Decluttering and Organizing Your Craft Room: Making Space for Creativity (and Your Yarn Stash!)
If you're anything like me, your love for crafting comes with a side of...let's call it "creative chaos." Whether you’re deep in a knitting project, elbows deep in fabric scraps, or hunting for the perfect washi tape for your journal, crafting can get messy fast. And honestly? That's part of the fun—until it’s not.
If your craft room (or craft corner, or craft closet) has turned into a bit of a hot mess, you’re not alone. Good news: you don’t have to sacrifice your creativity to find your scissors. You just need a system that works for you.
As a professional home organizer in Boulder and a lifelong hobby hopper (hello, quilting, scrapbooking, photography, journaling, and now knitting!), I’m here to help you declutter and organize your craft space so you can spend less time searching and more time creating.
Let's dive into how to tackle that yarn stash, corral those scrapbooking supplies, and finally give your creativity the home it deserves.
Schedule Your Craft Room Reset Consultation Today
Step 1: Embrace the "Creative Mess" (But Set Some Limits)
First things first: creative people are messy. It's normal. It's healthy. And honestly, it's part of the magic.
But—and it’s a big but—there’s a difference between productive mess and total overwhelm. If your craft room makes you feel anxious instead of inspired, it's time for a reset.
The goal isn’t "perfectly minimalist Pinterest studio" (unless that's your thing). It’s about setting up a system that makes it easy for you to find your supplies, work on projects, and enjoy your creative time.
Step 2: Declutter Like a Maker
Decluttering a craft room feels different than decluttering a closet or pantry because everything feels useful. ("I might need that 2-inch square of glitter cardstock someday!")
Here’s how to keep it real while you declutter:
Sort by Craft Type
Start by pulling your supplies into broad categories:
Knitting and crochet (hello, yarn mountain)
Quilting and sewing
Scrapbooking and paper crafts
Journaling and planner supplies
Photography gear
Painting, embroidery, jewelry making
Seeing everything grouped together will give you instant clarity on what you actually have—and what you actually use.
Create "Active Projects" vs. "Someday Supplies"
If you’re anything like me, you’ve got a few too many WIPs (works in progress). No shame.
Active Projects: Things you’re currently working on or planning to finish soon.
Someday Supplies: Cool stuff you bought with good intentions but haven’t touched.
Be honest with yourself: if a "someday" project has been sitting untouched for years and doesn't light you up anymore, it might be time to let it go.
Use the "Would I Buy This Today?" Test
If you wouldn't spend money on it right now, that's a strong hint it doesn't need to take up space in your craft room.
Step 3: Tame the Yarn Stash (and Other Stashes)
Knitting and crochet folks, listen up: the yarn stash can get out of control fast if you don’t have a system.
Here’s how to organize your yarn so it inspires you instead of overwhelming you:
Sort by Fiber, Weight, and Color
Group yarn by:
Fiber type (wool, cotton, acrylic)
Weight (fingering, worsted, chunky)
Color family
This way, when inspiration hits for a new shawl or pair of cozy socks, you can "shop your stash" easily.
Create Yarn "Project Kits/Bags"
Take it a step further: when you buy yarn for a specific project, store it together with the pattern in a bin or bag.
Bonus points if you label it: "Sweater for Fall - Start by September." (Future You will be so grateful.)
Display What You Love
If you have skeins that are basically art—gorgeous hand-dyed masterpieces—don't hide them! Use baskets, open shelving, or even decorative jars to display your favorites.
Step 4: Organize Other Craft Supplies
Beyond yarn, here’s how to wrangle the rest of your creative gear:
Scrapbooking and Journaling
Paper: Store vertically in magazine files or flat in drawers by color or theme.
Embellishments: Clear bins by category (stickers, washi tape, stamps).
Tools: Keep basics (scissors, pens, adhesives) within easy reach.
Quilting and Sewing
Fabric: Fold and store by color or project.
Notions: Bins for thread, needles, zippers, buttons.
Patterns: Binders or file boxes with clear sleeves.
Photography
Gear: Label camera bags, lens cases, and cords.
Props: Shelves or bins organized by theme (holiday, lifestyle, nature).
Painting, Embroidery, Jewelry Making
Paints and brushes: Caddies or tiered organizers.
Threads and floss: Clear boxes by color.
Beads and findings: Sectioned containers, ideally clear so you can see your treasures.
Step 5: Create a "Maker's Zone"
Once you declutter and sort, it's time to set up your dream creative space.
Your craft room should feel like an invitation to create, not a giant to-do list.
Set up stations:
Work Area: A clean surface dedicated to making, not storing.
Storage Zone: Supplies organized by craft.
Project Parking Lot: A designated shelf or bin for WIPs.
Inspiration Station: A corkboard, shelf, or wall where you can pin patterns, display finished projects, or showcase materials you’re excited about.
Pro Tip: Keep the things you use most within arm’s reach. Store "someday" supplies higher up or tucked away.
Step 6: Make It Easy to Maintain
Once everything is organized, keeping it that way needs to be as easy as possible.
Here’s how:
Labels are your BFF. Label bins, drawers, and baskets.
Use clear storage when you can. Out of sight = out of mind.
Do a 10-minute tidy after each crafting session. Just enough to reset the space.
Why Work With Declutter and Reset Home Organizing?
Organizing a craft space isn’t about rigid rules. It’s about building a flexible system that fits how you actually create.
At Declutter and Reset, we specialize in:
Helping crafters set up spaces that work for real life (not just Instagram).
Organizing everything from yarn stashes to fabric hoards to washi tape collections.
Creating calm, inspiring rooms that invite creativity instead of crushing it.
And because I’ve been there—quilter, scrapbooker, journaler, photographer, knitter—I get it. Crafting is about joy. Organizing your craft room should be, too.
Final Thoughts: Organize Your Craft Room, Reclaim Your Joy
You don’t need a perfect space to be creative.
You just need a space that:
Supports your hobbies.
Makes it easy to dive in.
Inspires you to start (and maybe even finish) your projects.
If your craft room feels overwhelming, know this: it doesn’t have to stay that way. A few simple systems can change everything—and you’ll love how much more fun crafting feels when you're not buried under a pile of half-finished projects and tangled skeins.
If you’re ready to clear the clutter and create a space that sparks inspiration, let’s work together.
Schedule Your Craft Room Reset Consultation Today
Because your creativity deserves a beautiful, functional home—and so do you.