15+ Best Sewing Room Ideas (With Tips) for Small Space 2024

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The best Sewing room ideas are those, which can inspire you to take some action and put your sewing space in order, and a sewing room need not to have an expensive decor, but a practical work station to get your work done efficiently and lovingly. 

In short, the best sewing room should be -

  1. Spacious enough to accommodate your sewing supplies.
  2. Easy to manage on everyday basis. That includes cleaning and organizing it without much efforts.
  3. Besides, it should be a motivation to your imagination and sewing creativity.
Sewing Room Ideas (1)

That's why, you don't need to design your sewing space the same way your friend has done. Maybe you can pick one idea from one place and adapt it to your space, depending on your comfort and requirements.

With this said, let us check out 15+ best sewing room ideas that you can see and design your sewing room accordingly or understand and come up with various new ideas:

1.Make L-Shaped Sewing Room - Enhance Efficiency

The L-shape Sewing work station is best to save space and increase productivity. When you create a work space with your sewing station, and ironing board, you don't need to move around too much.

When you are alone in your sewing room, this arrangement gives you ample leg room; at other times, this arrangement allows you social space with other people in the room.

You can easily spread your fabrics over the front of the table while you're sewing.

By using L-shape workstation setup, you can also make the most of the wall space using a pegboard and wall mounted shelves. You can use  baskets, shelves, and hooks etc. to store your sewing supplies.

2.Create I-Shaped Sewing Room - Super Space Saving

Make use of every inch of your space. If you have a very small space, you can use that for an "I-Shaped" sewing space. 

This way you will have only one long workstation to sew, but you can hand your sewing supplies on the side wall. 

There are huge number of container ideas, that you can use to store your fabric pieces over head or under your sewing machine table. 

In this picture, I liked the mannequin set in a corner and the thread spool holder on the left side. It makes pretty easier to change threads, when they are in front of your eyes, well organized. 

The sewing machine placed on the front wall is fascinating, because it saves enough space on the actual sewing workstation.

3.StairCase Sewing Room - Beautiful and Modern

Who doesn't want extra space in the house? Of course, I love some more space and I am sure you also want to stretch your home on the sides.

This under the staircase sewing room idea is for people like you and me, who want to make best use of every possible corner in the house.

And it is pretty easy to set up this kind of a sewing room. If you have some wooden pieces or boards, they can be fixed on the walls. 

A curtain rod will add utility to hold the embroidery frames and ribbon rolls. I can rather keep my bukram rolls hanging there. 

I particularly loved those tiny colored boxes to hold the tiny sewing pieces and the huge cabinet under the work table to store my sewing supplies and Janome Sewing Machine.

4.Study Table Sewing Room - Compact Workstation

I have a huge study table, and my kids have stopped using that. 

I got an inspiration from this sewing room ideas pic, that I set that study table for my sewing needs. 

This study table turned into a sewing table is the best idea for those people, who like to use them sewing machines on special occasions or on weekends. 

If you are a regular, everyday sewing lover; then you may need some more space for cutting the fabrics.

Else, you can remove the flower vase and place your sewing machine aside, while cutting the fabrics.

5.Minimalistic Sewing Table - Well-Lit Space

Sewing strains your eyes, because you have focus in one direction (mostly) for longer period of time. 


It is advisable to have a properly lit room while reading, writing or sewing; to save your eyes and brain from straining.

I have my sewing machine set in front of a window, and it gives me a refreshing feeling, while I work. 

Though, I sometimes feel that I am not able to make use of the window space, behind the sewing machine.

But in reality, I realize that being healthy is more important than creating space.

6.Full Usage Sewing Room - Fully Optimized

While our earlier sewing room was a minimalistic's delight; the fully optimized sewing room is a complete makeover in our sew room ideas.

Having the advantage of walls in front of you and on the side, this is another kind of L-shaped sewing table.

If you well plan, then you can make use of every nook and corner by placing storage chests, drawers and pegs for sewing needs.

