Carving Out an Art Studio in Our Basement
I was inspired after reading Artchoo!’s post on Kids’ Art Room Floors to try to carve out an art space for my oldest, Grasshopper and Sensei, who gets frustrated trying to do her art on the dining room only to be forced to clean up before she’s done with her paintings because it’s time to eat. A dedicated art space is so great to eliminate that!
She got a nice, huge desk for her birthday last year but there simply isn’t room in her room for all the art supplies. Canvases and paper and paints take up a surprisingly large amount of real estate!
We did a huge purge in our basement playroom all during the summer. We got rid of every single toy and now it’s an empty space. The corner was used to store ever-increasing supplies of soccer and sports gear since we lack a mudroom.
A little more purging and reorganizing with hooks helped to clean up a perfect spot for our budding artist.
The Before:
This space has been a reading nook, a toy storage area and then a “mud room locker room” for soccer cleats before turning into an art studio.
And after!
The art desk was on sale at Amazon and Grasshopper and Sensei got it for her birthday. I had no idea there were a gillion pieces to assemble it. Thank goodness my husband is handy because it took a few hours to put together.
The only thing we are lacking, ironically, is an art floor mat. I found this matt on Artchoo!’s post and bought it but it hasn’t arrived yet. I figured it would come in handy when she’s painting.
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I’m so excited you did this! I’m sure your daughter is, too. How exciting for her to have her own dedicated art space. ( I hope the floor mat comes with that cute baby.)
Jeanette from Artchoo recently posted…Toys of the 1950′s
Twitter: artchootwit
Hi Jeanette,
I accidentally got TWO floor mats from your site! I have that wooden looking puzzle spongy one AND a pink vinyl one. I guess I let her choose and send one back. She’s excited to have a dedicated space and paints more often now!
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…Getting Kids Active Indoors
I LOVE THIS!!!! My girls would totally love this and spend all their time in it! We are in the process of moving but I am going to try to incorporate some of these things at our new place.
Twitter: MoniseLSeward
Hi Monise,
It turned out that we just needed a small corner and storage was the most important though I think my daughter has too many art supplies. Even a small desk when the artist can just leave things out without having to clean up constantly is great. Your girls must love art too!
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Awesome! Love that flooring and those shelves are great for inspirations : )
BTW, love the underwater mural!
Ann recently posted…Snowflake Cuties
Twitter: DoodlesandJots
Hi Ann,
My daughter is so happy with it though it’s a tight space. We need to add in the flooring mat today!
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!