How to Set Up a Sewing Room

Do you enjoy spending your free time sewing? Are you looking for tips and ideas on how to set up your sewing room?  If so, then keep reading.

Learning how to set up a sewing room involves three things: adding the right furniture pieces, organizing your room, and great design.

Because here’s the thing:

Every sewist can benefit from having a well-structured and organized sewing room. Besides, who wants to spend hours bumbling around trying to locate sewing accessories?

In this article, we will provide tips on how to set up your sewing room, must-have furniture pieces to add to your room and tips for designing your room.

Whether you are a beginner that is setting up a new space or an active sewist looking to revamp your existing sewing space, learning how to set up a sewing room is easy..  

All you need to do is identify a perfect sewing space, choose a color scheme for your room, and add some essential sewing room supplies and you're off to the races. 

Whether you prefer keeping it simple, or you are looking for something more advanced, we will show you how to set up both a small and large sewing room. 

We will also suggest some essential sewing room supplies, and fun sewing room design ideas that you could try out. 

 So friends, let’s dive off into the blog post.

What is a Sewing Room?

A sewing room can be an exclusive room or some small space within another room used for sewing and crafting purposes. 

Truthfully, a sewing room can serve myriad purposes with some of them being:

• Safe storage for your sewing supplies e.g. fabric, needles, bobbins, sewing patterns, and sewing magazines.
• Designing, stitching and making pattern alterations.
• Offer space for ironing fabric.
• Serve as a quilting room.
• Provide some peace and quiet as you sew.

The one thing that you want to remember is that a well set up sewing room will make your sewing craft easier, organized and incredibly fun!

7 Important Essentials to Add to your Sewing Room

#1: A Great Sewing Machine

A great sewing machine will make or break your sewing projects.  Our best advice is to use a sewing machine that will work well with the type of projects that you plan to work on.

#2: Sewing Table or Desk

If you think a sewing table is not so crucial, think again.  Sewing on a wobbly surface is a definite no no.  

We advise that you go for an adjustable sewing table or a folding one table like the Giantex Folding table displayed below.

#3:  Sewing Chair

#4:  Cutting or Multi-functional table

If floor space is an issue, try using customized, drop-down tables that you can fold back once you have cut the fabric.

#5:  Storage Options

In case you have existing storage methods that you love, then you should factor them in as you set up your sewing room.

#6:  Good Iron and Ironing Board

Some space for pressing fabric is also very important since this will help you design crisp fit seams. 

#7:  Lighting

Types of Lighting You Can Use

Setting Up Your Sewing Room: A Mini Checklist

Have you checked all the essential sewing room supplies off your list? 

Great! 

Now we move to the most important part, which is how to set up a sewing room.  Before we jump into it, here are a few things you need to know as you set it up:

• A sewing room floor should be smooth for you to clean it easily.
• Choose a color scheme to decorate your sewing room with. 
•  Make sure the sewing room has good ventilation. 
• If possible, install fire prevention and control equipment.
• Choose a room with reliable power source and enough sockets.

6 Simple Steps for Setting Up a Sewing Room

1.  Draw a Floor plan

2.  Choose a Layout for your Room

3.  Choose a Color Scheme for your Sewing Room

This is an example of a color and fabric combination that you can use to draw inspiration from for your entire sewing room. 

The key with designing your room is to choose colors that brighten your mood and makes you feel inspired to sew.

For instance, if you prefer a cool, soothing effect, go for either blue or green walls. These colors are also good for igniting creativity and focus.  

For smaller rooms with little to no natural light, its best to use more neutral color palettes in your sewing room.

4.  Add Furniture to your Room and Organize It

Some of the most important pieces of furniture that you should add to your sewing room include:

A Great Sewing Desk

Your sewing desk should be sturdy and work well according to the layout that you plan to use in your room.  

For example, if you are planning to use a center room layout, then this sewing desk and craft table from South Shore or this Sauder Craft Pro Series Work Table are excellent choices.

For an L-shaped room, this TopSky desk or Bush Furniture desk from Amazon would work well in your space.   Walmart also has a ton of affordable sewing desks that you can add to your space as well.

A Great Chair

The last thing that you want to deal with as a sewist is a bad back or stiffness.  To prevent this from happening, one of the BEST investments that you can make.  

This Arrow H8140 Adjustable Height Hydraulic Sewing and Craft Chair seems to be a favorite int the sewing community as far as sewing chairs are concerned.