The one thing that I loved most in this sewing room is the idea board behind the sewing machine and side space for iron.

Though, I think if I am working on this sewing station, I'll make some more space for myself.  Though, it is a good idea to keep serger on the side while sewing.

In fact, I kind of liked the idea of a lively sewing space, in a corner of any room.

sewing room ideas 6

whiskem.com

7.Spacious Sewing Room - Relaxed and Organized

A spacious, clutter-free sewing room organization add efficiency and speed to your sewing.

And that is the best thing about this one from the sewing room ideas.

You feel like getting attracted to the neatly organized space and working there is smooth.

You would agree that the storage on the left side with properly labelled containers, well-lit room, enough space for making drafts, ironing and spreading the fabric; adds joy to your sewing experience.

Even the fabrics are placed so nicely in the mesh or plastic tray under the table, that this sewing space is a delight to look at, and inspiration for sewing anything.

8.Craft Room cum Sewing Room - Multipurpose Small Space

I am planning to turn my balcony into a sewing room and this is one of the best sewing room ideas, that I got for a really tiny small space.

When you can't compromise on light, and your privacy while sewing, then this is a best option to turn your balcony into this long sewing table, which is in fact "I-Shaped" but it has been designed with a curve to give some more arm movement around.

Though, this space looks a little small, but I'm sure it would have been comfortable to work there. 

You can sew in this space, and you can also use it for study, kids' projects, work-from-home office workstation, and discussing your ideas with friends over the phone.

In short, I liked the cozy space for work and it can be fully utilized with a few sewing organizers.

9.A Beautiful Sewing Room - Cozy and Colorful

Did you notice the extra lamp for the light? 

And the beautiful color coordination that goes so well with the artistically done small space.

In fact, the choice of maroon, black and while color is adding the modern factor of this sewing room.

The scissions holders are well placed, behind the sewing machine. And I also loved the rotary cutter on the table, and a computer there to check on the designs. 

Not only that, this kind of sewing room makes a place for a music system, but I think I can do without it. I can use my phone for music.

10.One Corner Sewing Room - Neat and Tidy

For a quick mending and occassional sewing work, I would love to create a sewing room space like this. 

Though, this is one of the compact design in our choice of sewing room ideas, it gives ample space for sewing supplies in the wall cabinets and side book shelf.

The fabric and scraps can be stored on the boxed above. But I personally feel that I can't reach there. And if you are lazy (like me), you will not be  motivated to put extra efforts to take out the boxed down, and then plan your sewing day.

The one thing that I loved most in this sewing room idea is, the pegs for  thread spools. 

And this type of sewing space is easy to set up in a budget.

11.Quick Set-up Sewing Room - No Time to Sit Idle

This is one of the sewing room ideas for the workaholic or should you say sewolic (no such term exists anywhere else, so don't get confused).

A Sewolic is a rare, special species of sewing lovers, who love to sew and sew to love. They are selfless patriots of sewing, and they don't mind to sew and make a lot of money.

So, this is the space for work-monsters, for working non-stop on their sewing machine. Though, this space is just enough to keep your sewing machine and focus only on sewing and nothing else. 

May be, some other part of the room can be used for cutting fabrics, ironing, storage and making patterns.

12.Sewing Room Organizer - Keep Tools Handy

Your sewing room ideas not only include the whole sewing room set-up but even the small details, where and how to place each and every thing also matters.

To make your sewing room more user friendly, it is advisable to make some organizing storages, using the scrap fabrics. 

I particularly loved this idea of making a sewing basket, which can be placed on the sewing machine placemat.

And I am sure I'll make it soon and share with you on the YouTube Channel.

13.The Artistic Sewing Room - Sewing is an Art

Sewing Room Ideas 13

Who says, just finish your sewing project and you are done with your sewing room?

Look here. 

This picture from our sewing room ideas is a lovely museum of sorts and I just loved it.

See, how beautifully each scrap project can be framed and made a nice show-off. And I also loved the mesh container on the side. 

