In the last year as my websites and SNAP! Conference has grown, I have blown out of my regular office space. And, when I say “blown out,” I mean I’ve got a disaster on my hands.
I am the most effective in my space, when things are simplified, organized and where I need them so the disorganization is seriously affecting my creative mojo. Really.
In the next few weeks, I will be moving into a larger studio space to accommodate all of my crap awesome DIY and craft supplies. Though I could pack everything up and sort it out in the new space, it just makes more sense to move things in a more organized manner and so right now, I am doing a bit of organizing.
1. Purge Your Craft Room or Home Office
2. Group Like Items Together
Group like items and store them together by function. There’s nothing more frustrating than looking for the right color red to finish up your project and only finding the pink, coral and orange.
3. Have a Designated Place for Everything
Did you know that the average American wastes 55 minutes a day looking for items they know they have, but simply can’t find? Putting your items in a designated spot will allow you to locate them quickly and easily.
It’s so much easier to find just what you’re looking for if you know that all of your thread is on the top shelf and your washi tape is in the box behind you.
4. Use Your Space Creatively and Consider Going Vertical
5. Use Pretty/Interesting Storage
Beautifully covered fabric boxes, vintage crates and wire baskets all add visual appeal to a creative space. You will be much more likely to keep a pretty space clean. It will make you happy.
6. Consider Portable Crafting
One of my greatest struggles is hauling product from room to room. I don’t always want to be locked up in my office when I could be with my family. I’ve created portable crafting boxes for the projects I work on most that can easily be toted into another room.
7. Catchall Basket
Place a catchall basket in the corner to contain items you don’t have time to review and file. Go through the catchall once a week and put the items away properly.
8. Go Wireless/Cordless
One of the investments I will be making this year is to go wireless. Nearly every device I work on could be taken wireless freeing up wall space and ridding my pretty space of all those unsightly cords!
9. Back Up Your Files
Okay. So backing up your files may not seem like the most important piece of office organization, but cleaning up your files and creating a back up will undoubtably save you oodles of time and possibly some heartache in the future.
10. Take 15 Minutes to Clean You Space Before You Leave
Have you ever noticed that once you pile one or two things on the desk, it’s not long before five, six or let’s be honest 10 items find their way onto the desk as well. Spend 15 minutes tidying up before you leave your workspace every day and your space will stay neat and tidy!
There are loads of other ways to organize a creative space. What have you found to be the most effective?
This is great – I’m just about to finish a huge project and can’t wait to reorganize my space. I’m much more inspired to work in my studio when it’s not a cluttered mess! I share my space with a workout area and have to move boxes fabric and ribbon on and off my treadmill to use it….sad (but I guess it bodes well that I’m still using the treadmill, right???). I definitely need to purge and find more vertical space.
Deanna, I don’t know that I will EVER be done purging,but I am just going to keep at it. One of the reasons I am reorganizing is because I’d really love a piece of exercise equipment 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment! xoxo Tauni
Thanks for this list. I am always trying to get organized for better productivity. Yet I am one who puts things away and then totally forgets about them. A creative type (sewing and jewelry) trying to find the balance.
Carol, Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. I can totally identify. I am great at keeping track of day-to-day items like my keys or phone, but I am terrible at my craft and office supplies. I’ve been looking for a box of envelopes I recently bought all week! xoxo Tauni
I have so much stuff it takes me an hour to go through stuff to start a project………….I dread even going through everything. I have donated so much to churches and schools and it doesn’t look like I have gotten rid of anything. It is over whelming at times.