Make the Most Out of the Space You Have

Your creative space can greatly influence the work you make and, let’s be honest, nobody likes having a creative vision interrupted by lost materials or a disorganized space that leaves you flustered.

Whether you have an out of home studio, you’ve repurposed a second bedroom,or you are making art on your kitchen table, your creative space deserves to be cherished because it is yours!

In today’s episode we discuss the pros, cons, and things to consider when you are thinking about an in-home or out-of-home studio. We also share our top studio organization tips to make the most out of whatever space you have!

Rethinking Your Creative Space

In this episode we respond to our first listener question! Jen wrote us on Instagram and said:

“I think the biggest struggle for me has been getting organized. I feel like I’m always rearranging or trying to find my flow which then prevents me from working because it's not already set up. Do you have any tips for setting up a functional work space?”

This is a great question and one that we get often! But first we want to address the pros, cons, and things to consider when it comes to having a studio in your home versus out of the home.

Home Studio

We both started working in home studios! As with any job, there are pros and cons to working from home as well as just general things to consider.

Influence on Your Artwork
- Limited space can limit the scale of your work
- For many it is important to have a dedicated space to work in, ready to go.
- Luckily, when you create you can be flexible so when the energy/inspiration strikes you can get right to work with relatively minimal roadblocks!
Space
- If you are renting you’ll need to be mindful of putting holes in your walls as well as not damaging things (walls, carpet, ceiling, etc.) if you want to get your security deposit back
- This restriction can certainly affect your creative flow BUT is avoidable to drop cloths or creative storage solutions
Boundaries
- Setting boundaries is very important when you work from home. You’ll need to set boundaries both with your time and establishing rules with people you live with
Finances
- Having a home studio doesn't mean that it is free. As a growing business this is a mindset that will be needed as you grow. Instead, your studio rent is simply built in with your living expenses. There isn’t an easy way to calculate this but if you are filing taxes with your business separately, talk to a tax professional about how to account for your overhead costs (rent).
Community/Interactions
- Working out of your home will mean that your studio is not easily opened to the public unless it’s a separate building
- You’ll need to take the initiative to show your work and build connections with other artist peers

Out of Home Studio

Moving out of your home can be a big step for many creatives. In addition to increased facetime with the public, you also now have a storefront for collectors to visit and privacy. But this also comes with challenges.

Space
- With the freedom of a studio space you’ll be able to go all in with painting and really make the space your own (within reason)
Commute
- Nothing will be as convenient as creating your artwork in your home so factoring a commute into your workflow will take time to adjust to
- You’ll need to block off more time when scheduling out your week and larger blocks of time may be needed in order to make your creative time worth the trip
Planning Ahead
- You’ll also need to consider the other conveniences that your new studio may not have right away
- Especially if you are juggling a day job too, you’ll need to think about packing food/change of clothes etc. ahead of time to avoid excess driving
Additional Cost
- Although a home studio isn’t free, an out of home studio will increase your monthly expenses
- This is a big hurdle for many creatives
- At this point, you may want to consider having an account designated to your art business in order to keep finances separate
Privacy
- With your own space, you’ll have privacy from your family or roommates so you can truly focus on your creative practice
- But, if you studio is open to the public, you have to be aware of visitors being in your space (or if you only open for events, “prepping” the space for open studio events)

Studio Organization Tips

When organizing your space, think about the function and which tools you use the most. Put those closest to your main work area and at eye level (or reach level). Then move the lesser-used tools up or down.
Organize your paints, markers, and media by types and/or colors if applicable, I like to see them on open shelves - easy to find, “restock” and put back when done. Plus out of sight, out of mind.
For some, zones work best in order to keep areas separate -- digital admin zone, painting zone, drawing zone, etc. These zones can help you organize your tools effectively too!
Wheels! Movable shelves, carts, and desks allow you to reconfigure the space as needed. Even Adriana's main canvas storage has wheels! And if it’s foldable that is even better because it will save on storage space!
Embrace the versatility of a pegboard! There are several attachments (hooks, containers, shelves) so you are able to transform the board over time based on your needs. Plus there are minimal holes put in the walls! Jackie has fully embraced the peg board life.
Use stackable boxes and drawers that are translucent or clearly labeled. It is easier to go vertical and easier to keep the piles of miscellaneous items under some semblance of order.
If you are utilizing different creative spaces, have an organized closet or cupboard with a basket of your most-used supplies on hand
Periodically pick an area of your studio to re-evaluate. Are there materials you haven’t used for the last six months? Maybe consider giving them away?

“Ultimately no matter where you create…”

Embrace the space and time that you are in NOW.
If it isn’t where you want to be, what are you ACTIVELY doing to work towards that next step?
- Fine-tuning your craft/art style
  1. Building your brand
  2. Visiting the available/potentially viable spaces in your area
  3. Networking (other artists and studio decision-makers)
  4. Applications for new spaces
When trying to optimize and organize your space, don’t think of how it is laid out now, think about it as a clean slate!
Know that you can always reiterate and optimize your space over time. Try to make it functional first, doesn’t have to be like something out of a magazine.