Decisions, decisions, decisions on decor for the sewing room!

I've given this a lot of thought and was considering using Tiffany blue and brown but finally decided on pale pink, white, french graphics, and lace.



This is as close to the color as I can find.

Do I think I might get tired of it - perhaps but I think like everything else, it will be a work in progress. I might add a little black here and there for punch.

I'm going to paint the furniture white and add graphics from the Graphics Fairy DIY blog. She has a lot of french graphics to put on table tops and linens. I also have some vintage napkins and doilies made out of Battenburg lace.

My living room is going to be green with touches of another color - perhaps natural in muslin, cotton and linen. On the green, I have no choice - it's the color of the carpet. It's not a bright nor dark green but more of a sage plaid or diamond - there are two different types in the apartments and I'm not sure which I'll get. Time will tell.

I'm also going to finish other pieces in white paint and french graphics. I'm considering using chalk paint but I don't know enough about it at the moment to make that decision. More research is in order first.

I thought I would have touches of french graphics everywhere. I've been collecting free printables for different areas of the house. Now that I'll have a garage to work or paint in, it should be fun to redo my house.

Have a great day!

A new sewing room for me! Yippee! LOL

My messy sewing area now!

This is my sewing area now and it's tight I'll tell ya! It's in my bedroom and I would guess the whole room isn't over 18 feet long. Probably 12 to 14 wide. By the time I get two bookshelves, a queen size bed, a large dresser, a bed side table and a cedar chest - you got it! Not hardly enough room to walk let alone sew! It's better than not having a place at all and I wasn't complaining but still...
I'm just looking at the poor serger LOL. I didn't want to take down the thread holders and I tried to cover it with the original plastic and a doily! I should have tidied up a a bit before snapping this pic but what the heck!
Over the next few months I'll be moving into a two bedroom apartment. It's absolutely lovely and I'm excited about many things but definitely having a sewing room takes the cake!

If I see my grandkids visit often, just maybe I would put a day bed in there - but I'll have to think about that! I'm chuckling - of course I would put one in there for them! They come first after all! On second thought, the couch might be comfortable, you just never know! :)

So, sewing, serging, pressing and cutting. Perhaps someday draping but that won't be until I get a dressform. Then I get to decide on decor! As you can see, right now it's a hodge podge of different colors. Whatever I decide on, I thought I could cover the containers in coordinating fabric, make a chair cover, paint the table and buy another one also then sew machine covers.

I absolutely love Tiffany blue, but also black and pink. More decisions but this will be the most fun!

Sewing Room Decor Options on a Budget

At heart, I'm a "girlie" girl (woman) and love to be surrounded by pastels, lace and pearls a la the shabby chic kind of decor. You won't find me wearing either because I have more of a classic, 14K jewelry type of style. I wear blacks, taupes, and beiges - I have light blonde (read gray) hair and olive/brown eyes and find those colors suit me best. That's not to say I wouldn't object to a few lace and pearl pillows, vintage linens, and pastel colors in my sewing area! Still, I have to wonder if I might get tired of the frilly decor over time.

I admire clean surfaces, minimalism and simple lifestyles in my living area and am slowly reducing my possessions. I read organizing sites every few months to get the chaos that I frequently live in under control. I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and go through burn/bust energy cycles every few months. It's helpful to have fewer possessions to maintain for those times when I am in a relapse and am unable to keep house.

The real question is how to combine the need for minimalism and the requirements of the hobby in my sewing area. Those who sew know it's easy to have a sewing area that is a mess when you're in the middle of a project. As I've gotten older, I find that maintaining an organized area is necessary for me to think. I feel disjointed somehow when in the middle of clutter yet I find myself living in chaos more often than not!

Sewing Storage for Small Spaces

I think the answer to both of these issues is adequate storage. I've been on the internet looking at sewing room images and have seen the most beautiful sewing areas! Usually you see fabrics, threads and other notions displayed on open shelves or racks on the wall. This wouldn't work for me because it would require too much upkeep. There will be times when I'll be unable to sew for a few months at a time. All those open display areas would only collect dust and I would have to spend hours cleaning before I could jump in again.

An option would be baskets or bins on shelves. I have one oak armoire that is housing my TV but until I get a flat screen - that's what it will be used for. I have two other 4' cabinets, a tall set of book shelves and a wider, shorter one. I have one sterlite container which currently houses my stash and notions but I expect that to change as I get back into sewing! A few other boxes are used for storing patterns I've collected over the last few years. Baskets are scattered all over the house used for various things.  I have a body double that I picked up at a thrift store and that's it for my sewing supples at the present time! Oh yes - forgot my machine! I currently have a Euro-Pro 6131A that was given to me last year.

Decor and Colors

I'm going to sew basket liners, a few table mats and pin cushions in a matching fabric. I have turquoise and brown containers that were previously used for my office and they would make good accents. Right now I'm into pastels but I find my preferences change over time and I already have those colors. Setting up a sewing space on a budget requires that I use what is available and I do like them!

Whatever I choose for my sewing area will also be used for the colors in my bedroom because they will be one and the same. I have mid-century modern bedroom furniture in dark wood. I would prefer to have white furniture but again, I have to take the budget into consideration. Unfortunately, my other storage cabinets don't match but I'll have to make do.

I live in an over-55/disabled apartment complex and we aren't allowed to paint the walls. They are a warm off white. I have two windows and currently have brown tapestry valences with mini blinds hanging. I might swap the lace curtains from the living room and see how it looks.

I'm buying my sewing table components from Ikea and have just realized that adding a white desk to the area would just be another mismatched piece. Better to have wood grain and at least all storage units would be made out of some kind of wood!

So much for planning - we'll see what I actually come up with!