If you want to shoot a video of yourself while sewing, you can even place the tripod on the side table and do it on your own.

14.The Cute Girly Sewing Room - Cleanliness Lover

If you sew for the love of it, this is one of the best sewing ideas especially for you. 

It has everything, space to cut patterns, fabric, sewing, and storing your fabric pieces. You can have transparent containers and bottles to keep the sewing supplies in fron of your eyes. 

A board to plan your day and your sewing project, at the same time a fabric swatches pin-up board.

I liked the peg board for the scissors and the rotary cutter, though I understand that you'll have to use a side ironing board for pressing and irong your sewing projects.

In a nutshell, this small sewing room idea is best for people who love for hobby and work. If you are a clutter-free loving person, this is the idea for you.

15.The Lively Sewing Room - Colors and Light

Sewing Room Ideas 15

Sewing is about adding colors to your projects of dresses and decor. 

If your sewing room is as colorful and lively as your sewing, it makes sewing all the more fun activity. 

You don't feel boring and tired, rather you are motivated to be in your sewing room as soon as possible. 

The best thing I loved about this sewing room is the color coordination, intelligent use of lighting to create an illusion of space.

The plastic cotainers under the table are good place to utilize the space and keep things close. 

The patterns are also pinned on the front board to make sewing hassle-free. 

Best Tips for setting up a sewing room

If your room is not big enough for a full-sized bed and chest of drawers, you can make best use of it and turn it into your sewing room. As it's just used for crafting and sewing, it will work nicely, even if it is small in size.

The sewing room ideas that you use will depend on your interests and your sewing activities. If you enjoy patchwork, making patterns, dresses, bags, quilting, in addition to embroidery, the number and variety of your sewing supplies will differ.

You will need a sewing room organization set up, to make your work smooth.

1.Set up Flexible Large Surface to Work

Sew Ready Studio Designs Folding Multipurpose Hobby and Craft Cutting Table with Drawers

Folding, Multipurpose Hobby and Craft Cutting Table with Drawers

You will need flexible surfaces with at least one covered with a large self-healing cutting mat.  Smaller cutting mats are also very helpful.  Sometimes you need a massive flat surface for cutting fabric or laying the pattern piece.   A central workplace with possibly roll able or foldable tables of the same size is what you want to expand and adapt your working surfaces or create room to let things set.

Your work table does not have to be elaborate but it has to be big enough to be practical for all those projects you wish to work on.

You should keep your 6," 12″ and 24″ size scissors along with your table size mat. The side table must include big scissors, pinking shears, and rotary cutters. You may store a label scissors as for fabric or paper. 

In a table side drawer, have a fabric glue gun, simple glue sticks, and wash off wonder tape, tailor’s chalk, cello tape (I use tape to keep two pieces of pattern together, pattern pieces, Extra fine head pins; clips etc. Drawers and storage units are must in a sewing room.

Even if you have a tiny sewing room, you can use it for sewing as well, and you can do a lot of sewing and mending there, for yourself or for setting up a sewing business.

If you set up your sewing machine at one place, you do not need to drag it from a closet in order to use it. 

If you have trouble setting up a sewing table, have a long folding table that you can use for other crafting or cutting patterns that also stays set up permanently. 

2. Get Enough Storage and Drawers

Honey-Can-Do Rolling Storage Cart and Organizer with 12 Plastic Drawers

Rolling Storage Cart and Organizer with 12 Plastic Drawers


You will also need shelving and storage but the type is really going to depend on what your interests are.

Putting things in their place to find them later on is basically requiring a place for everything.   Get a place for your tools, your resources and wastes.  And while you are at it, labeling those places helps to maintain order and find what you need faster.

You can have one wall lined with inexpensive bookshelves and there is an additional bookshelf in the small closet that's in that room. So, this space can be very well used for sewing supplies organization.

You can have a good deal of sewing and craft stuff in that area, and you can easily purchase each of your sewing room ideas one-at-a-time.  This way, over a period, you can set up your sewing room with inexpensive purchases a bit at a time.

