My craft studio
I would like to share my craft studio experience. This article is dedicated to those of you who are planning to build a shop for your favorite type of creativity, with the famous square “limits”. Every master knows how important it is to have their own space where one can be creative and nothing gets in the way and nothing detracts from the creative process.
Exactly one year ago I had empty 3,5×3,5m room in which I wanted to fit several functional areas: an office, a sewing area and the felting zone (by that time I had already learned what felting is and what it eats). Dreams, dreams … It was quite a long period of searching for good ideas that would like to try on, selecting photos, asking advices from people who have expertise in this case, fellow artisans and so on
Dreams come true, and now I work in a great environment that I am completely satisfied with, and therefore eager to share my experience with making up a “private area” and what has to be taken into account, what is very useful and convenient, but from what might be worth to opt out.
So, one of the most important moments in the craft studio – the desktop. Its dimensions in the horizon, the height, the ability to transform – everything is important. After working for a while on the floor, then on a low table, I realized that very soon I will have to work either in a corset or have decent breaks for recovery. I studied spinal preventive issues carefully and concluded that the height of the working table must correspond to the distance from the floor to the level of the elbow – this way we take care of our spine and forget about the overload at the waist!
I had an idea of a large table-transformer for felting in mind initially, since felting needs a lot of space , but only at the stage when you layout the wool – solely for the sake of convenience. For the rest of the time this would be a hindrance. It turned out to be a convenient table size (185h112) with the possibility to be extended up to 240 cm and extended up to 165 cm. From the table (of two of its sides), if necessary, the pillars may be pulled forward, these pillars carry out additional tabletops: you can use both at once (by length and width), or one by one – depending on your big idea
A small ironing board is built-in In the end of the table, and electric outlet right next to it: easy to use, fast and fun.
By the way, overlock table got the same feature from his “big brother” and it also expanded in length.
And the table, carrying a sewing machine, got it too (from left you pull forward a small table top).
Under the “main” desktop a so-called hard to reach area has been formed. That’s how we used it.
You will need bar chairs to feel comfortable and it is even better if they have height adjustment.
Next, equally important aspect in a craft studio – lighting. Lighting – this is ultimate. Without going into the theme of the importance of this element for comfort and security, I’d say briefly: the work in the shadows or unevenly lit room leads to a very sad consequences. Not only a piece of work should be well lit, but also the entire room studio. Shop should have even illumination over the entire area. This is an ideal option. Natural lighting is rarely adequate. Most likely, you have to work with electric light during the day and at night.
Desk, machined parts and tools should be covered so that the light did not reflect into the eyes. The most correct is diffused lighting, when the entire room is illuminating workshop uniformly and the light beams falling on the work piece coinciding with the axis of view, other items should not creating contrasting shade.
In general, lighting should be sufficient for you, it is much better to have adjustable intensity with a dimmer. Moreover, additional lighting local coverage will only improve the overall picture and add comfort.
White ceiling and light walls coupled can play along with proper lighting: they can be used as a factor in the comfort of your stay in the studio, because they reflect light. Personally, I have not had a chance to influence the color of the walls and ceiling (craft studio is located in awooden house, plaster and finishing is not expected), but if you have the opportunity then use it.
Boxes and chests. It is imperative to have a storey format to store their “reserves” (materials for creativity). Again, it is necessary to save space in the craft studio. It is quite enough to have a chest of 9 identical boxes (45h25h40) and another chest of three drawers more (93h32h40). Before, all the necessary materials were stored in my boxes and bags of all sizes, but now it’s slim floor boxes in which the wool and fabris is stored, so when you open a box, you immediately see everything I have. This order doesn’t gather dust and moth. If you are unable to get a wooden chest, they may be replaced well by the ones from IKEA.
For other ideas check the pictures of my craft studio.
