Create a Craft Room!

Every keen crafter needs space to unleash their creativity. And that space should be inviting and inspirational. A dedicated garden room, log cabin or summerhouse is the perfect solution.  If you’re going to go all-out with a shed conversion, check out our guide on how to turn your shed into an arts & crafts studio. If you’ve already got a space you can use, here’s everything you need to consider when setting up a craft-shed in your garden.

Which type of garden room should I choose?

 Sewing, knitting, pottery, painting and jewellery making often require more space than many busy homes can spare. Not only do you need an area in which to work, but also somewhere to store all your equipment, tools and materials.

An insulated garden room is the ultimate in luxury. Designed for all year round use, the walls, roof and floor are well-insulated to retain heat in winter and reflect it in summer. Choose where to position double glazed windows and doors to make the most of the natural light.

If you’re looking for a high quality building with a slightly smaller price tag, wooden log cabins are the ideal choice. And if you’re on a tight budget, a summerhouse is the best value option although it may not be suitable for use during the coldest winter months.

Set up a workstation

For many craft rooms, the most important piece of equipment you’ll need is a large work table. Choose a durable material such as wood or metal and find a comfortable chair.

If you prefer to stand for parts of the day, buy a custom-size worktop and a set of height-adjustable legs so that you can raise and lower your workstation as required.

Alternatively, create a small island in your craft room that doubles as both work and storage units. Hiding cupboards under your workstation is a clever way to make the best use of space and keeps everything tidy and clutter free.

Let there be light

Good quality lighting is a vital part of your craft room.  Natural light is best for most crafts, but you’ll need to supplement this with general lighting and task lighting for intricate detail work.

Adding lamps can make smaller craft rooms feel bigger and give your space an inviting feel. Let your imagination run free - hang a large chandelier or feature pendant to make a bold statement and reflect your own personality.

Get some organised storage

As far as possible, keep your workspace free of clutter by adding a mixture of open and closed storage. The supplies you use most often should be kept in sight and within easy reach.

Bookshelves and cupboards are the most obvious solution, but there are plenty of creative ways to store your materials and finished crafts. Make the most of wall space with pin boards, magnetic boards, shelves, hanging cubes, large bulldog clips and hooks. We love the idea of using clothes hangers to help organise things like ribbons and fabrics.

Make it your own

If you’re fortunate enough to have a dedicated craft-shed to indulge your creative hobby, you’ll want it to be as welcoming, inspiring and comfortable as possible.

Give your garden room, log cabin or summerhouse a lick of paint and make it a focal feature in its own right. A neat path to your craft shed is not only inviting, but will provide a safe route through the garden at all times of day and in all weathers. Line it with solar lights, or have an electrician hook up a security light on your shed so you can come and go as you please.

Paint and decorate the inside of your craft room to reflect your own taste. Fit a hard-wearing and easy to clean floor such as lino, hang pictures and add soft furnishings. Indoor plants add instant colour and scented-stick diffusers create a welcoming ambiance. Make your craft room somewhere inspirational that you’ll love spending time in!

If you’ve created a craft room from a log cabin or summerhouse in your garden, share some images over on our Facebook page and tell us what you like to create.

Lead Image: Shutterstock/Richard Evans