As much as we value clear and organized spaces here at Minimalist Crafter, we also don’t want to spend all our time decluttering craft supplies, so let’s explore how we can get things good enough for crafting when your space is a mess.
Step One: Clear Off Your Desk
My “craft room” is also my office, so for me it’s literally a desk, but this could be a different work space, such as your dining room table or craft table set up somewhere else in the house.
I tend to leave projects all over the place, not to mention things I’m just not sure where to put, books I referenced but didn’t put away (at least that keeps my bookshelf organized, I guess), stuff I want to use for projects soon but haven’t started yet, etc.
Set a timer for five or ten minutes and clear as much space as you can. Ideally this will include actually putting things away, but if some things just need to move temporarily to give you space to work that’s OK too.
Just don’t do like I sometimes to and put everything from the desk into a bag or box, never to be seen again.
I write this blog because I need it.
Step Two: Move Anything that Doesn’t Belong
This is a little bit of a wider view of your craft space and especially helpful if your craft room or area turns into a dumping ground for everything you’re not sure where goes (raises hand).
Now might be the time for a box or a bag if there’s a lot of stuff. Or maybe the problem is empty boxes and bags that end up in your space for some reason.
Take five minutes to move the obvious stuff out of the way. Even if it’s just to the hallway for now. But make sure you deal with it for real after your crafting session.
Step Three: Pick a Project
Maybe in clearing up your area so you can get crafting when you space is a mess you’ve found a project you want to work on. Maybe it’s time to cut down on the unfinished object clutter.
Or maybe you had something in mind you wanted to make before you started.
Either way, figure out what that project is and what supplies and space you need for that project.
Say I want to do some sewing, I might need the kitchen table for fabric cutting and the space around the sewing machine.
If it’s beading I need to collect the beads I need and other supplies but can probably work at my desk, which is already clear.
Step Four: Collect and Clear
Now it’s time to actually find the supplies and make the space you need for the project you want to work on. Hopefully this will only take a few minutes.
If you’ve got to dig through a ton of stuff to get to what you need or you can’t find what you’re looking for at all, this may be a sign it’s time for a deeper cleaning and decluttering after your crafting session.
No judgement, I was just in this place recently when looking for my needle felting supplies for a project.
But since we’re trying to get crafting while your space is a mess, if it’s taking a long time to find what you need, maybe choose something else for now and make it a priority to clean up so that you can find what you need for the project you really want to make.
Step Five: Get Crafting!
Crafting while your space is a mess isn’t the best feeling, but doing this routine before you get started can both give you a little breathing room and a sense of accomplishment.
It’s also a way to evaluate what might need to be dealt with first as you continue to clear spaces and declutter craft supplies.
The idea is if you can get into the groove of cleaning and clearing a little bit each time you craft, as well as doing a little decluttering session after (even if it’s only five things!) that over time you’ll get more crafting and more cleaning done.
If you have tips for crafting while your space is a mess, I’d love to hear them! Goodness knows we all need the support.
