Your room looks like mine does after I clean it up! LOL I do keep all works in progress in there own labeled 14x14 colored plastic boxes with everything needed to finish it (except the batting) pattern, thread, fabric ect. After cutting my scraps to size they go into baskets on a shelf above my cutting area, just drop it in as I trim. After spending 6 days straight last winter sorting and trimming all my scraps I learned to do it as I go or at the very latest right after I finish the top. I also have taught myself to hate plastic bags! LOL Last winter before I hit the scraps, I hauled EVERY THING out of my sewing room, sorted and reorganized everything! (you really can't tell now, but at least I know what I have!!) I found hundreds of plastic bags stuffed full of stuff! Scraps, trash, new and used fabric, new notions, quilt pattern's ( found 3 of the same pattern, still haven't made that one), thread, new and used ( I now have 11 spools of white and 15 spools of black, all new, all same brand and weight) scissors, projects half started that I can't finish because I used the fabric I needed on another project, 2 finished quilts that were to be gifts but where in the bottom of plastic bags with other stuff on top of them. I hate plastic bags! they are not allowed in my sewing area! Good luck on organizing, remember what works for one may not work for you. keep trying untill you find the right system.

Oh, KSue, your room is organized and neat compared to my disaster. There should be no flat surfaces around me, or something will be piled on them! My room was the sun room, so with the route to the backyard, there are gardening stuff, tools, leaf blower-------- Also, the easiest access to attic storage is there, so stuff patiently waits to be lugged up there and stowed. But after the third rearrangement, sewing can be accomplished!

Wish I lived closer I'd tell you to put on a pot of coffee and invite me over. My three quilty friends and I spent an entire day 'organizing' my basement sewing room. We worked hard, but have never laughed so much! Had a blast!

There is no way (well, maybe if someone gave me a million dollars) that I am going to put photos of my areas on this board.

Good luck with your project. It will feel better after it's all orderly.

Even just stacking things 'neatly' helps considerably with the visual clutter.

I figure if my dog still has room to lay down, it's okay....Not much other floor room!!!

I had the same thing with a messy sewing room. What I did is made up my mind that after I get finished for the day in my sewing room I will clean and straighten it up for the next day's work. There is nothing that will kill creativity (for me) than to have to work in a messy environment. Also, I downsized my stash by giving garbage bags of fabrics to the Senior Citizens Organization. Now, I only have quarter cuts of fabric. If I need to have more yardage, I go and buy it as the project dictates. This has worked for me.
Good luck!

I had to move my sewing area to the dining area in my living room. Ugh, I try and keep it clean but for me that's more stressful than having it messy (believe me my room look the same or worse than yours when I had my own room). The plastic bins work great for me also. I organize mine with 2 for fat quarters, 1 for fabric bundled for the next projects, 1 for patterns and then last one for "other fabric". The best bins I have are two smaller ones that are labeled " strips" and "scrapes". I leave these open and when I'm cutting I toss the strips and scrapes in the box right then. This was the best thing I ever did. Love it that you posted your room, I'm sure it makes many of us feel better that we are ok with messy areas.......

When I see a messy sewing room, I think "that person gets a lot done" If we are always arranging
& organizing - what do we have to show for our progress? I make things to show I can do it!

No bad at all! I envy you your shelves. The only thing I might do is to take all the fabric off the shelves and fold it as follows: I use my 6" wide ruler and wrap all my larger pieces of fabric around that. Slip the ruler out and fold it in half. Seems to fit well on shelves that way and takes up less space. Wish my room looked as good!

It just needs some plastic tubs to put the floor items in. They stack and make your room look much neater. Label everything! At least I have to! You think I would remember what I put in these tubs or small containers but I don't. If my quilt room gets to messy it interferes with my progress. Just like I can't cook in a messy kitchen.