Artists, crafters, and teachers: Do you have a creative mess?

Do you feel inspired by it? Or overwhelmed?

I have helped clients organize their quilting and sewing rooms; scrapbooking, jewelry making, painting, and glass art studios; and elementary school art classrooms. Their respective supplies and equipment all had different storage requirements, but the clients all had these things in common:

They all started with the same thing:A creative messThey all wanted the same things, too:To be able to find their supplies and tools when they need themSufficient clear table space at which to actually work and createAn attractive and inspiring work space or studio

Some artists and crafters feel that a creative mess is inevitable, and that they can’t function without it. But when does a creative mess become a quagmire of excess supplies? Are your tools and equipment piled up and unusable because they are inaccessible or forgotten about? Are you re-buying supplies simply because you can’t find them? Is every surface occupied to the point that there is no room to actually work?

OK, but how to get there?

I am not suggesting that you work in a sterile Zen-like environment. Not at all!

By all means have an idea board, and display some of your favorite pieces.

But also consider doing the following:

Declutter and create more S.P.A.C.E. for being creative.Keep the 80/20 Rule in mind when purging excess supplies and tools. You only use 20% of your stuff 80% of the time, right?Get rid of old projects and supplies to make room for new ones. Some of those projects you always thought you were going to finish — or start — you aren’t really so interested in anymore, are you? Are they really worth doing?Find ways of storing your supplies that not only make them accessible, but also keep them from overflowing into your workspace. I’m a big fan of clear plastic shoe boxes.Keep only the things you use every day within arm’s reach. The less frequently you use something, the farther away it should be stored.Ask a friend or a professional organizer for help if you need it.

 

Do you have a creative mess that needs to be (or already has been) organized?

Please share with us in the comments below!

__________________________________________________________________________________________.Hazel Thornton is an author, genealogist, and retired home and office organizer.Book:  Hung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Juror Book:  What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy Book:  Go With the Flow! The Clutter Flow Chart Workbook Feel free to link directly to this post! (Click here to ask about other uses.)Copyright 2014-2016-2026 by Hazel Thornton, Organized for Life and Beyond

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