Home Art Studio Makeover

My home art studio was a cluttered mess filled with stacks of paper, canvas, and art supplies spilling out from all directions. As an artist who works from home, I needed a space that would be organized, clean, and boost my productivity. I needed some furniture that would corral my mess while providing plenty of space to organize everything that I do. I realized I needed a better storage system. Hence the Ikea Hauga System. Hauoooogaeluja! :-) Lol. Ikea product names are the best. So are their meatballs. It was an investment, that's for sure, but for 657$ I thought it was a great fit for my space and needs. It came with two tall book shelves with cabinet storage and a center buffet with drawers. Here's a picture of it on the website.

So Here it is in my studio, plus a before and after shot. Ooofda, the visual clutter really is distracting for me. I have a tendency to stack piles upon piles of stuff everywhere in my art room. I've tried to 'Marie Kondo' my space, and I've tried and failed to 'Swedish Death Clean' my art also. Haaalp! The thing is, I feel better mentally when my space is clean and organized. A cluttered desk means a cluttered mind for me. So these cabinets are great for the much needed "out of sight out of mind'.  Plus with the ample storage space, I've found it works best for me to create 'zones' for each cabinet and shelf. In one cabinet I have all of my watercolor paint, palettes, brushes and paper. The large middle section is great for storing large sheets of watercolor paper, canvas, and shipping supplies. Once cabinet contains all of my video recording equipment for my classes. And another holds my prints and marketing materials. Everything (at last) has a place.

This has been a months long process, because I still need to work while building out the system. But yay for Ikea! I put it together myself with the help of my five year old. He did a great job!. My husband helped me lift the top shelves into place over the cabinets since they were large and awkward to do myself. I like the white color of the storage system because as an artist, I like to work in bright natural daylight. The white color reflects light around the room rather than absorbing it. So my art room/home office feels brighter and happier. 

I Also bought some clear storage containers to put inside my cabinets. It really helps me to organize and see all of my stuff while still being hidden within the cabinets and drawers. I bought some of these from Amazon, Target and Walmart.

Here is another view of my studio. I change up the display or artwork in the center, and I don't yet have a good solution to hide the power cords. 

And here is a side view. I like to have light colored curtains in my studio to help bounce the light around the room. My next plan is to customize the space by adding a fun light fixture and rug.

Before I bought the system, I had originally wanted to find a lovely old antique dresser to store my supplies. Something with a story, lots of character and made of wood. However, I needed something with vertical storage, something affordable, and something that would maximize my space and needs. Plus I didn't want to be driving all over town looking for craigslist and marketplace finds for something this large. Will it last 100 years? Not likely, but it is worth the increase in productivity and storage needs for my small art business.