The beginning of a new year always makes me want to organise things. Having my workspace set up properly really helps me get my head in gear, so I’m really careful to keep it as efficient and organised as possible.
With all three of my kids in full time school this year I’ll be working in the office full time with Anita my Operations Manager. My workroom as it stood last year was fantastic for me on my own, but wasn’t really set up for two people to work in it, and I knew I needed to make some changes so that we could both work comfortably.
It was time to accept that my workroom couldn’t function as an office and our spare room efficiently anymore. I really needed the space, so the first thing I did was to move the sleeper couch out and into the kids playroom. It’s not the ideal position, and has made the playroom a little cramped for my minimalist tendencies – but it’s the only place it made sense to put it, so there it sits till I think of something better!
What used to be my sewing desk became Anita’s desk, and I added on to my desk to create a mega desk with a computer workspace and a sewing area with my sewing machine, overlocker and coverstitch.
The plotter that we use for internal pattern testing is still in the corner and behind it we store some photo backdrop boards and my cutting mat. Every corner that can hold rolls of pattern paper does.
There is a large bull dog clip hanging on a hook above the printer and that’s where I keep all the patterns I have cut out and am currently using. It’s usually a mix of new designs we are sampling and my personal projects.
My sewing desk is where the couch used to be – covering what is actually a fireplace! We had the fireplace professionally cleaned and closed up, and then covered it with a white painted board from the hardware store. I often forget there is a fireplace behind there now. So that cute little shelf we store patterns in is actually a mantlepiece!
This new set up is working incredibly well! This is probably the best office arrangement I’ve had and I think moving the sleeper couch out was the key. Having my sewing space closer to the large window has also been a big help as I can see what I’m doing much more clearly.
There’s also a lot of room to spread out when I need to do artwork etc.
I’ve had a lot of questions about my mega desk and the various components of my office over on Instagram, so i’ve linked to as many of the products as I can remember at the end of this post. Spoiler alert: there is a lot of Ikea ;)
I often get questions about how I keep my workroom so tidy and honestly the answer is simple and not very exciting. First my not-so-secret secret weapon is that I have a massive storage cupboard on one side of the room that holds most my entire stash, pattern samples, unsightly things etc it’s huge and white and not very interesting ;) I learnt a long time ago that the only way you can have a minimalist neat workspace is if you have lots of places to store your junk.
And secondly, I have to maintain it constantly. I’m as messy as anyone else when I sew (I mean honestly, there threads all over the floor in these photos!), but I force myself to tidy up every time I sew, and everything has a designated spot it has to go after I’ve used it. I do a quick scan of the room every Friday and make sure that it is still looking neat and tidy and that everything is where it should be. If it isn’t I tidy it up ready for the next week to begin.
You can see a peek of my large cupboard below with my dressforms and the super large window of this room. The form on the right is my professional form and the one on the left is my mother in laws vintage form that belonged to her mother. It’s really special to me.
// Office decor sources //
Meg’s mega-desk:
- Ikea Linnmon table top 150cm x 75cm (computer desk)
- Ikea Linnmon Table top 200cm x 60cm (sewing desk)
- Ikea Alex drawers x 2 (one on the right of the sewing desk, and one sits at the junction of the sewing and computer desk)
- Ikea Finnvard Trestle leg
- Ikea Adils leg (provides support in the middle of the sewing desk)
Anita’s desk:
- Linnmon Table top 200cm x 60cm
- Ikea Alex drawers
- Ikea large Alex drawers on castors (this does not support the desk it just slips under)
- Ikea Adils leg x 2
Chairs:
- Matt Blatt replica Eames chair (Meg’s chair)
- Freedom Brandon (Anita’s chair)
- Ikea Nordmyra (sewing chair)
Storage:
- Pattern storage boxes – Ikea Tjena 25cm x 18cm x 15cm (these boxes are our absolute favourite for storing patterns and displaying them. They fit my patterns and most other companies perfectly!)
- Overflow storage – Ikea Tjena 50cm x 35cm x30cm (we use these boxes in our big storage cupboard to store almost everything! We even have some just sitting on the floor of the office in the corner and they look great)
- Large cupboard for stash storage, pattern samples, various sewing supplies, photoshoot props, backdrops, filing… you name it! – Ikea PAX with various drawers and hanging rods inside
- Wall shelves – Ikea Lack (though I love these aesthetically they honestly don’t feel very sturdy. I don’t think I would store anything heavy on these)
- Spool rack – this is two spool racks from JoAnns hung very close to each other using 3M hooks.
Decor:
- Various Maker and sewing themed Art prints – made by us!
- Frames – Spotlight A3 Frames
- Pin bowls – Ramekins from Wheel and Barrow many years ago. Here are some similar ones from Kitchen Warehouse
- Peg Board for sewing tools – This was a DIY. The board was bought from Bunnings (a hardware store) and cut to size on site. I painted it white, built a frame and mounted it to the wall.
- Rug – a gift from my mother in law :)
- Felt ball garland – I honestly can’t remember where I bought this but there are a lot of options on Etsy.
- Paper pom poms – these are a DIY from Martha Stewart. I actually made them for Birdie’s nursery, and when she started talking she asked me to take them out of her room because they were “a mean octopus”. I mean you just can’t argue with 2 year old logic hehe. I couldn’t bear to throw them out, so i hung them on a hook in my office and they’ve been there ever since (2 years).
