Small Sewing Room Makeover - Using Ikea to Hack My Tiny Sewing Space 

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Congrats on your “new” room. I couldn’t agree with you more that thoughtful planning is the key! My husband and I moved two years ago. I was planning on moving my entire sewing room into the new location. My hubby offered me the option of a completely new room using some of the proceeds from the sale of the house. “This is your once in a lifetime chance to plan your dream quilting room, so plan carefully”. OMG! Yes, my hubby is INCREDIBLE and I am so blessed! I spent MONTHS using the IKEA kitchen planner to set up my ideas. I went onto RU-vid and viewed every studio I could. I talked to my husband about my ideas. I talked to my son (who is incredible with design) and my daughter in law who studied design in school. We tweaked and tweaked. Then I explained the use of each area to the cabinet people and asked for their input. They had one suggestion that we hadn’t thought of and it was a great one. I have been using my room for two years and wouldn’t change a thing, well except for a spot for a design wall (my room is a sunroom with lots of light, but only two wall areas being used for more important essentials). For now I have a portable wall that I assemble if i am making a large quilt, but am still thinking about the problem and possible solutions! Right now I am in the middle of quilting a king size denim quilt for my son and D-I-L so the room is a bit messy, but it is still my favorite room in the house!

Oh this is perfect!!! My sewing space is 5’x6’. I live in an RV and I removed the dining room booth/table and re-did the small space with a 2x4 fold table for cutting (also store things under it); my small sewing table; a 6 cubby Ikea shelf for fabric storage. I use scrapbooking storage boxes to store my projects in, stacking them 4 deep on top of the ikea shelf. I use a pegboard that leans against the wall for rulers, scissors, rotary cutters, etc. And I have a very small nightstand that’s forever in my way for thread, notions, etc. I have no design board persay, but pin my blocks to the sliding door black out drape to get some idea of what’s happening in my brain 😅. I dream of more space (no dedicated iron space to be found ANYWHERE 😢), but I’ve created (and free motion quilted 😵‍💫) I’m guessing about 30? Twin, queen and even king sized projects in this space since 2020.

You are so funny when you describe your sewing room! I know you appreciate it though! When our 4 kids were home I also sewed and cut out fabric at my dining room table. Now that we are empty nesters I’m fortunate to have a bedroom upstairs as my sewing room. Another bedroom is where our grands sleep when they stay over. I Bible journal with the grands at the dining room table now. Our supplies are in a cart that I can put away. I also have a scrapbooking room downstairs in our finished basement. There’s also a guest bedroom, a rec room and a bathroom downstairs. Our house is old but we’ve done a lot to it. Last year our project was the back yard which turned out beautiful! I feel so blessed!

It’s just perfect Cathy. 😊 I have my grandparents eyeglasses on my shelf so they can “watch” me work.

I love your new space. I also have a small sewing space located in my den with my family! They have learned to watch TV with the sound of the sewing machine. It helps that my 77 year old parents are pretty hard of hearing (they live with me and my husband). My husband knows it brings me joy and just tolerates it since he knows as a firefighter with a second job that he’d rather have me in the same room spending time with him while watching a football game than in another part of the house far away:). I just found & love your channel & have been binge watching! As a new quilter, I’m more of a crafter - a crocheter, knitter and my fav cross stitcher, I’ve only been a quilter for 5 months or so with only really 3 quilts under my belt but I’m addicted!! Quilting has helped me a ton, I’m disabled & I use all my crafts for pain control & to keep my mind sharp but quilting has really helped me with the sharpness the last year. My husband has been surprised at how much math he has had to sit down & go over with me & I was a bookkeeper for 20 years but with pain meds and pain 24/7 plus I had to leave my job in 2014 after the pain just got to be to much & your mind kinda crumbles on you so it is nice to get it back working again🤩. I do have a plan to make a quilt out of dress shirts, the only problem is I live in Wyoming and not many guys in Wyoming wear dress shirts so there are not many at the thrift store, my own husband only owns 1 and he only wears it for weddings, funerals or promotion interviews!! My Sister lives in Seattle so I may have to send her thrift shopping for me or wait til I visit this Summer. Sadly I’m not sure my sister even knows what a sewing machine is🤩

Your joy is palpable and makes me happy too.Your husband really gets you!! I have used sheets many times for backings and no probs.Enjoy😊😊😊😊

I bought an IKEA metal trolley, the smaller one that rolls away under a table. I added small hanging bins and one shelf has a wooden top, all from IKEA. Everything I need to hand is in it from wonderclips, one of magnetic pin keep, snips etc., scissors, markers. As it is magnetic I also bought big clips from IKEA (again!) that hold gloves, lint rollers. Curved hooks that hold small rulers with holes. It has changed my workspace and I can move it around. Yeah.

