Help to Build a Mobile Art Studio

Before we talk about practical ideas, let’s dream a little, shall we? Let’s look dewy-eyed at some amazing art studios, because I think dreaming about your ideal studio might inspire you to incorporate some of the elements in your art space.

Scroll through the huge cache of beautiful studio spaces that appear in your mind as an artist. (Wear a bib, you’ll need it. You’ll be drooling over these studios.)

For example:
Kelly Rae Roberts, a mixed media artist, shares her colorful, eclectic studio here.
My lovely friend, Sara Roizen’s light-filled finished attic studio is airy and full of promise.
Brit + Co offers some amazing ideas for a beautiful art spaces from various artists.
Hannah, illustrator and owner of the Rasin Heart blog, has a lovely, playful art desk.

Create an Art Studio in YOUR Home

We aren’t all able to create gorgeous studios like the ones in the list above, but I believe that if you truly want to make art and creativity a part of your life and your self-care practice, you can find a space for it. It’s about making your art a priority. Here’s some of the best ideas I’ve found for carving out an art space at home.

1. Divide a room into living space and art studio space. Use shelving, a table, or a screen to delineate (or hide!) the art area in a family room or living room.
2. Take over a corner. Place a desk and some shelving with baskets to hold art materials in the corner of any room. Voila! Instant art space.
3. Convert a closet. Squeeze some clothing into another closet, or create a clothing rack in the attic. Use a small desk, chair, and perhaps mini shelving to create your mini art studio.

4. Install a fold-down table with some storage, like this one* somewhere in your home.
5. This table from Ikea folds down into the wall, making it a good option for an art space in a common room, such as an eat-in kitchen or dining room. You might combine that with this inventive solution for storing paint: 28 Ideas for Craft Paint Storage
6. Take over the garage, attic, or basement. Be sure to consider heating, cooling and humidity issues.
7. Make a rolling art cart. This post from ArtBar has some inspiring ideas for using shelving and rolling carts to create an art space at home. You might also like this post from Tinkerlab on how to create space for art making in your home. She is focused on kids, but the same ideas can apply for adults.
8. Repurpose an old piece of furniture as an art table, desk, or storage. You might like the Junquemail Contessa’s repurposing of a changing table for art supplies.