Live Happily Ever, Crafter

Turn a spare bedroom into a special craft room that’s free of clutter and full of inspiration.

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Problem: The homeowner is an avid quilter who uses a spare bedroom as a craft room. Unfortunately, the room lacked the necessary work surfaces and storage options for her craftwork. Plus, it featured drab decor that wasn’t conducive to creativity.

Solution: We outfitted the room with copious counter space to keep the work area open, added affordable cabinetry to keep everything in its right place, and used clean, airy colors to keep the creative juices flowing. The result? A functional and inspirational workspace and a very happy homeowner.

Work Center
Abundant counter space provides a sizable, solid work surface for any craft project. For this work station, we used affordable laminate countertop. For storage, we painted and installed in-stock, unfinished cabinetry and drawers that offer big space at a small price. The room also boasts a wall-mounted ironing board that stays up and out of the way when not in use—and new, airy wall colors to foster a more creative atmosphere.

Cabinets feature handy pull-out drawers and waste containers installed for easy access. We also replaced the room’s original carpet with cost-effective laminate flooring that makes clean-up simple.

Sewing Station
The sewing station’s laminate countertop offers plenty of room to work, and features an opening in the back so fabrics can flow freely rather than getting bunched up by the wall. The workspace also includes cabinets galore, some without doors for visual variety and a high-end look, and under-cabinet lighting so you can see while you sew.

Closet Organizer
Who knew closet organization systems could work so well outside the bedroom? Home Options closet organizer kits helped corral the clutter with ample space to contain fabrics, notions, pillows and more, while still leaving space for a flat-screen TV. They are easy to install and adapt to meet your storage needs.

Step 1: Before installing a closet organization system, remove all items from the closet, including shelves and hanging rods. Home Options closet organizer kits come in 18-inch, 27-inch, and 36-inch widths. Measure your closet to determine the best size for your space.

Step 2: Assemble starter kits, following the manufacturer’s instructions, and place in the closet.

Step 3: Choose from a variety of add-ons, drawers, shelving units, etc., to customize the system for your specific crafting needs.

This article is excerpted from Lowe’s Creative Ideas magazine.

For more information, visit www.lowes.com.

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