Remember that one time I painted over a beautiful mural in our previous playroom to transform the space into a working studio? Now I’m finally getting around to writing a follow up and sharing a few organizational solutions.
Drum roll please… Ta-da!
Yes, the room is white on white and I like it that way. Something about a crisp, well-lit space totally motivates me to do good work.
Less visual clutter = more creativity.
I did keep the blue sky, however. Painting a decorative ceiling is hard (shout-out to my homeboy Michelangelo), so I’m not parting with that piece of the magic anytime soon. The studio table that I built from a rescued sanctuary door is the central workhorse of the space. I did end up staining the legs with Minwax “Special Walnut” finish and 3 coats of semi-gloss polyurethane.
It’s almost as if these Alex drawer units from Ikea were made for underneath the table – a perfect fit. I put one on each end to hold all our art papers, stickers, foam, construction paper, scrapbook supplies, stationary, stencils, and every other flat supply.
Between the two drawer units was just enough room for two Bekvam step stools and a small trash can. Because I wanted this room to be kid-friendly, the step stool seats were important but it’s really nice that they tuck out of the way so no one trips over them when not in use.
The back wall has 3 bookcases from Ikea’s Billy collection, 2 of which have the optional Oxberg glass panel doors added.
The original doorknobs were ultra modern and ugly, so I replaced them with these stylish oil rubbed bronze ones I found at Home Depot.
A place for everything and everything in its place. Makes my tidy heart happy!
Ever buy tiny summer clementines in a wood box? Long after the citrus is devoured, they make great storage containers.
The door panels hide all the non-pretty gadgetry on the lower shelves. And the power strip solution is working flawlessly, too. My Sizzix die cutter, pencil sharpener, and sewing machine are always plugged in and ready to rock, without being in the way.
The kids know they have to ask permission to use anything inside the doors (messy, dangerous, mommy-only type things). But the middle bookcase I left open. This is where their crayons, markers, paintbrushes, and coloring books live for easy access any time they’re feeling creative; which is several times a day most days.
Originally belonging to my great-grandmother, this antique sewing chest is at least 80 years old. It was recently passed down to me and does a wonderful job of keeping my sewing knick-knacks contained. All my extra fabric is hidden in those woven baskets atop the bookshelves.
This little green desk has played many roles in our homes (tv stand, work nook, coloring table). Now it’s the perfect spot for my computer. I plan to do a few small organizational things in this corner to help it function better as my mini-office.
Spill proof flooring is a must in a creative space with kids. In fact, a rather unfortunate (and permanent) incident with red paint on carpet is what pushed me to rethink this room in the first place. Eventually we plan to install wood flooring throughout the first floor, so it’s nice not having to worry much about this carpet in the meantime.
So are you still wondering if I miss the mural and playroom? Nope, not really. The kids and I spend so much time being creative together in here that the risk was worth the reward.
With all the right kinds of storage and kids constantly gathering around a tin of freshly sharpened pencils, the new studio is a breath of fresh air – and quickly becoming my favorite room in the house.
