Perfect Size ?
 

What size room do you think is the perfect size for a sewing room? My husband and I are going to build a house and I get a sewing room....I told him 15 x 25 but am wondering is there a better size that is more efficient? I have two machines and two sergers which I would like to leave set up, plus a cutting table, ironing station and design wall.

Thanks for your input.

This site lets you make a floor plan. http://urbanbarn.icovia.com/icovia.aspx

I would consider the best side of the house also. But I see you are in Texas. What side of the house does the storms hit? I would pick another side. Also, consider lots of closets, maybe a whole side, but on the inside wall. I would consider a little bit bigger instead of 15'. Draw out 15' in one of your rooms and see how it looks. The 25' is okay.
You need a half bath too, TV cable, phone or WIFI, and lots of light except on the fabric, that is why I said lots of closets. I would get wall to wall closets as deep as your top kitchen cupboards. That is great for fabric. Somewhere else you could put the batting and the larger pieces. Do you see a long arm in your future. Make the room much bigger. Best of luck.

Wow, what a treat. Make the room bigger than you think you'll need. :) This "hobby" has a way of out-growing the space. Two of my sewing machines (a small table for one, a koala type table I can fold out for the other, a tv, recliner, ironing board, cat tree, and a 6' cabinet with lots of drawers for tools, notions etc. in our bonus room. Then in the spare room, the bookcases for what was to be a library got surround by rulers and other cutting equipment (cutting table, too) and became the "cutting room." The only guest room left in this 4 bedroom house has a closet dedicated to floor to ceiling shelving for fabric. I can remove a couple of shelves for guests to hang their clothes. We can only park one car in the garage as this summer my husband took over 1/2 of the garage for his new long arm. Whatever size one has, never seems to be enough space. My only suggestion is to put as much built in storage in your new sewing room as you can, so most everything is at hand. Convience is not part of my quilting life--ah well, we all make it work. I remember my first few quilts were done on the kitchen table, putting up and taking down at meal time. What joy when I got a cabinet for the sewing machine.

The more space you have, the more stuff you accumulate. It gets overwhelming to me. I have been purging for months and have not missed any of it. I would plan for the space the furniture you need for your machines. Got a long arm? Start there. My room is 13 x 17. A twin bed takes up space next to a wall on one end.

Plan for plenty of table height outlets, lighting, windows, etc. Have fun!

Sandy

I don't think there is a room large enough for all my sewing/quilting/crafting stuff. I need a whole house and pretty much take up room in all of our house in order to find a place to put it all. My hubby gets the garage and I get the house...quite a nice deal!

thanks for this link! i have a special design program, but it only runs on windows XP or older... eventually, i'll need a replacement for that!

How very nice, you will have fun. We have a way of going too small, but at building prices are also something we have to be mindful of too. With all of that said, look at your garage (ok, ok - without the cars and tools, Christmas tree and all that goes with it, etc....). Size from wall to wall, the take pen and paper and wright down the size sewing area you need or want. How much wall space you will need and for what (windows for natural light, wall for design wall space), ironing board area - do you like a board that stays out all of the time or do you like the kind that drops down and then folds back up into the wall or back of a door? What about cutting and pinning area? What has always been your dream size, also think about putting in on wheals (that you can lock into place). This makes it easy to move over or back (like my new center island - thought why would I need it to move - the first time I moved it when I was cooking I knew I was in love with it - that's also when I knew I wanted wheals on my cutting and pinning table). You also need to think about an easy chair or two (when you don't have to sit at a machine and if DH will come in and talk with you in your new room - same for friend or grand kids). Most of all storage - built in's - with rods (I hang large amounts of fabric (for backings, etc), you can also place a bolt of batting on a rod and move your cutting table over so the batting can be cut (then it's not fighting you or rolling away from you). Removable shelving. My dad taught me it is easier to build bigger than you think you are going to use today and it cost less, than it will to add on at a later date.
Good luck and have fun!!!!

I would make it a lot larger if that is possible. In my dream room I would have a bath and kitchenette in addition to all the other good suggestions you have gotten here. And make sure to have very good lighting and many electrical outlets.

