Studio Makeover
It all started with a photography problem.
Every time I wanted to snap a quick photo of a new piece to post on Instagram or list in my Etsy shop, I had to stop packing orders, move whatever I was in the middle of making, and clear off my only worksurface so that I could set up my lights and backdrop. It may not sound like a big deal, but it was a daily source of frustration.
I took a good look around my studio and found other problems with the layout. Not only was the room looking awfully cluttered, the hodge-podge of furniture & storage wasn’t doing anything to make my job easier. It was time for a major makeover!
Within 24 hours of getting fed up with my space, I had mercilessly gone through every corner of my studio, filled 8 trash bags full of junk and donated or relocated about 80% of the furniture.
Out with the old:
1. Oversized corner desk that jutted out into the room
2. Plastic storage drawers that could no longer support the weight of their contents
3. Drafting table from college (that wasn’t great when it came time to hammer)
4. Old 3-drawer nightstand that never opened properly and didn’t store much
5. Bulletin boards that had become a cluttered mess
6. Saddle stool that cut into my legs after only 10 minutes of sitting
7. Desk chair (because I really don’t need to sit down just to print shipping labels)
8. Folding table in front of window that had no surface visible left
9. Old materials stashed in the closet for projects I never did and had no interest in doing now
In with the new:
A. 24”x48” table dedicated to my permanent photography set up, plus prop storage underneath
B. Large worktables that create a continuous standing-height worksurface that’s super sturdy
C. Standing height desk for my computer with dedicated area for shipping supplies and packing orders
D. “Perch” stool, so I can sit and work if I need to (though I prefer to stand)
E. A second set of large flat file drawers for storing leather
F. Convenient wall-mounted shelving for the things I need to access daily
Want to see more?
Take a tour of my many workspaces, including my new and improved studio:
So why did I have all this random stuff causing problems in my studio?
When I first started my business in 2009, I wasn’t entirely sure what all I was going to make. I collected all sorts of things, “just in case” I came up with an idea, but eventually found my groove with specific materials and products. Even still, all of these random things I'd been storing for years continued to be stored. I’m embarrassed to say I may be a bit of an unintentional hoarder, but after my recent clean out, I think I’ve taken some major steps to break this habit!
I parted ways with a lot, but I also rediscovered some pretty cool stuff and that has inspired me to dabble in new materials once again. I've got some new collections in the works thanks to this studio makeover!
