Creative play spaces aren’t just for kids. Everyone should have a space where they can be wildly creative. A dedicated space that inspires you. Not your kitchen table -but a room or a studio where you don’t have to clean up at the end of the day.
If you are toying with the idea of creating your own personal space for art or hobbies or if you have already created such a space—please send me your photos and ideas. I would love to share it with everyone. Here are some of my tips for creating home studios:
- First make it functional, and then make it fun! Plan your workspace to include appropriate storage for the types of projects you work on. My studio has flat file drawers for large papers, along with a walk in closet to store paint and mosaic tiles. Will you need drawer space, cabinets, cubbies, or closet space? Be creative. Storage doesn’t have to be expensive. Save baby food jars or old muffin tins to store smaller items and re-purpose old furniture into unique and useful storage pieces.
· Include a large work surface to spread out—two if possible. Creative people are often found working on multiple projects. Will your studio support more than one endeavor?
· Don’t strain your eyes! How many times did your parent’s tell you not to read in the dark? Unless you work with photography make sure you have a room filled with light. Windows are ideal, however solar tubes and fluorescent lighting designed to mimic natural daylight are good alternatives if you’re without windows or if you prefer to work at night.
· Are you sufficiently wired? With all of the great information on the Internet about almost any hobby, it would be wise to include some form of Internet connectivity in your studio plans. If you have an older home and don’t have an Internet outlet, buy a router and go wireless. Printers and digital cameras are near the top of my list for essential studio equipment.