I have a small room for sewing, crochet and craft supplies, “office,” junk drawers (tape, envelopes, batteries etc.) and extra meds and diabetes supplies. So I’m watching attentatvely!

I'm so happy for you🎉. My sewing space is in the process of reorganizing, too! I also want to say that it is so heartwarming to know that your husband is so supportive of your creative endeavors. You are blessed (and i'm sure you already know that) 😊

Looks wonderful. I have a large custom- built studio in my retirement home and I still got a couple of ideas I can implement immediately that will improve things. It is so easy to get used to your original setup and stop seeing room for improvement. (I have my large and small rulers on one of those racks and have added some so they don’t all fit well and it’s a constant shuffle. And my basting pins are in multiple small boxes in a drawer instead of one big jar on a shelf.). Those are things I can fix this afternoon! 😊

Thanks for the tour of your updated space! It’s lovely and very calming. I hope you enjoyed your break, it’s so nice to have you both back on Fridays in my notifications! 🎉

I used to cut my fabrics out in the backyard on a cardboard folded quilt board. We are enclosing my very small, very tiny side porch, but it’ll be my room a real sewing room, a real creative room FINALLY my artistic crafty room.

An old dresser, especially on wheels, can make an awesome ironing station for small spaces.

Just found this video and I am so excited , you often see videos about these large sewing studio makeover but this is just real life !We have been married 43 years and I have never had a dedicated sewing space ! We have six children and all rooms were full , they’re all married now but 4 live away so still need bedrooms for when they come home! We have an enclosed porch off our living room that I dearly want to convert to my sewing space and you have given me a push to get it done , thanks !

Very thoughtfully arranged and organized sewing space. Enjoy sewing 🧵

Wow! So many sewing room makeovers look more like a shopping haul or evidence of multiple shopping hauls. This was so refreshing and helpful. I feel you were able to analyze the problems and solve them. I only wish you had kept the photos of the areas on screen long enough for me to study them.

You make me smile! Why have I not seen you before? I see you’ve been on RU-vid since 2013 and I’m annoyed that I’m only now seeing you. But, like my hubs and I always say, “nothing happens before it’s time” and “when it’s time, it will happen”! Thank you for making me smile. You’ve inspired me! I’ve been using my bedroom double as sewing room and the bed is so tempting! Now I’m going to carve out a corner for my “small sewing space”

I do believe the universe sent you to me today! 🙂As I've gone into this new year with hope for many things, one hope is to make my sewing room work for me instead of being in its usual state of disorganization and chaos! I truly dislike going into the room anymore, which you also related about your prior space = anxiety.😵‍💫 I have already formulated a plan just by listening to your video. I've set a goal by my birthday next month, 3 1/2 weeks to make a difference in my space! I know I will be much happier and perhaps even more productive as a result. Cheers to a new sewing year!🥂🪡🧵

Love this video and showing us real life. My 'sewing room, where no sewing occurs' 🙄is just about the same size.I relate to your comment that disorganization can suck the inspiration out of you. Thanks for the helpful tips and suggestions as this will serve us well.

I started with a Skarsta table but upgraded to a Flexispot electronic adjustable height table, because it goes lower than the Skarsta to allow me to have my overlocker at the right height. If you want to move your Skarsta tables around you can swap the feet for castors that can be bought as an accessory for the Flexispot desks for around 30 dollars, that way you could put the desks together if you need a really large cutting space.

Congrats on your new space! Met you for the first time in this video. 🥰 I’m a new empty nester & in the process of rediscover the joy from all my art projects & sewing. Since I was a teen I dreamed of a big open space for my project and I’m blessed with a huge Steelcase desk for sewing and the pool table for cutting. Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm for the little things like colored pencils & heavy scizzors! My daughter is starting to see but needs to stay consolidated so I’m excited to help her set up. God bless you & your family!

I think l followed most of the video, the room is small but you chose furnishings that fit the space and allows you to do the work of sewing and quilting the way you like. You approach your work with minimalist design and keep visual clutter to a minimum. Nice job.

It would've been nice to see a slow pan around the room to better understand what you were talking about.

Hahahahaha! Way more scissory than scissors! I love this.

It looks lovely and so easy to work in. Small spaces can be great: everything is close to hand. I have found that Command hooks of all sizes and materials are a huge help. My snips hang on very small hooks just under the flywheel of my 2 sewing machines, always ready and they don’t fall off the table. I put up some pairs of larger one that hold fabric that I want to use but need to see it near the stash to let it play with other fabrics and my imagination. The picture hanging type hold up my design wall. And they won’t hurt your beautiful new paint. Thanks so much for your videos - even though I have many, many wips, I’m going shopping for shirts and eyeing my grandmother’s white linen tablecloth that we never use.

