11 Tips to Get the Creative Space You Crave

Do you dream of having your own creative space? If so, you have come to the right place. From lighting and organization to displaying your finished work, the following ideas can help you create a space tailored to your needs.

Join me in exploring some ways to set up an art space that inspires, with ideas from creative corner workspaces to dream studios for your "someday" file.

1. Envision an inspiring space. Take a moment to daydream about your ideal art space. Even if that ultimate loft with floor-to-ceiling windows is beyond reach, see if there are a few details you can make a reality.

Paint the walls your favorite color, string up wires for hanging inspiration items and make the most of the space that you do have. If light is what you crave, see if you can rearrange furniture or even swap rooms to position your art space by the best window.


2. List your needs and wants. From a table big enough to spread out on to storage containers and water cups, list everything you want to include in your space. Look over your list and note the things you really need to do your work. Start with the essentials; you can always add more later.


3. Consider the light. Most artists agree that good natural light is highly coveted in a workspace. But the fact is, not all of us can control the quality of light in the space we have to work with, or, for that matter, the time of day we have available to make art. If you find yourself with less-than-ideal natural light, focus your efforts on the lighting you can bring in to make the most of your space. A mix of overhead and task lighting will give the best coverage; experiment to see how different bulbs affect your work.


4. No spare room? Carve out a creative corner. Don't let a lack of space stop you from making art a part of your life if it important to you! A desk in your bedroom, a dining table that does double duty as a jewelry making station or an easel on the balcony can all be viable solutions. Get creative and make space where you thought there was none.


5. Organize your supplies. Organizing your materials simply and beautifully does not need to cost a lot of money. Glass jars can be washed and recycled as containers for pencils, brushes and more. Wine crates, crocks and produce bins can hold larger items — look around your home and see what you can reclaim and repurpose.


6. Consider any technology that might help your work. Would starting a blog in which you share your artwork help you keep a commitment to making art on a regular basis? If so, perhaps you would benefit from having a computer and scanner right in your studio.


7. Consider using a garage, shed or outbuilding. Especially for those working with caustic materials or power tools, outside the main house can be the best place for your work. Be sure the room you are working in has adequate ventilation and keep any potentially dangerous materials in a locked cabinet.


8. Stay mobile with a rolling cart. Whether you have a spacious studio or are working in the corner of your living room, a rolling cart would mean your work can come with you anywhere. Wheel it out onto the deck to work outdoors or just use it to stow your messy supplies out of sight between sessions.


9. Keep artistically inspiring props at hand. Be on the lookout every day for objects and materials that inspire you, and give these items pride of place in your home studio. When your well of inspiration is running dry, just looking at your special collections could spark a new idea or project.

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10. Include space for displaying your work. Keep a record of your work and get inspired for further explorations by displaying your art. A long picture rail is wonderful for propping up artwork. A magnetic rail or picture wire is great for quickly clipping up works in progress, along with other bits and bobs of inspiration.


11. Keep your dream (space) alive. Just because you may have to make do for now with that basement studio or closet craft space, it might not always be that way! Keep an inspiration file of ideas for your dream space, and take small steps to realize that dream. That could mean saving up for a space you purchase, of course, but that is not the only solution — sharing space with other creatives can allow you to get more room than you could otherwise manage on your own.

Tell us: What would your ideal art space look like? What would you do there?

Photos: Tour more studios and workshops

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