Tips for Converting a Basement into the Ultimate Craft Room
(ARA) - Are you passionate about painting? Crazy about quilting? Does scrapbooking allow your creative light to shine? If so, you’re not alone – Americans spent more than $31 billion on arts, crafts and hobbies last year, according to the Craft & Hobby Association. And whether you are plying your craft for pleasure, supplementing your income or have made a career out of it, all crafters have one thing in common – the need for good work space.
“Having a clean, well-organized space set aside for your crafting is important if you want to get the most enjoyment and productivity out of your crafting time,” says Judy Murrah, vice president of education for the International Quilt Festival, and a crafter of 35 years. “A separate room not only allows you to focus on your craft and keep all your materials in one space, it can be closed off to keep your work and any potentially harmful materials from coming in contact with children or pets.”
Few of us, however, have a room to spare in our homes. Some crafters turn to the garage or a corner of the dining room for work space, but these areas pose many problems. A better option may be to create a room specifically for your art, craft or hobby by finishing your basement. Many people are transforming their basements into extra living space, especially homeowners opting to improve rather than move in a shaky housing market. For crafters, finishing a basement can mean the difference between merely making do and working in a bright, inviting space.
So how do you create the ultimate crafting paradise in your home? Here are some hints:
Finish the Room
A warm, inviting environment can nurture the soul of an artist. Rather than working in a room or place that wasn’t designed for your use, consider finishing all or part of the lowest floor of your home. However, finishing the basement yourself will likely be a time consuming and back breaking task. One of the quickest and easiest ways to finish your basement is with the Owens Corning Basement Finishing System that is specially designed for this purpose.
Specially trained professionals install wall panels with built-in thermal insulation to keep the room comfortable in all seasons. The panels also provide acoustic insulation so that any noise your craft may make doesn’t disturb the other members of your household or the neighbors. The panels are durable, dent- and stain-resistant and provide a clean, bright look to the room which can help you focus on the task at hand. Installation takes about two weeks to complete, versus the months of mess associated with a traditional drywall remodel. Visit www.basementfinishingsystem.com to learn more.
Look Up
Good lighting is essential to every arts and crafts endeavor. Be sure to address the placement of overhead lighting to create even brightness throughout the work space. You’ll also want to light key work surfaces with some task lighting – either overhead spots that can be directed or lamps placed directly over a work space.
Keep in mind that the color and purity of the light will also affect your crafting. Colors in paints and fabrics will look different under different types of light. Murrah uses artist’s fluorescent lighting, which is very bright and full-spectrum so colors show true.
Look Down
A good floor is a good foundation for all your creative efforts. The floor should be easy to clean, especially if your craft can get messy like painting or pottery. Painted concrete can provide easy cleanup and durability, but may be too hard a surface if your craft calls for you to stand up for long periods of time. Crafters who are on their feet a lot may consider padded linoleum or some simple exercise pads placed wherever you’ll be standing the most.
Get Organized
“Storage, storage, storage,” says Murrah. Be sure you have plenty of shelves and drawers to store all your materials. Arrange furnishings to provide the maximum work space. You’ll want at least one good table, but it’s up to you to decide if it works better against the wall or in the middle of the room, and make sure it’s the right height depending if you’ll be sitting or standing at it.
“Finally, because you’ll probably be spending a lot of time in your craft room, be sure it’s comfortably heated and air conditioned,” Murrah advises. “Set up a stereo and listen to your favorite music while you work. Your craft room will become your ‘feel good’ room, your own sanctuary.”
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