Are you looking for tips to make your sewing space more functional so that you can enjoy your sewing sessions and focus on honing your craft? Well, there are multiple things you can do to increase the functionality of your space, such as adding overhead lights, investing in a height-adjustable sewing table, organizing your sewing essentials neatly, and more.
Let's explore these and more tips to make your sewing space more functional in detail!
11 Tips to Make Your Sewing Space More Functional
Here are some tips you can use to make your sewing space more functional:
Create a Separate Space for Sewing
Firstly, you will need a space that you can call your own so that you can sew to your heart's content without getting disturbed by your family. You will need a quiet, separate space if you have kids or excitable pets like dogs.
Once you dedicate such a space for your sewing, make sure to set boundaries with your family. Sit them down and tell them that your sewing space will be a dog-free and kid-free zone unless you allow them to enter the space. This way, you won't have to worry about needless disruptions, pet hair, and general clumsiness and naughtiness.
Experiment with the Layout
With a dedicated space for your sewing hobby or profession, you will have the liberty to experiment with the layout and get creative. Think of the placement of your sewing essentials, such as your height-adjustable sewing table, standard sewing desk, cutting table, ironing board, etc. Place these items according to how often you will need them.
Make everything as immediately accessible to you as possible while ensuring you don't crowd the space or give into disorganization. For instance, try to set the essentials in a way that you can reach the cutting table without getting out of your rolling chair. However, if you prefer to move about, then you can space out the furniture in your sewing room. It all boils down to personal preferences.
Invest in Adequate Lighting
Once you have set up your furniture in its ideal place, you will need to consider lighting. Ideally, when sewing on your machine, you will need ample light. If you don't have an overhead light, you can invest in table or ground lamps.
Invest in some serious ad-hoc lighting to ensure you can see clearly when you're sewing your masterpieces. For instance, you can get an overhead light, which plugs into a wall outlet. Install it over your sewing area so that it illuminates your sewing machine. Meanwhile, you can set up a floor lamp near your ironing board or cutting table to see clearly.
Organize the Sewing Space
One of the best tips to make your sewing space more functional is to focus on organizing it effectively. For instance, you can invest in organizers and sewing cabinets for your sewing supplies and storage materials. You can keep all your scissors, threats, fabric makers, and other sewing essentials in these sewing cabinets.
If you don't want to invest in store-bought cabinets, you can use spare containers or boxes and repurpose them into storage boxes for your sewing essentials. Alternatively, you can use durable metal organizers or tin boxes to hold smaller supplies.
As for store-bought options, you can invest in a pre-assembled sewing chest of drawers or cabinet with drawer extensions. Some models come with small tables on their backsides that can open up to offer you a large surface area that you can use as your cutting board. You can also use the area for pressing your fabric or prepping it before the sewing stage. You can also purchase drawers or cabinets with wheels on them so that they are easier to move.
Keep All Essentials at Hand
If you want to make your sewing space more functional, you will need to keep all the essential tools within arm's reach. For instance, if you are constantly using your pressing tools or rulers, you can keep them in a small box on your sewing table, so they are always accessible.
Similarly, suppose you have other items or sewing essentials that you will need throughout the day, such as a favorite sewing book you love to refer to for designs and inspiration. In that case, you should use smaller storage options that can fit on your sewing table so that everything is within reach.
Invest in an Appropriate Sewing Space
If you're struggling to focus on your sewing or are not able to enjoy it properly, maybe you need to invest in a better sewing space. For instance, purchasing a larger workspace for your sewing desk and cutting table can become the difference between an uncomfortable and enjoyable sewing session.
Moreover, if you are having trouble sitting comfortably at your desk or are unable to work long hours despite wanting to, you can invest in a top-quality height-adjustable sewing table. This way, you can sit for a few hours while sewing, and the moment you start feeling a bit uncomfortable or experiencing pain due to an awkward posture, you can change your position and stand while sewing, ironing, etc.
An adjustable desk will keep your pain at bay while allowing you to enjoy your sewing session fully. You can also invest in a large dedicated table instead of using a makeshift table in your home for sewing. Many people use their kitchen countertop or a similar surface for their sewing needs. However, a spacious adjustable table will help you prioritize your comfort and well-being while sewing.
Get a Multi-Purpose Ironing Station
You will also need to invest in or make a multi-purpose ironing station. You can get a shelf unit and install caster wheels along its bottom. Then, you can put an ironing board on top of it so that you have ample space to iron your clothes, and the selves can come in handy to keep your sewing essentials.
You can also make your own ironing board out of muslin fabric and batting. All you will need to do is buy a large ironing board cover that you can take off and wash whenever you want. You can add baskets, closed doors, or shelf dividers to the storage space underneath the board.
Organize Your Sewing Patterns
If you're someone who works with several sewing patterns and traces them onto affordable interfacing, you can improve your efficiency by cataloging them. It will also ensure that all your traced patterns remain safe. You can purchase a lateral filing cabinet or upcycle an old one to file every pattern you have worked with. For additional safety, you can keep each pattern in labeled envelopes.
Display Your Fabrics
For this tip, you will need to consider how you like organizing your fabric stash. After all, every person has individual needs and vision for their sewing essentials. Some like to keep their fabric in overhead cabinets in folded piles, while others like to wrap them up around boards or hand them on specific hangers that they can keep in a closet.
However, you choose to store your fabric, make sure that your stash is visible and easily accessible. If your fabric is out of your sight, you will likely never think of using it in your sewing sessions. You can store it behind glass shelves or clear bins so that everything is visible and it's easier for you to pick the fabric you want.
Be Creative & Seek Inspiration
While your sewing space needs to be functional to enable you to work properly, you should also have a little fun with it. Personalize the space with things, trinkets, and objects that inspire your creativity and make you feel happy and fulfilled. You can hang a creative painting on one of the walls or hang up prints and your family's pictures.
Moreover, if you want to feel inspired, you can frame huge prints with colors and shapes that speak to you. You can also search the internet for patterns, prints, and fabrics you want to work with and create a mood board in your sewing space for all your projects.
Accept & Love Your Space
While it's important to follow tips to make your sewing space more functional, at the end of the day, you will have to consider space limitations, your budget, and any other concerns you might have. Your sewing space might not be 100% perfect. For instance, you might not have the space for different sewing, pressing, and storage corners or your room might lack ample space.
However, what matters is how you treat it and think of it. You need to focus more on what you love about it rather than on what you could not add to it. If you choose to accept it and claim it as your own, it will be easier for you to enjoy your sewing sessions. It will also give you the patience to renovate it over time to suit your needs.
