Paperclipping Roundtable | Studio Organization

On August 26th, 2013, I was honored to be a guest on Paperclipping Roundtable to discuss my scrap room with Noell, Aby Garvey and the gang. My room is in desperate need of help… and I’m on my way to fixing it now, thanks to Aby!  Check out  photos below of my “before” shots of the space below, and be sure to check out the episode! 

In the episode, Aby and Noell mentioned I had some very detailed lists with my problems (the problems of being a #30lister and an over thinker!)  I thought I would share the lists of the problems I’ve been having, as well as the pictures (this pains me to share this with you, but I’m hoping to have “afters” to show you soon!)… and maybe hope for suggestions from you as well!

So… deep breaths.. here goes:

What I use my space for/how I create: 

• I create traditional scrapbook pages, mini books, digital scrapbook pages, and have started Project Life scrapbooking.
• I’m into a LOT of other crafting– including but not limited to: art journaling, knitting, sewing, and jewelry making… I’m a hobby hopper!
• I usually keep the scrapbooking items on the tables, and the other hobbies in boxes under the table or in the closet, since I use those items less.

Problems I have with my space: 

• I’ve transitioned into “kit scrapping” lately, and would love to be able to keep those things organized and together, but also be able to work from my stash (which is large.) I’ve tried SO MANY different types of storage, but none of them actually seem to work for me.  And they take up a lot of room on one of my tables. 
• Another problem is the layout of the room– I have two larger card tables, but since my storage system operates on an “out of sight, out of mind” thought… I don’t really have much room to scrap on the leftover space. I have plenty of closet space, but if I put something in the closet… I forget about it because I can’t see it. So everything ends up on the table.
• I don’t want to do TOO much with shelving on the walls, etc, because the room is originally a bedroom, and eventually, we will have to turn it BACK into a bedroom.
• I also tend to bounce back and forth between my computer and my scrap table, since I’m a very hybrid scrapper. . . and with the layout of the room as it is currently, I can’t really have the computer right next to my scrap tables.
• It’s hard to have shelving (like the Ikea  Expedite shelves I’m in love with) up against the available walls, because we have radiator heat that goes all the way around the room– with the exception of the wall that the computer/tv is up against… but that’s the only space where there’s enough outlets and internet jacks for my workspace.

Ideas I have for my space: 

• I would, of course, like to upgrade to something other than the card tables.  I’m thinking of a table in the center like this one or this one.  But, of course, I’m open to any ideas.
• Decluttering is needed. Badly.
• My husband has been trying to convince me that I need shelving on the walls. . . We’ve put Closetmaid track shelving into different areas of the house and like them, so this is an idea to consider.  Aby has 100% convinced me to do this!
• I’ve also talked about mounting the TV to the wall— I need it to be near my computer, since I mirror my screens or do dual screens sometimes when I do graphic design work.
• Get some art on the walls!
• I’m SO open to ideas!

Looking into the room from the door.

From the door

From the corner by the closets, looking at the computer desk.

Closets (a disaster!): 

A couple of problems with the closets that I run into: 

• We don’t have an attic, so the childhood momentos/things our parents have given us end up in the closets, instead of a potentially damp basement
• The closets sometimes act as seasonal clothes/ purses and bag storage
• It truely is an “out of sight, out of mind” situation.
• The doors can’t stay open all the time because the cat enjoys crawling in and hiding! 🙂

 

Some suggestions that I really liked from Aby & the gang (and will more than likely use in the near future!) 

• A very large round of decluttering (in small bits. in small bits. in small bits…  repeating that to myself)
• Pulling the tables away from the wall and putting them in the center of the room to work “around.”
• Possibly getting a new table that I could stand to work at
• Installing shelving on the wall and getting a step stool for my short ‘lil self
• Maybe taking the doors off the closets… Aby mentioned that it’s actually 4 really small closets, rather than 2 large ones, because you can only see half of each at a time, and you can’t really put anything in the middle.  I don’t think Ben is crazy about this idea, but we shall see. I might try it on a trial basis.

 

 Be sure to chceck out some of my favorite ideas/inspiration on Pinterest

Do you have any ideas or suggestions for me?  Do you have a dedicated “creative” space? How do you keep it organized and effective for your work?  What did you think of the episode?