The triangle theory applies in the kitchen also: fridge, sink & stove. I too love using sheets for backing my quilts. It is so nice to have an inspiring space to create.

lovely space so calming you are so lucky to have a Paul ! xx

Thanks for sharing your space. We’d never have guessed how small it is. I know you are enjoying its revamp. Also, Paul does a great job with your videos.

Thank you for the video! I have wanted to make a quilt for myself for years but have never done machine sewing. As a child I did plenty of hand sewing and cross stitch. As an adult I found the beautiful art of bead embroidery and bead weaving. I am very aware of working in a space in which you need to pack everything up when you are done. I used to do my beadwork on a TV tray... So two years ago I went to a local sewing shop, bought a machine and took some sewing classes. My sewing room is also my beading room and storage room at 9x9. I would love to some day be able to organize it in a clean smooth workable space. Blessings, Erica

I'm sooo excited for you! Organization is a MUST in my world- especially in my creative world. I LOVE your new space. It's obvious that you put a lot of thought in to it and hubby put a lot of physical work into it. How wonderful to have a person in your life that supports your endeavors. Enjoy, my friend!

I was just wondering when you would put up another video. 👍🏼

I finally, after 35 years, have a small bedroom transformed into a sewing room. I sewed on the kitchen table. I hated cleaning up and forgetting where I left off.

Hi Cathy, That's a great space for your quilt creations! So happy for you! Love getting organized and having "A place for everything, and Everything in it's place". Looking forward to you next video! bfn

Oh that's spacious compared to mine!!

I have the exact same table in my small sewing space. Then I would crank it to its highest height for holidays to serve buffet style.

Love how you've arranged & improved your creative space. My sewing area is tiny like yours and stuffed to the gills! I recently got some shelving/bookcases which have helped but am really looking forward to summertime when I can take them outside to paint them to match the walls so that they don't visually clutter things up so much. Thanks for the inspiration and affirmation that it is worth spending time on one's environment.

Oooo, I got the heavy scissors for Christmas. They are so good! I didn't realize how much of a difference it would make!

I appreciate your video. I am designing my new sewing room which is about 12x12. I am glad to know about the sewing triangle. Great idea.

This is so very nice to see your space. I love your organization and explanation. Thank you for sharing this with us.😊🪡🧵✂️🦓

I don’t have much more space than you! I did something very similar last January, and boy, did it make a difference! Enjoy your new set-up!!

This is so nice following the way you are growing as a quilter!. This was me 30 years ago. Now I have California closets on one wall. And shelving you would have in you garage on another wall. And I need to arrange again. On the other wall. More shelves. Love it. But still needs cleaning up. Have a great day. Hugs from Tampa.

I am so happy for you. What a good job you and your husband have done !!!

Good for you Cathy! You’re motivating me to go clean up my sewing room! I have a pair of those Guggenheim scissors and they are fabulous!! I also have a pair of their snips and I love them ❤ They have a lovely loop at the handle so they hang on a little command hook to my right just underneath the top of the sewing desk. Love it!

My first time watching one of your videos! I am very new to quilting. I smiled and laughed from the Guggenheim shears and scissors to IKEA furniture to thrifting sheets for quilt backs, and ziplocs. These things just make sense. Thank you for sharing a view of your sewing space with us.

My area is just inside the front door in a small alcove, 6’ by 9’ with my sewing cabinet facing a large window to the front yard. It’s small but I’ve made it work for almost 11 years now. Thank you for your additional tips.

I've not watched your channel before, but found this really helpful. I live in a small space: I am a knitter and spinner, and a would be sewer. I am in the process of de-cluttering, re-organising... this is helpful. Thank you.

I completely understand the small workspace. I use a lot of pegboards and literally wall to wall built in desks. My sewing room is just over 5ft by 8ft (so the shorter length of your room is the longer side, and the shorter is just a bit longer than your wingspan). Utilizing vertical wall space has really been the key to optimizing my space. I have built in desks on 3 of the walls with an office chair in the center that I can just turn to use the different surfaces. I had other desks in here previously, but like you I had to start over from the ground up. I have a lot of plastic drawer storage with labels, and shelving that they sit on. anything that I need regularly is within arms reach of my chair, so there are some major benefits to such a small space, but the down side is if I have very large pieces I need to cut, I still have to take them to the dining room table. I do love the neutral of your room. I went with more on the grey side, but still very neutral. I think it's really nice to have your calm color in your work space.

