14 best sewing room ideas

Shop for furniture designed to accommodate everything you need, from thread and fabrics to your machine and other tools. This DreamBox shelving system offers an endless arrangement of compartments, and you can fold it up into a compact piece when not in use.

If you do weaving, knitting or embroidery in addition to sewing, this advice will also apply to your workshop: Keep all your belongings easy to access with a modular wall shelf. Artist Lindsey Campbell, who runs the weaving-focused Hello Hydrangea blog, displays her craft materials (yarn, rope, winders, etc.) with an open shelf. Glass jars accommodate leftovers for recycling and baskets help with organization.

Lots of natural light, a seating area and a stand to display your latest designs, like in this space by Leanne Ford, will make your sewing space feel like a real showroom. A small closet will also come in handy if you ever have models or clients coming in for fittings.

What do you do with leftover fabrics that you don’t want to throw away? Hang them on the wall for a themed display. Another idea: frame your favorites and create a gallery wall.

If you like to think by hand and tend to accumulate a bunch of loose papers during your design process, come up with a system that avoids clutter. Whether that means using your walls or your drawers, it’s always best to keep your surfaces clean and clear in a sewing room (especially small ones).

Keep your designs in a drawer or in open lockers. You’ll only need them to start a new project, so you don’t need to have them handy and easy to access. Take note of Rebecca Atwood’s studio for inspiration.

To give your ironing board a little flair, cover it with an eye-catching fabric. It’s a great way to inject personal style into your sewing room without adding extra decoration that will take up usable space.

Hangers and wall storage like floating shelves are your best friends in a sewing room. This will clear the floor so you can jam things without tripping over something every time you turn around.

When choosing a table for your workstation, think about one with plenty of surface space that allows you to spread out. An industrialist like this makes a modern statement while still being functional and practical. Work lighting is another must.

Good lighting is essential in a sewing room. To state the obvious, you have to see what you are doing. And it’s relaxing, which comes in handy when you’re doing something as meticulous as sewing. If you have a lot of natural light, hang blinds. This is especially crucial if your fabrics are outdoors and sensitive to light, as direct sunlight will cause them to fade.

Before Pinterest, there were real moodboards. Stop staring at your screen and keep your inspiration right in front of your workstation by putting up a large bulletin board on your walls, like Studio Ashby did here. It will also serve as a backdrop.

Store small items that are easy to lose in a sewing kit organizer. Ultimately, it’s the little things that end up making a big difference in the workflow.

Keep your wires and larger supplies that won’t fit in a drawer in extra storage baskets and bins. Besides helping you stay organized, they’re a great way to introduce a little more color into the room.

Stay organized and let your sewing supplies stand out with a crisp, neutral color palette, as seen in this Voices of Industry studio. This way, you won’t have to worry about too much visual stimulation while you are working out. A wall-to-wall shelving unit will also help save usable space.