Right now my sewing "studio" (I like that word) is on the main level of our house. I'll include one picture here, so you can get an idea. The room is about 11x11 with 2 great windows.

We have a bedroom downstairs in our finished basement that is about 18 or 20 x 12 that can be mine if I want it.

Part of me would love the much larger space, but hate the idea of painting it (it's smurf blue right now, used to be DD's room) and moving all that stuff out and my stuff down. Also wonder if I will miss all the natural light.

The other part of me wavering on making a decision is I don't know how long we will be staying in this house. We would like to stay at least 3 more years, but with me still not getting steady work, that may not happen.

Help me decide please :)

robin

The room you have looks beautiful. I think I would go for the natural light over the extra room. Face it,you could always sneak some fabrics and books down there for more space upstairs-we'll never tell on you!

Plus-I know if I go up & down stairs too much it bothers my knees. Don't know how old you are but I'm not 50 (yet!) so this is also something to think about.

Me personally, if its not a permanent move, I wouldn't do it, its a lot of work to paint and move all that stuff if you don't know if you will be there long. If you were in a more permanent situation I would do it just for the bigger space.

Your studio is beautiful. I love to have a window to look out once in awhile and love the natural light. In the basement, you would only have artificial lighting and I do think you would miss the daylight, I know I would. Good luck.

I would go with the natural light.

I like being on the main floor.

i vote for the current studio. as another poster said, you can use some of the downstairs for extra storage. the light upstairs is wonderful

See you girls are all thinking the same way as I am....I've had this debate with myself before and you can see where it got me LOL

robin

See you girls are all thinking the same way as I am....I've had this debate with myself before and you can see where it got me LOL

robin

I would keep the same room. Especially if it is further away. That is alot of work.

I think that I would feel isolated if I were downstairs. I don't have a sewing room. I have a table in our bonus room and a another table for ironing/cutting etc on the other side of the bonus room. I like that I can sew for a bit, get up and tend to the kids and then go back to sewing. If I had to sew downstairs, I probably won't get much done. I wouldn't go to the basement.... its lonely down there and no good light. My vote is for staying put.

I agree with the idea of keeping the room you have, natural light, a window, no paint fumes and you are not having to move all your stuff. I prefer to be where I can see and hear the world around me.

I would keep this room, it is so bright and cheerful.I need to see daylight to stay normal

I would stay upstairs and turn the room downstairs into your "closet" for your extra fabrics and books and things that are not "needed" at the moment. If you want to know how you would feel about being in the basement, move a machine down there and work for a week sewing and doing most of your work down there. take a medium size mat down there to use and your iron and board and see how it floats you before your go to the trouble of moving and painting. to take care of the blue color you could hang up some of your favorite fabrics on the walls for the week.

Our basement is finished and that is where our family room and both our "offices" are. I think I have a picture of it, I'll attach it.

The family room is a very large "L" shaped room, the short side of the L is where my "office" space is and my Cross Stitch Stash hangs out there too :)

Actually I am more isolated upstairs LOL but I do like my room, alot :)

The first picture is part of the long end of the "L" you can't see DH's "office" space in it, but it would be behind me as I took the picture

The second picture is what is to my back in the first one....now the lighter color like the first one, for some reason I don't have pictures of the whole thing in the new color.

The third pic is of the short end, and my space. It is no longer green either, it is light, believe me the room is all one color LOL

robin

I love natural light - so would opt to stay upstairs. I had my sewing space in our basement at one point out of necessity -but must say I'm grateful to be back up in a space with windows.

Beautiful space, I would keep it.

Upstairs, natural light, no painting, more time to quilt. :)

:thumbup:

My sewing room is approx. 10 x 13 sort of the same size as yours and although it is a little on the small size, it's on the lst floor which I love. Only 1 window in mine but if I were you, I would prefer the natural light. I keep and store lots of my fabrics in the basement in see through totes and they keep beautifully. Makes more room for me this way in my sewing room...

I vote for the upstairs room with the windows.Smaller is okay.

Your present room looks great, would love to have more room. Rooms are small and I share with my four cats.

I would like being on the main floor.

Don't base your decision on what may or may not happen in your future, though. Make your decision based on what you really want for right now. If you really want to make the move, you won't mind the work and you'll be happier in the long run.

I had my sewing room on a different level than the main area, and I always dragged my machine and stuff to the kitchen table because I was "lonely" on the other level. When I moved into this house, I had the same option and chose the main level bedroom, one because of the natural light from 2 windows and two because there are no stairs this way.

I'd want to keep that natural light!

Your current room looks lovely and it's the perfect use of the space. I agree with other comments that the natural light is really something you'd want to keep. Not just for seeing true colors, but it also lifts the spirits.

Hoping and praying that the job situation turns around for you.

Ditto.

It looks like you have a perfect sewing room where you are. If it ain't broke, don't fix it :)

It appears you have every thing right where you want it. Even after all the work is done (ugh) it will take you weeks to find everything. I would stay where you are, great light and cute studio.

I have a smaller space (9' x 7'), but it is on the main floor, right next to the kitchen so I can keep an ear on dinner and when I had kids at home they could work on homework nearby. I like being near the action! But if you like to be secluded, the basement room seems ideal! Space is not to be sneezed at!

I definitely think you would miss the natural light.

Any chance of moving another bedroom to the basement instead, and taking that room over for additional quilting space? IE: Two adjoinging or adjacent rooms for your sewing and supplies? That's what I did. I have stash storage and batting and a large sandwiching/cutting table in one room and my machines, pressing area, and a smaller cutting area in the main room. It works out great.

Lori, I'm 77 and my room is on the 2nd floor and I do those steps so much I try not to think about it..

BUT.......I look at it this way. The one old and the one new knees need the exercise.......lololol ........ as does the rest of the body.

I get too stiff if I sit in place too long, so the stairs are my jogging track.

When I PP, I get up from the machine and go to the ironiing board and back to the cutting table........
they are not far but those few steps each time, help to keep the joints oiled.

Move stuff you need downstairs, but not the sewing machines or design wall. That way you don't have to paint, you still get the natural light, and you get the exercise of going up and down the stairs often instead of sitting a lot. ;-)

Okay. I am going to throw in some ideas. I moved my sewing room to the basement to become a sewing studio several years ago. I fulfilled a lifelong dream of mine. Now, I live alone with 2 large dogs, so I can be wherever I want. I had my basement finished off into a dream studio. I don't miss the sunlight; am too busy creating. I have lots of pot lights in the ceiling. I moved to this house to be done with stairs, but decided I wanted more sewing space. I will be 70 next month and my exercise is going up and down the stairs. I have posted pics before, but if you want I can post them again. I have just turned the GKs sleepover room into a quilting room with the new long arm quilting machine in there. If I need some light I just go upstairs and look out the window. As far as the permanence of the situation, that has to be your decision.

I love the natural light - I'm in the basement with my sewing, and let me tell you I'd kill for natural light. I say stay put, and use the other room for storing fabric. Build your stash LOL.

Looks like if your family regularly uses your basement then move down there.

I personally like to be near windows. I don't feel so isolated!

Good luck!

Frankly, I like your current room. It's bright and cheery and you get natural light. It's nice to look out the window, too. I agree with everyone who said you could store your overload down in the basement.

I have a great basement sewing room but hate the light and lug my machine, fabric, tools up to my breakfast room to sew. I am about to turn a guest room into a sewing room and leave the basement area. So, I wouldn't leave that adorable studio and go downstairs!