For many busy parents, setting up a creative space at home is on the to-do list, but never seems to get done. Lots of people think that they don’t have a big enough space or a room to dedicate to arts and crafts. Whether you’ve been meaning to set it up for years or just the past six months, setting up a space for your children to dream, imagine and create allows them a space to call their own.
By simply creating this space, your child now has a natural retreat where they can go spend time alone and let their imagination run wild, decompress from school or relax before bedtime. Simultaneously, it will decrease screen time and encourage creativity - a win-win if we’ve ever heard one. However, as you probably guessed, it has to be done well.
Here are a few tips to consider when you’re finally ready to set up your at-home craft space. Download our free guide here!
Choosing the Space
Whether you have an entire room or a small nook to convert, an arts and crafts space can be successful anywhere if it’s planned right. Choose an area of your home that has lots of light so that it’s easy to see what you’re doing. If this isn’t possible, consider installing some simple wall lights or cute lamps to brighten up the area. Next, ensure that it is a space that is lived in and busy enough that your child will want to spend time in it - no one wants to hang out in a dark basement or attic alone.
Setting Up
If you want this space to be used regularly by your children, you have to set it up right from the beginning. Get comfortable kid-height chairs and a low table so that they enjoy going in there. Make sure that the space is bright and warm, using vivid colors and patterns to attract attention. Perhaps most importantly, make sure that lots of art supplies are easily accessible. You don’t want to be running in and out of the space getting too-high-to-reach supplies for your children, or discourage them from being in there if they can’t complete activities themselves.
Designing
Next, you need to design the space so that it looks appealing. Every child wants to display their completed creations, so perhaps you leave a wall blank for an artwork display, a bookcase for finished or drying projects and a few hooks to hang new designs. You can also personalize the space for your child, whether they love the color green or are obsessed with dolphins. Get inventive with the area you choose - if it’s near a window, perhaps you supply dry erase markers or window stickers. If your child likes to sew, paint or draw, set up an area specifically to foster that passion.
Cleaning Up
A craft space is going to get messy - there’s no way around that. However, there are a few things you can do to ensure that the clean up process is quick and easy:
- Choose a space with floors that are easy to clean, like linoleum or hardwood. That way, any glitter, paint or glue explosion can be quickly cleaned up before getting mashed deep into your carpet. If this isn’t an option, consider getting a large piece of plastic or vinyl from your local hardware store to mimic the same thing. Your future self will thank you.
- Kids don’t generally like to clean up - make it fun by singing a song and doing it all together. All you need to do is make sure that the clean up is easy to complete. Having open labelled bins is great - this ensures that your kids can see directly where the items go, so there’s no guesswork involved. A nearby garbage can is a must, so that they’re not dragging unwanted projects or leftover pieces through the rest of your home to dispose of them. Finally, leave a few rags in the space so that minor spills and messes can be cleaned up by your littles ones - this will teach them to be accountable for their actions.
By setting up an at-home craft space for your kids, you are nurturing a lifelong process of creativity from the very beginning. Your space doesn’t need to be huge or stocked with every kind of craft available. Tailor your arts and crafts space to your child: what do they like? Where do they usually sit? Do they like noise or do they prefer quiet?
An at-home craft space is like an at-home office - you have the creative freedom to make it anything you choose.
Don't forget to download our free guide here!