I sew in an 8 X 10 area plus a wall of closet space. I have a cutting/ironing table plus the table for my sewing machine which is flanked by two book shelves, a small dresser for supplies and two quilt racks. I love my space. The only thing I wish I could fit into it though is the Sweet 16. Good luck with planning your sewing room, though I don't really think there is a "perfect size" room. It's not a "one size fits all" process.

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*** Sounds like a DREAM COME TRUE.
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It does sound like a dream come true. Go as large as you can afford. You will never regret the decision!

Don't forget the surge protectors for ALL of your equipment...not just your lap top and you may want to consider an UPS unit for your computerized machines. It gets hot in sewing rooms with your iron on so take that into consideration for summer heat...is the A/c enough or will you need additional vents and/or ceiling fans. Halogen lights are hot so avoid them but the new LED lights are great and they even have them in fluorescent style. Enjoy your new "touch of heaven" here on earth!:D

Good luck with your new sewing area. Like others have stated go as big as you can possible afford. You can never have enough room. Also when considering the placement of the electric have your plug ins above any counter top so you do not have to pull sewing tables an cabinets out to plug things in. Also have plug ins that you are going to use for your iron connected to the main light switch, so when you enter or leave the room and turn off the lights your iron will be shut off. I had mine changed, so it would do that, it was the best thing I ever did. If I forget to shut the iron off, I know that it is off when I shut the lights off. It comes on when the lights are tuned on and it gives the iron time to heat up while am getting organized to start my projects, which is also very handy. Enjoy your new room.

Make it as big as you can afford. You never can have to much space for a sewing room.

I agree!!

I suggest getting some graph paper out and doing some figuring. Computers are nice but I prefer it a little old-fashioned. Decide on a scale, and make little cut-outs of all of the furniture you're going to have in the room that are all to scale. Start arranging them and that should help you figure out what sort of room size & shape you'll want. Don't forget to leave yourself generous walkways and a nice big wall space for a design wall! Don't forget to take the height of things into consideration as you plan - putting a tall cutting table in front of a low-silled window is probably not the best route, for example.

When you're doing your layout, think about steps you'll need to take - I mean how you will actually move around the room. Try to mentally put yourself in the room and walk yourself through making a quilt. Is your design wall in a sensible place compared to your sewing machine or are you going to have to cross the entire room over and over as you're assembling your quilt top? Do you have a pressing station near enough to your machine? Is your cutting table in a spot with good enough lighting?

Plan for a ton of storage!! The wall of closets/cabinets is a great idea, you will never regret having extra storage. Also since you're starting from scratch, think of clever outlet placement (such as perhaps in the floor or ceiling to reach any islands you're designing; or at counter-height and tied to a switch for an ironing station) Lighting - don't skimp on lighting!

I also like speakers that are installed in the wall; I don't care for TV in the studio but if that's your thing make sure to plan a space out for that, too. Do you want a PC in the room? Wifi is awesome but can be patchy and regular ol' cable is a lot faster; consider getting the house wired up with cables for internet. (I wish my house had this!)

Have fun!! I love planning rooms! And the more you plan, the happier you'll be. It's a lot easier to correct a problem when it's still made out of graph paper than when it's made out of walls and heavy furniture!

When DH was building a storage shed in the backyard a few years ago, my dad happened to call on the phone. When I told him what we were all up to that day and he found out what DH was doing, his comment rings in my head. "No matter what size he thinks he needs, double it!" I think it applies for this too. By the way, he was right about the storage shed, it only took putting things in to realize, it should have been bigger. Double would have worked.

I agree with what everyone else has said, go bigger than you think you will need. Where do you sandwich your quilts? Will you have an area large enough to do that? If not, make sure you have enough open space to lay out the project on the floor. LOVE the idea of hanging the batting close to a cutting table! Storage...Storage...Storage! Also, love the idea of having some non-sewing furniture so if someone comes in they have someplace to sit.

Good luck. We'd love to see pictures of what you decided to do.

If I had a whole wall of cupboard/closet doors I would make them all movable design walls. If they are sliding doors they need to be offset a little deeper than normal to accommodate the design walls.

you are sew lucky.go big and hope you do not overfill it too soon,my rooms are so cramped

Lucky girl to get a sewing room this size. If you are planning on getting a long arm, you would probably need more space. Those machines do take a lot of room.