By setting up your sewing room slowly, you can probably make intelligent use of space, and turn a really small room looking huge.

There may not be much space for big closets, so you can make best use of walls, to store things. Other items can be stored in plastic bins on the shelves, in mason jars or just neatly placed on the bookshelves.

The remainder of the storage things are things like plastic sectioned holders for scissors, pencils, quilling tools and whatnot. 

There is also a rolling cart that was designed to hold scrapbooking paper but I use it for an assortment of things.  Scrapbooking is one thing I'm not at all interested in.  Paper cutters, rulers, quilting mats and rulers are stored in addition to the bookshelves so that they don't bend.

I have hung Command hooks holding plastic coat hangers on the inside of the closet door that have loop type clothes pins attached that hold strung, bought beads.  My home-made polymer clay beads are being saved in a box.

You'll need storage and shelving but the type is really going to depend how you are going to use it.

3. Light up Your Sewing Area, to Avoid Eye Strain

TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp

TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp, Eye-caring Table Lamp

Whatever you do, possibly except creating analogue films, you need light.  A couple of strong light sources, that are able to be transferred to either side of your working spaces, as well as a not too bright and not too gloomy ambient light and you are ready to go. 

One or two other hand- or headlamps might help as well.

sewing room tips for organizing your sewing space

To make room for your sewing things, create a plan, and designate what purpose each piece of furniture will have.  Try to resist the temptation to crowd the space with too many pieces of furniture.

Though, it is agreed that you need lots and lots of storage, both in closets and cabinets that open up, you also need large flat surface for laying out and cutting-edge, and another flat surface for your machines. 

If you are a quilter, it will help to have a layout wall.

You can purchase new matched cabinets, or repurpose a number of chests of drawers, china cabinets, and desks to arrange the space. 

Seville Classics Large 6-Drawer Multipurpose Mobile Rolling Utility Storage Bin Organizer Cart

Large 6-Drawer Multipurpose Mobile Rolling Storage Organizer Cart

I find the tips given below to make my sewing life easier, that they certainly do help -

Make Some Room for Sewing Supplies

It doesn't hurt to purge your sewing room occasionally.  Go through and pull out anything you no longer need or use, including fabrics that you just know you won't ever do anything with.  This frees up space and allows for better organization.

Use decluttering methods or use Marie Kondo techniques in dealing with your fabric stash. You can get some scrap fabric organization ideas here as well.

Group Similar Things Together

When you get started organizing, choose a particular place for everything, and group like things together--all your rulers on the same shelf, all of your knit fabrics in the same drawer, etc. 

You can place pegboard on the walls, and paint it to a nice color. If you like, you may use pegs for bobbins and spools, and all your tools also.

Place buttons and notions in ziploc bags, grouped by style and colour (e.g. shirt buttons together, brass buttons together).

You can sort the fabrics according to planned use. For example, clothing fabrics in one area and quilting fabrics sorted in another. You can also sort the fabric pieces by colors.

Choose Right Storage for Your Sewing Room Organization

Akro-Mils 10144 D 20-Inch by 16-Inch by 6-1/2-Inch Hardware and Craft Cabinet

Akro-Mils 20-Inch by 16-Inch by 6-1/2-Inch Hardware and Craft Cabinet

First, you need the right furniture, including storage bins, like dressers, bookcases, etc.  Then you need organizational items, like baskets, boxes, bins, etc. 

They make containers especially for keeping thread and bobbins, which is handy.  I use photo boxes for ribbon, lace, and trims. 

Plastic dressers are available in many sizes--you can use the mini ones for holding needle packs, bobbins, or smallish notions.  The larger ones can hold patterns and fabric.

How to keep sewing supplies organized in a small space

Setting up a sewing room is one thing but keeping it organized at all times is another. To keep your sewing workstation organized you need some serious tips and you have to work on them regularly.

Know Your Sewing Needs

Hone in your skill of knowing, what sewing supplies you want and what you don’t want, and stick to it.