So so happy for your “new” space . Well organized and more efficient!

Thanks for passing along your reasoning for your arrangement of your sewing room!

Wow, great minds think alike. (lol) I am redoing my sewing space as well. Very slowly, but putting a lot of thought about what I want close, and what I can store elsewhere, what kind of storage works best, drawers, shelves, whatever. At this point it is the storm before the calm. I still have so much to go through and organize. Sometimes I sit in my chair and daydream, and then try to decide if it makes sense. Good thing I am the only one to use my space. Breathe deeply!

You are fun to watch, I learn things, and get ideas. I have the same color of paint in my living room, the paint brand calls it putty!

I’m set up in my front entrance hallway with a folding table and my new to me “Brother Dream machine”. This is where I’ve been sewing for the last 6 months. have a very large room upstairs that was supposed to be my sewing room. It is just a storage room for fabric & sewing supplies. I need to start emptying the room and make it truly my sewing room. Thanks for the inspiration.

Inspirational Cathy! I love the idea of a triangle.

What a nice transformation. I have taken over the kitchen table. There is no other space for my sewing area. This video is timely. I’m trying to reorganize my little space and all the horizontal storage spaces. lol. That means the furniture in our living room. As an aside, I love the little block on your design wall. ❤🎉

Wow! Great job on the make-over and making the most of the space you have. I can see and appreciate how wonderful it is to have it beautiful and functional. May this new year be a joyful and productive one for you!

Love your humour and the advice.

So glad I found you! I have been sewing/quilting since I was a child and all along the way I've been buying and using clothes made from beautiful fabric (like the Liberty of London blouse I just bought for $5) that I've bought in thrift stores, at tag sales etc! Love your channel and what you're doing 🥰😍

I have much more “stuff” than you do, but I also dabble in more mediums. My room is a bit larger, but not much. However, I do also have a closet. My solution is LOTS of shelves. And stacking storage within the shelves. Things like rulers (yes, I also sew) go vertically so I can retrieve. I mean, everything goes to the ceiling. Shelves to the ceiling. In the closet, in my work room. Both. Your walls look so bare to me by comparison. Your drawer storage looks great! If I were you (and I’m not), I’d be having shelves to the ceiling filled with fabric, interfacing, etc. And things that you need? Snips, etc. oh my! Don’t get me started on tools and accessories. You are thinking like I do - less about the storage itself, and more about “work stations” and how you use it. You’re right, your room has to be a color that you love. You’ll spend hours in there. You like the calm, it will help you so much! Enjoy!!!

Just love spending time with you 💕

I empathize completely. My space is 7.5 feet wide and has two entrance ways, located diagonally from one another at opposite ends. It is longer than the space you have but very awkward to work in. I have spent about two years, working out a plan and redoing the space, but I am not done. So nice to see your achievement.

Since you love working with HSTs, check out Nancy Zieman's PBS modern HST and updated odd nine patch videos - really cool! You can do so much with them & intermix the two.

❤️🥰What a wonderful gift for such a creative person-a place that works and inspires creativity! Your family hit a home run with their thoughtful gift. I’m glad they had your input and help since these spaces are best when personalized to the person using them. I know your heart is full and your sew-jo is working overtime! Love that! 👏🏼👏🏼

I also got a bedroom that is hardly ever used turned into my sewing room. We also live in a modest home, so my sewing space was the dinning room table. My sweet husband constructed a sewing table from a desk we have had since seminary days .( 1984). I now call this bedroom ( yes we bought a trundle bed and got rid of the old dresser n bed) I have pics of my art, my 5 yr old photo, a tree of hands I painted with all our grandchildren on it and a beautiful painting a friend gave me. I created a triangle as well. I spent 20$ at a thrift store with sheets for backing, I think it’s about 10 yds worth! I call this my “My happy place.” This morning my sweet husband sent me a text and told me to enjoy being in my happy place! 😊 So enjoy your happy place!

Loved your video and your improvements to your sewing area. Especially loved how excited you were about your space. I have a TINY bedroom for my sewing room and wouldn’t trade it for anything. I need to use some of your solutions to better organize my space. Thanks so much.

What i saw of it seems good. I wish there were several more of the room, though.

I strongly urge you to look at the Alex 9 drawer unit for your threads instead of a wall unit. Wall spool holders tend to look messy, the thread gets dusty AND can degrade from sun damage. The Alex 9 drawer kinda looks like a file cabinet. The best thing is the deeper drawers hold large spools of thread upright while the smaller drawers fit the standard spools.

