Turning living room into sewing room
 

I need others thoughts and ideas of making my living room into a sewing room. It's only me here,and hardly any company at my apartment. I think if I move sewing room to living room and visa-versa, I would work more on my quilting. What are your thoughts?

Thank you
Sharon

I say go for it. Please yourself. I would if I could. Better lighting. The TV, and computer. Have everything I want in one place. As it is now, I move from one room to another to do things. Back and forth and so on. Good exercise, yes, but, it wastes a lot of time.

I sew in my living room as my husband does not like to be alone. I have everything stashed in the living room, machine, cabinet, cutting table. huge fabric shelf and everything except the frame and some day that might come out there also. works well for us. If visitors come they see the real production line. go for it

I so agree. I'm in much the same situation but have a garage-family room that I turned into my sewing room. Now it's the favorite room in the place for sewing, reading, relaxing & my pets enjoy it too.
margaret

I wish I could turn my living room into my sewing room. But my husband would not allow me to do it. So I used the guestroom, put a TV in there and take a nap when I get tired.

I say go for it.

It sounds like a great idea to me. You can arrange it any way you want without having to consider what "others" think. Good for you!!:thumbup:

my single friend turned her living room into a sew room, now we go to her house and do SEW DAYS at her house because there is room for the three of us to sew together, it is a great idea! You only go around once...make it the best once!

Hi Sharon
My ex and I bought a 2 family house together and moved up here to New Hampshire in the mid-90s.
The house had been lived in by college students, so needed a lot of work.
I was already a quilter so here's what I did: the living room became my big sewing room.
I had the renovator put in a huge closet across most of one wall with shelves for my fabric collection.
I had a door I didn't need (went into a front hall) removed and replaced with a wall, giving me space for a design wall.
I had shades made for the 3 windows of some special meshy material that kept rays out (so fabric wouldn't fade from sunlight)
I spend most of my time in that room and have never had a moment's regret.
My smallish dining room became my living room.

I agree. Change it. It's your apartment, it's your life, and it's better a room be used rather than not. Go for it.

I think it is a wonderful idea. I would spend more time with my husband but with two GGS around most of the time I am glad to have a small room of my own..finally....

Your house should work for you and sometimes conventional use does just not suit or reflect your way of living. Our living room is just now having another remodel. For years it has been a giant office with desks, filing cabinets and computer stations for my family (homework and work had to come ahead of a showpiece living room). My last student has just graduated, I have recently retired and DH is down sizing his business. The living room will now be a "study" with some comfortable seating, one desk, some bookshelves and no filing cabinets or computers! Eventually it may be a living room again but who knows?

My husband has finally come to the realization that my sewing room is really a fabric storage facility. I sew in my dining room. Up side is when we entertain, I have to clean the whole thing out, so I keep reorganizing.

I love all the thoughts on using space. That's what are homes are - spaces for use. If it works best to use a small bedroom as a cozy den/living room and the spacious living room for sewing then so be it. Your sewing friends will love it, room to be with you when they come visit. Everyone doing their thing in comfort. happy stitching

Of course you should create YOUR sewing room wherever you want. Bet once you do this, you'll be smiling each and every time you create there!

There's lots of wonderful organizing ideas/pictures in a special section here at quiltingboard. Just let us know what you end up doing and how you make it work for you.

I would so do that is I lived alone.

Hi Sharon - I too live alone in a 1-bedroom apartment and currently sew in the "dining area". What I did was to buy some tall kitchen wall cabinets from Ikea, laid them on their sides, attached the door hinges so that the doors lift down and not up, then added a second stack. I can store my sewing machines and fabric for current projects. But I hate having to put my sewing machine away on the rare occasions when someone comes to visit, and to keep my living room basically unused except for those occasions when my children sleep over (twice a year) makes little sense. I'm loving your idea more and more.

I know of a single lady who lives in a lovely home backing up to a lake - and her quilting machine and all her goodies reside in the living room - right as you walk in the front door. I have thought of it myself but the downstairs family room is longer and mine fits there better altho I would prefer it upstairs. It is YOUR home. Enjoy it.

I have a 20x24 family room that I found was rarely used with no family home....I turned the 12x18 dining room into the living room and put my grace quilter and DH treadmill in the big room along with all the dining furniture in the big room...we rarely use the table as we have a kitchen bar...so much more useable space now.

Why not? My husband wants to do this. He will turn the extra bedroom that I use for sewing into a TV room. Works for us. Your home should reflect your lifestyle. A lot of artists live in their studios ;-)

I agree with others, go for it.

