, it’s super simple! If you don’t, there’s nothing wrong with the old fashioned way of labels and a marker. I couldn’t decide what layout I wanted initially, so I made labels for the front and sides of some of the boxes.
7. Do your best to tidy as you go. I know it’s easier said than done, and it’s also something I struggle with too, but I know I’m so much happier when I have a clean area to work with. It also make a huge difference if you have a dedicated place for each item.
Aside from that, remember to enjoy your space! I went far too long with all of my craft materials dumped into different large containers so I always struggled to find what I was looking for. I’d waste the little free time I had looking for what I needed. Now I feel like I know exactly where everything is and I’ve been making a big effort to keep it organised.
I also love hearing organisation tips so if you have any suggestions or photos of your own space as inspiration, I’d love to hear from you and include them in my blog. Feel free to email any photos to ruththeirishcrafter@gmail.com.
In the meantime, happy crafting!
Ruth