As a parent, encouraging your child to exercise their creative muscles and learn new crafting skills and techniques is incredibly rewarding. But it can also be tricky when your little ones are running amuck and you're forever tripping over their craft supplies.
Fortunately, there's a fool-proof solution to giving them the freedom to express themselves while also protecting your home from paint spills and messes: A kids' craft room!
Having a designated area to create will help your children to grow as individuals and as artists. And, no matter how much (or little) space you have in your home, you can transform any room or area into a place your kids will love.
Organize Your Child's Craft Supplies
Organizing craft supplies can feel like a big task. However, with the right approach, it becomes a fun and super rewarding experience.
You'll want to start by collecting all the craft materials and art supplies you have around your home. This will give you a better idea of what you have, what needs to be replaced, and what can be tossed. Ultimately, the goal is to design a space that is easy to maintain and keep organized. Of course, decluttering is a must, so try not to hold onto anything your kids won't use.
To achieve your goal, you may want to consider investing in a few storage options. For example:
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Cube storage: Cube storage boxes or bookshelves are perfect for keeping things tidy. You can use boxes to hide arts and crafts supplies when your kids aren't crafting, but they'll still be within arm's reach.
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Stackable bins: For smaller, more frequently used items (like glue sticks or markers), clear drawers or storage bins help you to see everything at a glance. This makes it easier to grab what you need.
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Removable plastic drawers: Removable plastic drawers are also perfect for smaller craft items like beads or buttons. They can be pulled out from their designated spaces and placed on a table during your kids' crafting time, and easily put away when they're done.
Remember, you can also use labels to make things easier to organize. If you have younger kids, you can use images or simple text to help them find what they're looking for. Alternatively, colorful labels are a great touch to make your space feel more fun and you can add the same colors to items so your kids can learn where they go.
This is an especially good idea if you're mixing their craft room with a homeschool room (or you're setting up a traditional classroom) since they'll learn the association in a more exciting way.
Add A Table And Chairs
Adding a craft table and chairs can take your kids' craft room from fun to functional. However, when you're picking out a craft table, durability is key. Ideally, you'll want something that can stand up to spills, paint, glue, and all sorts of messes in their creative sanctuary.
Repurposed or older tables are perfect for this, but if you're working in a smaller space, something more portable and compact like a Loddie Doddie lap desk may be a better idea.
Additionally, you'll want to find comfortable seating that is kid-friendly and promotes good posture while they're getting crafty. And, if you're short on space, then bench seating is the perfect solution. They'll allow for multiple kids to join in on the fun.
A tip from Loddie Doddie: Tables with built-in storage underneath help you store more craft supplies and keep the most frequently used materials on hand. Think gel pens, chalk markers, and dry-erase markers. If you live in a smaller home, you can also use a rolling cart to turn any table into an instant craft station.
Including An Easel
Including an easel in your kids' craft room is a fantastic way to encourage their creative expression. Whether it's drawing, writing, or painting, having a designated space for this helps your little ones dive into their artistic projects without worrying about the mess.
A children's chalkboard easel provides a perfect spot for your child to explore their creative side. It gives them a standing canvas for them to experiment with mediums like chalk and paint, or come up with unique chalk marker art projects.
But this space isn't just for drawing - it's for teaching fine motor skills and gives your kids a sense of independence as they make their own creations.
If you'd rather not use a chalkboard in their art space, you can always pick another versatile option like a dry erase board or wall-mounted paper roll. These simple setups allow for endless drawing and doodling that can be used time and time again (and without the mess of more traditional mediums!).
Craft Room Wall Ideas
Using the walls in your craft room can maximize your space and add storage, display artwork, and even inject some personality into the room. In fact, the walls are your best friend when it comes to organizing.
For example, wall-mounted shelves or cabinets can store bins, boxes, and craft tools. This will keep them neatly tucked away yet easily accessible when you need them. It also ensures that little hands can't reach more dangerous tools like scissors or hot glue guns if they're left unsupervised.
Another one of our favorite design ideas for your kiddies' craft room is a pegboard! You can install one of these handy tools on the wall to hang hooks or baskets for storing things like ribbon, tape, and other smaller items. But the best part? You can arrange the hooks the way you'd like, making it a more flexible storage option.
Don't forget to add some personality to the room! Bold wallpaper or a bright accent wall in vivid colors can make the room feel more inviting and inspiring for your little ones. Additionally, a gallery wall that showcases your child's artwork can turn one wall into a mini-exhibition space for their projects.
FAQs
What are some creative ways to display my child’s artwork in the craft room?
Get ready to turn your child's artwork into a mini gallery! You can use frames with removable backs for easy rotation, or hang their projects up on colorful clips or string. Alternatively, you can use a large corkboard or magnetic board to put multiple pieces on display.
If you can't commit to a full gallery wall of their work, then you can always have a temporary 'art wall' where you showcase their art using washi tape. That way, you can change their artwork out as often as you like.
How can I keep messy activities manageable in a craft room?
To keep your child's mess to a minimum without stifling their creativity, you may want to designate a specific area of the room for messier projects. Ideally, you'll want a space that has easy-to-clean surfaces and use trays or mats to catch spills. For quick cleanup, you can keep wipes or paper towels nearby.
If you want to allow your little one to express themselves without the fear of messes, then you can also pick out a chalkboard or dry erase board. With these surfaces, they can get as creative as they'd like, and you can simply wipe it away when you want to clean up!
How can I make a craft room safe for younger children?
Safety is incredibly important in a kids' craft room. Of course, the first thing you'll want to do is ensure that any storage units or shelves are securely anchored to the wall to prevent tipping. You'll also need to store any sharp or dangerous objects like scissors or craft knives out of reach of small children. In fact, you can even use child-proof latches on your cabinets to avoid unexpected accidents.
How can I involve my kids in setting up their craft room?
Involving your kids in setting up their craft room can help to make them feel more invested in the space. You can ask for their input on decor, color schemes, or even furniture choices to build up their excitement about using the room.
You can also encourage them to create artwork or other decor to add to the room. By doing this, they can show off the work they're proud of and feel inspired every time they sit down to create. It's a win-win for both you and your children.
Final Thoughts
Setting up a kids' craft room is easier than you might think. All it takes is a designated crafting space and a few storage bins to make it truly special. Of course, you can also take our simple ideas and make them as grand as you'd like! Just remember: The only limit to how the room turns out is your imagination.
With handy tools like chalkboards, dry erase boards, lap desks, and more, your children can also enjoy a creative space all of their own. So, if you're looking for high-quality art surfaces and tools, be sure to check out our range of Loddie Doddie products.