I'm starting up quilting again after nearly 20 years. I am going to make my livingroom into a sewing room. If you could start with a blank room, what would you do? what would you not do? What advice? Tips? Etc? Thanks! Virg

Lots of shelves for fabric and such.

Get bookcases and organize your fabric so you can arrange by color and are able to see it all! I have just recently done this and absolutely LOVE it. No more digging through totes for me!!

create a nice design wall, shelving for fabrics, books, cutting table, area for sewing machines

Good lighting ... essential!! White or bright colored walls to reflect the light as well. Study the room carefully in different lights of the day before you place sewing machine, cutting table etc - so you know where the dark/shady places are going to be. And remember overhead lighting casts shadows when your standing, so make sure you place lighting over something other than YOU.

Also, I only use "daylight" bulbs in the house. The lighting is much more natural and brighter - easier on the eyes.

Sue

How lucky are you! More electrical sockets and plenty of bright lights. The swirly power saver lights are worthless in a sewing room so forget about those. One windowless wall devoted to a design board. One big island for cutting and pressing. One wall of built in shelving and a large walk in supply room.

One safety tip that I picked up on was to use the long electrical stick (with 8 or 10 plug-ins)and an on & off switch on it and plug everything into this ,lights,machines, iron ect.. then when you leave the room and throw the switch you know everything is turned off!

A big table to layer the quilts so I didn't have to use the floor.

yeah I need to do same...lots shelves...peg board place to organize threads...

get rid of the carpet...I hate getting pins stuck.

I went to Target and got the shelving that you put together that is for closets. They have cubby units, shoe oranizer shelves and others that will all fit together. It worked out great for storage and you can add on as you need more.

My DH cut and painted some peg boards to use in different areas of the room. Its nice to have things where you can see it and find it and where you use it most.

Also:

cutting Table
Ironing Station
Tables for sewing machines
Design wall and desk for computer
book Shelves for books and Magazines

Enjoy your new sewing room!

Everything they all said is great.. I just want to add make sure your room flows- make sure there's no obstacles you have to walk around to get to the things you use the most: ironing board, machines, etc..

Organize my area; don't over purchase fabric; have a nice ironing table rather than small ironing board; good lighting a must; comfortable chair and table heights.

just have fun and remember it may not be right the first time just make changes as needed

If you already have the furniture you will be using or know what size you want to get, I would suggest making a scale model of the room on grid paper. Make scale models of the furniture and place them on the model. That way you can try out different traffic patterns. It's like playing paper dolls.

I would have to have tv, computer w/printer, phone (Had to call 911 once so need to have a phone close by {sewing machine bit me}),comfy chair for looking at books/mags. Have fun. Remember you can rearrange furniture but you really should get rid of carpeting.

I would have your cutting table on wheels that can lock or something to that effect! Nothing permanent in case you decide to rearrange the room to suit you better. My island is in the center of the room and permanent, wish I could push it aside at times. I agree, no carpet. Peg board is a must and I love the big board ironing board!

Lots of outlets, on all the walls. My sewing room is about a quarter of my basement, so the size is great, but I have only two outlets. One is in the rafters, so I have a power strip hanging from the rafters for my iron, which works well cuz I can see the light on the strip switch from the doorway and know if the iron is still on.
I use the plastic 3 drawer stackers for my fabric, organized by color or holiday in each drawer, and I can see through them but they don't get dusty. Big bins for my batting and fleece.

Think about the kitchen triangle. Cutting, sewing & pressing are the areas you'll be using the most. The patterns and fabrics are in a second area with a table and chair, also your laptop or computer station. Keep in mind the sun damage that can be done to fabric that is in storage on shelves or in clear totes.

Easy on the fabric stash or you'll be spending more time and money on storage and organizing than sewing. I have first hand knowledge on this topic.

Before you decide on any of the above mentions Wonderful suggestions, I would just get a cup of coffee, sit in the room (hopefully you can start with a totally empty room?) and move the chair around the room to decide where you want to sit and sew.

PICTURES - Before, During, After, and then the redo. You will most likely change a few things after you get it set up.

I agree with LOTS of storage for fabric and notions. You may have empty storage space to start with , but it will fill up quickly.

LABELS - if you have stuff in bins, or drawers, or closed containers labels will help you find things easier.

Have fun and keep us posted!

Lots of shelves, a display wall, a cutting island at the right height, a U shaped table to sit and quilt in, maybe a long arm quilting machine instead (one can dream right), lighting, mini frig, microwave, coffee pot, TV, computer all at your finger tips.

Have fun decorating. Take your time and look at different stores for the furnishings. Also search the web for ideas. Good luck and post pictures along the way.
Sue

I will be making a sewing room to here shortly..I would say everything that the previous members said, plus a nice chair to just sit back and relax in.

Make sure the sun doesn't fade your fabrics! Doors on the storage units is the best solution. Or make a fabric panel for the front of open bins. Nothing worse than finding out your expensive splurge pieces have fade marks on them!
Have fun! Happy sewing!

My best recommendation is to look at other quilters spaces and see what will work for you, I went to a large home improvement center and bought several wardrobe/closet type cabinets and have been retrofitting the insides to store my supplies, I am also looking at cabinets like you would have in the kitchen for storage and a portable island so that it is portable, set up your area in such a manner that you have your machines and your ironing table in a pattern that is easy to move between, I don't have carpet so that I can roll my chair around from machine to ironing table

Thank you all so much for the ideas and suggestions. I'll post a picture when I get it all done. Virg