I too keep all my hand tools ,scissors , ripper, pencils,rc etc to the right of my machine and a rc mat to the left. On the far left end of my table is an old core from a bolt of fabric I recovered with batting and muslin with my iron so I can press seams as soon as I sew a full set. I have a peg board wall behind me with all my bigger rulers and templates and other tools and then in what used to be the closet my hubby installed shelves and there I keep all my books . The west wall is shelving for my fabric stash with batting on top and at the end of the room is an island hubby made which holds more tools, my stereo and my kitten, LeLu who loves to snuggle in a freshly ironed stack of quilt blocks!!