You have to learn the art of editing.  That means you only keep what you use.  Many times, you think that you may use certain things in the future, but this thinking won't work for a small space. 

You are not born knowing how to get rid of things.  But you’ll have to do that, and more you exercise it, the better you'll get at it, AND the better you'll work on your sewing space - an uncluttered space is a creative space!

Also, go through your sewing room space about every 6 months, and edit out what you do not need, are not using, are not likely to use and donate it. 

I have many friends living in large cities in small apartments and they have no stash, and maintain their spaces beautifully edited all the time.

Get Creative with Sewing Room Ideas

You don’t need to copy and paste all sewing room ideas, as they are. Many of those pretty sewing room pictures are just photo-shopped and posted on social media to grab our attention.

But in reality, normal people like you and me struggle managing our sewing supplies in our tiny small sewing corners.

Over the years, I experienced that the best way to use those sewing room ideas on the web is to get inspiration and make small changes in our existing sewing spaces.

This way, you can use whatever space you have to the fullest. 

You may have some hooks in your wall to hold all your scissors, but if you have active kids at home, this idea may not work for your exploring adventurers. 

To hide my scissors from my kids, I hide them in a scissors case and keep them inside the sewing machine box.

I keep my measuring tape behind the hook of doorknob. It serves me well there, but a pet at home may now allow you to hand your sewing tools this way. They may like to chew on the plastic of your inches tape.

To make best use of shelves, you can have one plastic drawer to store your zippers, ribbons/bindings, variety of closures, etc.  These are tiny things but over a period of time, they create a big mess. So, get rid of everything you don't use. 

Have one bag or basket to keep scrap fabrics, and you can have another basket with new clothes tagged, measured and in their own plastic bags.

the best way to store sewing patterns

Winsome Wood Halifax Storage/Organization

Winsome Wood Halifax Storage/Organization

While we talk about sewing room ideas, we can not forget to talk about the most important things, that you use and want to store in your sewing space.  

Your sewing patterns are important to you, and sometimes they find place under the closet and sometimes under the bed. 

While you are making place for every sewing supply and tool, let's find out where you can store your sewing patterns in the best way. 

Though, I don't think there is any one agreed-upon method to store sewing patterns.  I use a number of different methods, which I share with you: -

Arrange them by category

Generally, patterns are arranged by categories (i.e., dresses, men's wear, children's, etc.).  You can put two or three silverfish packets in every one and store the boxes onto the tops of your cloth shelves.

I've seen some patterns organized in plastic sleeves in three-ring binders. This method can also work for you. 

For purchased commercial patterns, which were cut up and used, you can keep them in Manila file folders which have been staple closed in their sides, with the top still available. 

The delicate tissue paper patterns are neatly folded to the stapled folders along with a replica of the first envelope is made and recorded to the outside of the document folder. 

The way to store your drafted patterns on alpha numeric design paper, fold them into the identical stapled folders and tag the document tab and front with a felt tip markers.    

Now, to store those Manila folders, place them in bankers’ boxes, the document folders being the specific size as the boxes. 

You can Get file folders to store them

My dress patterns are organized by numbers in a big plastic bin.  I put silverfish packets in here as well, in addition to a few cedar blocks.  Since these routines are multi-sized, I never cut to the master pieces.  I would rather strike off adjusted pattern pieces, as appropriate. As I finish using every bit, I fold it up to a gallon Ziplock that may be put behind the master pattern once I file everything away.

My smaller craft patterns and applique patterns are in magazine boxes on shelves.  (They're all in sealed, plastic bags, so no problem with bugs here.)  I buy few commercial quilt patterns and usually end up storing them in my sewing supplies closet.

Challenges to Store Sewing Patterns and Solutions

A challenge here is when you cut out specific pieces, you end up with a rather jagged remaining bit of tissue with big holes in it, that is difficult to refold. 