My living room was turned into my studio about two years ago and I have never regretted it for a second. I spend much more time sewing, designing, and creating than I ever did before. The room is open, bright, comfortable, and a real joy to be in. I work with less stress, fewer mistakes, and more enjoyment of the whole process. As a result, I think the quality of my work has improved...and I'm certain that the quality of my time has. :)

It is your space to use as you like. I have sort of taken over our dining room - I can pull the door closed. I like the big table and need some of the chairs, but there is no place else in the house for the rest of the chairs where they wouldn't be in the way. So far, any company has been happy to eat in the kitchen. And if they aren't happy, well, then, there's my answer!!

I too live alone in a small apt; I say do what you want ! I have a sewing machine set up on "dining room" table, where it stays almost ALL the time. I have a small non conditioned "sunroom" that I use for storage; I have a small desk in there that I use for my cutting table; it is about 2 steps away from my sewing machine so that is convenient. Just this week I bought a 6' folding table from Target for $32 (sale price, wheeeee!) that I'm going to set up my bedroom in order to use as a cutting table; the bedroom has sliding glass doors to the sunroom so it will all be convenient.

Sometimes I feel that my living room is one big craft room, since I not only sew, quilt but am an avid knitter also; therefore I always a project or two (or four or more) lying around......my thoughts are, IT IS YOUR APT, not a show room and you should do what makes you happy !
Sandy

I agree, use the space the way you want to use it. I almost did the exact same thing, but instead I turned my master bedroom into my office/sewing room. It works really well for me and I love it.

My Den is my sewing room and the only disadvantage is that I have to put everything away once a month when we have our family birthday party and I have 15 to 20 people here for lunch. The light is good. I have my Juki in front of one of the windows so the light is just right coming from the right side. I can see what is going on outside, etc. I say "go for it".

I changed my sewing room in the small bedroom into my master bedroom and now I don't have sewing stuff scattered all over the house. I live alone too.

Its hard, I'm down to my bedroom from a 3 bed home that I had taken over completly after kids left, but when new home gets built a small 1 bed room, lr and kit with a screened back porch, can't wait, already told Son he will need to widen back porch, he's complaining because it will change roof pitch, oh well he's gotta make be happy. lol

So many times people don't use their space to it's maximum. I think it'd be fun to have a sewing space like that..And just the enjoyment of sewing in a place you like is great:)

I also say do what works best for you. I did that in a small house I had and it worked great.

I am fortunate enough to have both a living room and a family room. Since we do entertain and have a weekly Bible study here, the living room is use for that. My family room has been converted to the Sewing and computer room. It is so nice to not have to clean it up when people come for Bible Study. They all know I make quilts and if they do venture into that part of the house it is to see what I am currently working on.
I say, go for it!! If you never entertain then why not. I always wondered why my parents kept the Living room a spotless room that we kids were never allowed into. As soon as we moved into this house, that's where the TV and stereo system went along with the couches. This family room is in the back of the house and is used for "our" living!!!!

It's your home, use the space as best suits your needs.

It is only a matter of how you furnish it. Take a chair out, put in the machine and table. Take another item out for the cutting table. Don't forget fabric storage and ironing board. Depending on the size of your room, there may be room for guest seating.

I say do it. It's your apartment so make it the way that works the best for you. I have a friend who has made her living room her sewing room and she loves it.

If I lived alone I would probably turn the whole place into a sewing room. I don't always sleep alot so I could just sew whenever I wanted, wherever I wanted.

I say go for it.

wow i thought this was an inspired idea but my husband said no maybe someday ill talk him out of the garage its not like we could park in there anyway its full of junk and houses his golf cart which we named magoo cause it looks like mr magos car on the cartoon lol neither of us play golf but we drive it every year in the christmas parade. its the only time we get to drive it.
carla

Do it now!!!!. You will never regret it. I had my sewing in the 'living room for years. When friends come over we always end up in the kitchen anyway. It is your home, live in it the way you want.

Many years ago I saw a movie on TV and one character who was thought to be a little looney by the family cause she had her deceased husbands portrait hanging upside down. She would never tell anyone why. It was no bodies business but hers. It developed that one relative who was visiting her discovered the woman lying on her couch with her head back over the arm to relieve a headache. While she did this she would 'visit with her DH who would appear right side up to you if you are upside down!

I think this is one of the most charming stories and it helped me to be more free thinking and open. So go ahead and live your way!
peace and love to all

I say go for it. I am thinking of doing the same, if I can figure out how to get the furniture to fit in the den. Oh, and a screen of some sort so you don't see the mess from the front door. The Formal living room is the largest room in the house, and my sewing room is the smallest. Makes sense to me.

Go for it! You don't have anyone to gripe about it and it's your space. Thankfully my dear Daughter allows me to use her dining room for my sewing room. She and her hubby both work and Granddaughter goes to college so It's just me and the dogs. Rarely, when we do have company, I at least straighten things up but the sewing machine, workstation and WIP are always there. I have a wonderful family and I'm truly blessed.

I totally agree. Go for it, wherever you will sew more its' good for you