- Cork board (on Meg’s desk) – Officeworks Quartet 1200mm x 900mm oak frame cork board
- Slogan cards (on cork board) – Jasmine Dowling
- Wall calendar and A4 day to a page diary – An Organised Life
If I’ve left anything out you’re interested in knowing where to find let me know in the comments!
I really hope you’ve enjoyed this little look into my workroom!
Meg xoxo
photography by Bronnie Joel
Hi Meg,
I’m looking for an adjustable dress form. Where did you get yours? Do you have any tips?
Your office looks great.
Kylie :)
My adjustable form is vintage, so it is all metal and wood, and sadly I’ve found most modern adjustables really aren’t at the same quality level. There are a lot of adjustable forms available at most large sewing stores, but I would keep in mind that they don’t feel particularly high quality. If I find any good ones i’ll let you know!
Love the way you store threads! But I have a questions regarding Overlockers – Any recommendations for a beginner? I have one currently but it’s so tricky to thread! (It’s a huskylock)
That’s a bit of a hard one as I think it can be quite personal with regards to what brand you like etc :) My usual advise is to try and buy the basic model of a very good brand, that way you know you are getting something good quality. I feel like every overlocker I’ve ever used is hard to thread – i remember being so overwhelemed when i first used one! But over time I do think you get used to it and it becomes more natural :) I’ve used Elna and Bernina overlockers and love them both. I’ve also heard really good things about Janome. I hope that helps a little bit!
Omg I love this!! Esp the use of wall space. I’m just going to file this away for when I have a sewing room again.. :)
So glad you enjoyed it Ping! Meanwhile i was SO excited to see you blog again!!
Just wondering how you find the IKEA chair for sewing. Is it comfortable (I am currently in the market for a new one!)?
Where is your ironing board?
My ironing board is setup 24/7 in my sewing room.
We have it set up in the laundry ;)
I like it! It’s not padded so it’s not the most comfy chair for a long time – but I like it for sewing because I can move it easily, and sit on it various ways and get up and down a lot easily. I used to have a stool for sewing, which I actually really liked too as it forced me to sit up straight sewing hehehe
Gorgeous space!! I finally live near an Ikea so I can’t wait to make my first trip there and begin creating my new sewing space!!
Oh Brittany that’s so exciting! I love Ikea and I must admit I was exactly the same when ours opened up! Can’t wait to see what you use in your space ;)
Hi Megan ??
I love it !! ?..
I loved ur earlier set up too and had wanted the floating shelves which could store a lot of knick knacks.. first n foremost i need to paint the whole room white so it feels fresh n nice and then get the shelves up.. will tag u once im done. I always just tidy up and never have a proper designated space for each stuff hence my corner is always a mess.. so finally i took up this onetime organising challenge and give each thing a designated place of its own .. i hope this arrangement finally works ?
Love from Dubai ?
I know that feeling!! I’m thrilled you’ve found a designated place for everything – that really helps! I’m sure like me you’ll just keep adjusting your storage as you to find what you like best :)
It’s a lovely room that’s well organised. I’m jealous! I’m currently sharing our spare room with my husband’s work office. We have grand plans for a garden office for him eventually but as we’ve only just moved in to a house built in 1965 there are a few other more urgent things to get done/repairs before this luxury! I love that the fire mantle prevents your presser feet from sliding too far back….that’s the biggest annoyance with my sewing table!
Hi Dee! I know exactly what you’re talking about! Our home is a 50’s cottage that has been renovated and it often feels like there is something more urgent before working on sewing space :) For us we had to tackle the laundry and bathrooms before everything else as they were shocking! I hope you enjoy making updates to your place!
How do you like your replica Eames chair, and were you able to try it out before you purchased? I really want one but haven’t been able to find a place where I can actually test drive it first :)
My husband just finished putting the white shelving and drawers together. I am so excited!! Thank you for the pictures of your office area. I love it!!
Hello
What are your room dimensionss?
Thank you.
Jacquie
I would also love to know the dimensions?
Where are the cabinets where I can store my fabrics for quilting?
Hi! Would you mind telling me what color you painted the room? Is the perfect white for my craft room!
Love the space!!
Gorgeous space! Just wondering what are you are placing your pattern storage boxes on? Is it an IKEA shelf
It’s actually the mantlepiece of a fireplace! We never used the fireplace so we had it professionally sealed and we just treat as a wall with a shelf now :)
What model Bernina sewing machine do you use?
This is an amazing room! So many great ideas. Just wondering in the materials list it shows your computer and sewing table tops as different depths 60cm and 75cm, but in the photos they look like they are the same, is there a gap behind the sewing machines and wall? Curious :)
Hi Jojo! Behind my sewing machines there is a fireplace which we have decommissioned :) The brick surround extends outwards by 15cm – which means that I was able to put a 75cm deep desk next to the fireplace for my desk, and a 60cm deep desk for my sewing machines in front of the fireplace, and line them up at the front edge cleanly. I was so pleased it worked out that one- just one of those lucky coincidences i think! xo
What ploter/printer textil u use? Is it good for lycra cotton and others?
Hi Cassie! Unfortunately, our plotter only prints on paper and doesn’t print on textiles. I would be thrilled if we could have a digital fabric printer, that would be a dream!