Typically, commercial patterns are printed for space efficiency, rather than being printed with all pieces for one garment near one another, so you have to cut into many different pattern sheets just to get the pieces for a single garment. 

I teach sewing lessons and need to keep my routine pieces reusable for many sizes, so what I do is roughly cut apart every piece around all pattern size lines, so that it is traceable in any dimension (I keep rolls of tracing paper available for this). 

If you know you will never reuse the pattern at a different size, you could go ahead and cut out the pieces on your selected size. 

However, if you believe you could ever change shape, or if you want to combine sizes into one garment (another size for bust/hips, for instance), it makes more sense to trace your pattern onto a new piece of paper. 

After cutting all the pieces apart, I refold them roughly using the original fold lines, but folding a few of these backward so I can find the number for the pattern piece on the outside front. 

This way I can save each pattern piece number in order, and group them together by garment. 

So if I want to reopen the pattern envelope and make the jacket, when previously I just made the pants, I don't need to unfold the whole pattern paper and cut again, I have it ready. 

I know some people even make favorite sewing patterns more durable by ironing interfacing to the back, but to me that is a waste of resources and time - I don't like remaking one pattern over and over anyway, but if I were going to use a master pattern piece I'd rather put it onto heavier paper.  Which brings me to making patterns myself.

Commercial patterns:

All my new and unique pattern bits move onto tracing paper.   If I ever want to reorganize my patterns or regroup them, I could just get rid of those sheet protectors and transfer them in a different binder, or insert dividers to pair knit tops, coats, dresses, etc.  You could also do this with commercial patterns - it is much easier to fold design bits into a bigger pocket like a sheet protector sleeve than those little pattern envelopes. 

Though, a whole lot of people do not put the patterns back into the original envelopes, and put them instead into file folders or other storage, I prefer the first envelopes for commercial patterns, and I have created my own storage for my own original pattern designs.

For storing commercial patterns in envelopes, I've used decorative paper boxes, and also easy cardboard file boxes. 

Taking a pattern along to buy storage containers helps ensure you can really fit the routines in the box either vertically or horizontally in rows without lots of wasted space.

Learn to Make Your Own Sewing Patterns

Tips to keep your sewing threads tidy and organized

I use plastic containers, to keep my thread spools standing together. I got a whole lot of threads, may be a few dozens of them. So, I got three big plastic boxed filled with spools.

This way, thread do not tangle and it is easier to take them out one at a time.

Deluxe Embroidex 60 Spool Cone Thread Stand/Rack Organizer for Sewing and Embroidery Machine Easy Setup

Deluxe Embroidex 60 Spool Cone Thread Stand/Rack Organizer for Sewing and Embroidery Machine Easy Setup

Another sewing room idea to keep your sewing threads tidy and organized is, to use a thread board, which may be bought pre-made or made DIY

A thread board is a board that can be hung on the wall.  Its nails driven into it, and the spools of thread hang on them.  If you need to store thread in say, a drawer, then place a piece of painter’s tape on the spool, trapping its end.

Conclusion:

I think the best way to sewing room organization is to experiment, create a mess, and then bring order to chaos.  Keep a notebook with all the sewing ideas you come up with, while you're playing with your treasures.

First, you need the right furniture, including storage pieces, like dressers, bookcases, etc...  Then you need organizational things, like baskets, boxes, bins, etc.  They create containers specifically for storing thread and bobbins, which can be handy. 

I use picture boxes for trims, lace, and ribbon.  Plastic dressers come in many sizes-you can use the mini ones for holding bobbins needle packs, or notions that are smallish.  The larger ones can hold fabric and patterns.

All of your knit fabrics in the same drawer, and so on, when you start organizing, choose group like items together, and a specific place for everything of your rulers on the shelf.  When you are done sewing for the day, put back in their place, so you don't have to hunt for your tools.

It doesn't hurt to purge your sewing room occasionally.  Go through and pull out anything you no longer need or use, including cloths which you know you won't ever do anything with.  This allows for better organization and frees up space.

Best Sewing Room Ideas (1)

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