If you want more information on the best sewing chair to use for your sewing room, check out this post.

Shelving or Storage Units

Now, on the organization front, you'll want to make sure that you organize your furniture according to the space allocated for the room.  

Built-in storage solutions like this Wide Drawer Dresser (shown above) from Amazon will work well and should go in first, followed by the sewing and cutting tables. Finally, arrange any movable storage such as baskets and plastic boxes.

5.  Stock up on Accessories & Organize Them 

Now it's time to stock up on accessories for your sewing room.  This includes things like storage boxes, fabric bins, and clear jars for pins, needles and etc.

Now it's time to put away the sewing supplies and materials safely in storage. Give priority to accessories you frequently use and make sure they are easily accessible. 

For example, you can hang the iron board over your door with clever storage like this and for large accessories like a full-frame mirror; you can keep those behind the door.

Finally, store your fabric away into bins like the ones above or a storage drawer from direct sunlight to save them from discoloration.

6.  Finish off Your Sewing Room with Decor 

Once everything is in its rightful place, its time to decorate your sewing room!! 

You can embellish your sewing space by laying some comfy rugs like these Bohemian Chic paisley rugs on your floors, some beautiful curtains,  artwork, and decorative plants to spice up your room. 

It's a great idea to also add some soft pillows and cushions will also do your furniture some good.  

Another thing consider is this: 

You are bound to create certain completed sewing projects you are proud of. Why not come up with a designated space that creatively shows them off!

Hang your most prized sewing collections on a decorative tack board or on open shelves for more room décor.

How Do You Setup a Small Sewing Room?

We understand that not everyone gets the luxury of having a whole room for their sewing. If you are one of them, you don’t have to feel as if there aren't options for you. 

One of the best low budget options available for sewers with limited space is to use a corner desk and consider adding more storage containers to your sewing space.

For a small sewing space, you will invest more in closed storage solutions such as boxes and containers and wall-mounted storage space. 

Your wall can store more supplies than you think! So get those pegboards and vertical shelves as soon as you can.  When storing fabric, preshrink it immediately after purchase then store them in containers.

You can also maximize on small space through under-the-bed storage. As long as you label each, you can always keep storage containers underneath furniture sets such as beds.

When it comes to your sewing and cutting tables, you will have to be smart.

For example, choose a table with drawers or an L-shaped one to serve as a sewing and cutting table. This way, you will be using the same space for sewing, cutting and additional storage.

Since you are likely to be sharing the room with other people, you will need to have accessories such as needles and pins safe - like the multi-functional Craft Pegboard shown below.  

This will prevent any harm towards un-aware room users.

10 Inspiring Sewing Room to Use for Design Inspiration

Alrighty, so we've covered quite a bit in this post. However, we've managed to save the best for last. 

Here is a roundup and list of our favorite sewing room designs that you can use for inspiration with designing your room.

#1:  Up first is the small but mighty sewing and craft room design from Queen of Bee Honey Dos.  

This is such a clever craft space with tons of storage, a beautiful blue accent wall in the shelves and even storage at the bottom to store your sewing accessories. 

Just goes to show you that even small spaces can work well for craft and sewing rooms.

#2:  When it comes to designing a sewing room, you don’t have to buy costly decorations.

Here is an example from Kelsey at PoofyCheeks of the perfect way to organize all your colorful sewing accessories and create a vibrant sewing room.

#3:  Have a super small sewing space? Here is an example of a sewing space with a corner desk.  

These kinds of desks will help you maximize every inch of small spaces while keeping things organized.

#4:  Here again, you can create a functional craft room that oozes femininity!   These beautiful turquoise walls and compact storage space for all your sewing supplies are simply perfect.

#5:  If you have a larger space, this beautiful and colorful craft space is one to emulate. The beautiful color combinations and stools with a pop of yellow exudes both maturity and elegance in the best way possible. 

All the accessories are also stored neatly and you can access all of them in less than a minute.

#6:  With your working table in the middle of the room, you can access any part of your sewing room without a hitch. The design below will help you do exactly that.

#7:  Do you have a spare set of tables that you can add to your sewing room? The design pictured below will show you how to make good use of your wall space.

#9:  Have a spare closet that you can transform into a crafting and sewing room?. Here is how to make it more vibrant yet simple.

#10:  The L-shaped sewing table is always a good idea, especially if you are just starting out with a small sewing space.

Wrapping Things Up!