My family room is 15 x 24 feet and I would die to have a room that big to sew in. It is definitely large enough to accommodate the items that you mentioned and leave plenty of extra room for shelving and a stash.

In my family room I have a good sized couch, an ottoman, a lazy boy, a computer work station, 2 rocking chairs, an entertainment center, a sofa table, 2 end tables, a floor to ceiling bookcase and lots of miscellaneous stuff. Unless you become a professional quilter, I sure do think that your plan would be adequate.

My idea of the perfect size sewing room would be about the size of an empty Walmart store but that is just a wish.

And we all say, AMEN!

One thing that I would do is go to your local home improvement store and walk through one of their largest "storage buildings". The largest ones are about 16'x24', which is close to what you're proposing. Walk through it, envisioning where you're going to put your stuff. Also, seriously consider if you will be getting a long arm. My sewing space is 12'x16' and I have a 10' long arm, a couple of shelving units and my sewing table. And a very small cutting table. With the long arm, I have some limited storage space underneath it. It is not enough, but it is still very usable. One thing I have found about storage (and this is considering that DH is a pack-rat) - no matter how much "extra" you have, you will fill it up rather quickly.

It seems like if there is space, it gets occupied.

My only suggestion is to have lots of electrical outlets placed about three feet off the floor - instead of the usual much closer to the floor (15 inches or so?)

Wow- so many great ideas! Thank you all. Can't wait to start planning.

The perfect size is just a little bigger than I already have!

Don't forget to take plan for a cutting table, one that can fold out and hopefully be used to pin quilt tops on if needed.

Mine is about 15 x 15 and I could use double that space. I don't have a longarm but maybe that's because I don't have the room. lol

My quilting room is 17 x 20 and I really need more room. My design wall is from floor to ceiling and 88 inches wide! Bought 5 yards white flannel when on sale for $2.50 ydand just stapled it to the drywall, two 44 inch strips, has worked great for over two years now. I don't know if I'd be able to make the quilts I do if not for that!
Congrats on getting your own space, you will love it!

I'd go 20 x 25. and someone suggested inside wall cabinets, which is a good idea. Just make sure you have ton's of window views too. I'd place the sewing room facing towards the back yard garden. Yep, make yourself a "viewing garden". and don't forget a design wall space.
Lucky Girl you are.

Mine is 24x26 and full! I do have a long arm which takes up a lot of space, also lots of "stuff"

When having an electrician working on our new home I mentioned that I did not want my iron browning out have the lights in the house. He suggested having a special 20 amp circuit for the iron -- he said they really draw a lot of power when they cycle on. My old room was 8x9 -- my new one will be a bit bigger but not much, but it will have a closet.

My sewing room is 250 sq. ft. It's rectangular shaped. It holds everything I need and I have room to move around. The pictures are taken from each end (front to back, back to front). It's a room built next to the garage with door access to the back yard and door access to the garage. It is heated and air conditioned and has windows at both ends so I get lots of natural light.

Mine is 18x30 I have HQ16, 2 machines,cutting table,large ironing table, design wall and lots of storage and closet.

My sewing room is about 15 x 17 and isn't big enough. I don't have room for a long arm. I have cupboards on 2 of the 17 foot walls and that makes the 15 foot wall about 11 feet. The advantage I have is there are 3 closets in the room but they are used for storage of things like suitcases and my husbands clothes since the closet in our room is full of my clothes. lol
My humble opinion is the larger your space is the more "stuff" you accumulate. You should probably go as large as you can afford. My dream room is probably as large as a small warehouse, and I would probably out grow it as soon as I built it.
Sue

My current space is 14 1/2 x 24 and it is much too narrow for my needs. I do own a longarm, so as one boardmember mentioned, if that is a future consideration, plan for it now. I moved from a smaller square room to my present area and found the square room to be more functional even though the square footage was a bit less. Definitely plan it out on graph paper taking into account how much room you need behind your chairs for maneuverability, etc. I have a 6x8 foot closet off the end for fabric storage cabinets, so that is not even a factor in the overall lack of "spaciousness" in the room. Bottom line, for me, I would have the same square footage, but a square room (I used to have a large workstation/cutting table in the very center and that is not an option now) or a wider room. For some dang reason, space seems to disappear once you get all of your "stuff" in there...

Bigger that a 2 car garage would be the size for me.