Love, love , love!! I am a kitchen table quilter but hoping that changes this year! It’s good to hear you like your new scissors, I ordered a pair the other day but haven’t had time to try them. Thank goodness your back!! ❤

First time watching you. Love your sewing room and organational skills! So clean and fresh also!

I found a queen size duvet cover that’s 100% cotton with a lovely peach and white subtle pattern that’s different on each side! And a lovely pink men’s shirt with a lovely plaid yoke, collar and cuffs. I’m all in know. Lol

Nice job! This is my first time seeing any of your videos. Another IKEA product that works great for sewing space is their pegboard system it has hooks and containers and baskets that make it very useful. It comes in more than one size. I made the mistake of not measuring before I went, and I should have purchased a smaller one.

I love the simplicity of your space. I have a small bedroom for office, quilting and cross stitching so I have to keep things to the essentials. It’s very hard to do. Would you share the paint color your husband and daughter picked for you. I love it!

You are truly blessed and it was delightful to watch. Enjoy your beautiful space!

Very nice…good job on the maximizing of your space! We love our spaces.

Happy New Year! Love the new "peaceful neutral" wall color and your fun inspirational items (art and clothes pin doll) on your new shelf placement! ❤ 🙂

One of my Christmas gifts is a sign that says Welcome to my sewing house. I have stations all over the house for different stages of the process. My brain works well that way but the rest of the family finds it a bit distressing. I also have a saying: my family thinks I should organize the house but then I would not know where anything is. I can appreciate your sewing space and love your ideas for it.

Great thought provoking chat.

Great make over 🤩 You must be so pleased 🎉 No excuse for not creating LOTS of quilts now 👏👏🇬🇧

Thank you for the wonderful video! I hadn't fully watched it and I was putting together a new sewing space! My space will be about the same size as yours. I loved everything about this video and will definitely put your suggestions to use. Stay blessed!

My goodness you can rattle on. Love how tidy your space is.

I love your cute little doll! ❤

So happy for you! I organized my studio recently and it certainly is liberating.

Hi Cathy. Love the introduction to ur new sewing room corner. But I think it would have make a big difference if u put pictures of before and after so everyone can understand it better. And as for stuff to be able to get to it when needed and to hung the threads on the wall there’s a calking board which u can use to install into ur wall and even hang all ur rulers and many other accessories including ur measuring tape, scissors and even put some shelving to keep other accessories too. It would be a perfect solution for u while have easy access to all u need. Good luck

Looks great! I put a command strip hook on the right end of my sewing machine for my snips.

Very inspirational!!! Thank you for sharing.

Nice and clean is all I see (sparkly eyes) my space is about the same but I a lot jammed in, cutting and pressing plus 3 machines set up - working in a U shape, works for me

I have my mom’s tomato cushion in my sewing room as well!! Along with her old sewing machine I don’t use either but I just have them there!❤

You’ve given me many ideas. Thanks

Your space is lovely and it is beautiful to see how happy you are!!!! I have used the same stick-um hooks on my sewing machine and ironing board to hang my snips/little scissors! XOX

Just found this video and you, thanks for the reminder to keep asking how can I improve this? I would have really loved to have seen the whole space!

Oh,you hit the nail.on its head! Moving a sewing space off the dining room table each day is the worst. I'm still doing that at our northern Michigan cottage. 😮

I recently read: Thread degrades in the open, drawer storage is better. My thread is aging😢.

I am always excited to see how my fellow quilters reorganize their space! I’ve done it several times, and each time I find more stuff that I don’t use so it gets better every time. (I stole my oldest daughter’s bedroom when she left for college.) I have one question and one comment. Where do you keep the fabric that comes from the quilt store? And, I highly recommend the rotating cutting mat. It makes trimming up blocks so effortless. ❤

I love your space! The paint color is fabulous! I love your design wall/farmhouse door - wonderful! Let’s just face it - you ROCK! One of my desires for the new year is to let go of extra! I am always destashing and gifting cause I got too much!!!

I found this so helpful and informative. Now to get my sewing space re-vamped! Thank you so much.

What an awesome space you have, and that color will make all of your projects shine. I have to say that those pencils on the table are inspiring on their own, so glad they’re staying put so I can see them, too. Do you have a video about the clothes pin doll? I’d love to learn how to make one. Thanks so much for your videos. It’s so soothing, and motivating, to hear what you have to share.

Adorable and well thought out! Enjoy!

I LOVE your new space. And yes, it was/is inspiring. So much so that I'm watching it a second time right now. ❤

My sewing room was in our bedroom for many years. I just got a sewing room after 30 years

The Alex drawers are such excellent tool chests.