Five Easy Steps to Refresh Your Workspace for the New Year

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The beginning of the new year is a great time to organize your studio space. It’s a slower period for most handmade business owners because the busy season has passed and things have quieted down.

Use it to clean up the workspace mess you’ve created during the holiday rush! Here are my top tips for tidying up your craft room or office:

1. Do a Deep Clean

A neat, tidy studio can help you work more effectively and reduce stress. Your workspace doesn’t have to be immaculately clean- after all, art can be pretty messy! But a general dusting, throwing out of junk and garbage that’s accumulated, and vacuuming will go a long way. You’ll feel much more organized and refreshed to start the new year off right!

2. Sell or Donate What You Won’t Use

Once you’ve sorted through everything and cleaned up it’s time to donate or sell off what’s taking up unnecessary space. It’s easy to accumulate a lot of random supplies, so if you know you absolutely won’t use something you should get rid of it. Selling off your excess materials will not only free up valuable room, but you can also use the funds to purchase supplies you will definitely utilize.

3. Make Separate “Stations”

Dividing your workspace into designated areas will make it feel super organized! For instance, you can make a wall or area just for your packing materials. Install wall hooks for your tape and scissors and cubbyholes for empty boxes. Creating separate stations will keep all of the tools for one kind of task together to save you time and frustration. This will also help you clearly see what you’re running out of so you can reorder it ahead of time.

4. Put Up Shelving

This may seem really simple, but adding shelves or racks for storage will transform your space. Moving your supplies up and off of the floor will put them closer to eye level, so things will be easier to find (plus you won’t be stepping over boxes). Exactly how you organize your materials depends on what you use (yarn, thread, paper, etc.). Look online for inspiration and unique storage ideas and the possibilities are endless!

5. Add More Lighting

You’re almost done with your studio re-vamp, so now is the time to get a floor lamp or new fixture for your workspace. Good lighting is essential for creating handmade items and doing computer tasks, specifically to reduce strain on your eyes. You don’t need fancy or expensive lighting, just the right kind for your particular tasks. For example, if you do mostly fine detail work then a desk lamp with natural light is perfect. Also replace any burnt out bulbs in your overhead fixture (and give it a good dusting while you’re up there!).

What other ways do you plan to update your studio in the new year?

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Rebecca George

Designer at Purple and Lime, Inc.

A Cincinnati native, Rebecca studied Art History & Geology at the University of Michigan. From there, she earned a degree in Fashion Design and Marketing from the American Intercontinental University in London, England. Highlights of her career include having several pieces from her graduation collection featured in the international fashion magazine i-D (UK, Feb. 2007) and working on men’s leather pouches for the movie Elizabeth: The Golden Age (which won an Oscar for Best Costume). Her brand "Purple and Lime" is a line of super-fun womenswear, jewelry, and accessories based in Chicago. She has been successfully selling her line on Etsy and in shops for four years, and enjoys teaching others about online handmade selling!

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