I have a new sewing room setup, which includes new pieces of IKEA furniture. Check out my sewing room makeover! There’s a new sewing room setup in town, my stitching friends! After years of talk (no, really β€” check out this sewing table buying guide. I’ve been dreaming about this for a loooong time), I finally made over my sewing room. It’s optimized with chic new IKEA furniture (there’s a new IKEA in my town, so how could I resist?), and the result is an airy and highly functional sewing space that practically begs me for quality time.

Following is a video tour of my new sewing room setup (about 17 fast-paced minutes), and the what and why of this makeover. I have a feeling that, like me, you’re probably obsessed with your sewing studio and daydream about your ideal setup. Here’s my winning layout!


Heads up, sewing friends. This post contains Amazon affiliate links chosen for you! If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your “sew”pport!

Why Do a Sewing Room Makeover?

There were three main reasons why I hankered for a new sewing room setup.

1.) Light

I wasn’t happy with the lack of lighting for my sewing table. When I sat at at my sewing machine, my body blocked light from the overhead fixture. I used one floor lamp to illuminate both my sewing machine and serger.

I like a ton of light when I’m sewing; the brighter, the better. With the old setup, there were too many shadows.

RELATED:Β Bright Ideas: Lighting for Sewing Rooms

2.) Gear

With my old sewing room organization, I kept most of my notions sorted in plastic bins and boxes in my closet. I stacked the bins, which saved space. But, it was a pain to unstack and restack when my tools were in use.

Frequently I’d leave bins on my floor instead of putting them away. When I was in the middle of a project, I’d be surrounded by all my notions in their respective bins.

3.) Non-Sewing Work Space

This is the biggest reason for my sewing room upgrade. I didn’t have a tabletop for non-sewing sewing activities β€” pinning, tracing, cutting, note taking, easing, etc. β€” all the sewing stuff that doesn’t involve a sewing machine. Things were a little too cozy on my old table, so I worked a lot on the floor and computer desk that’s also in my sewing studio.

I don’t have to convince you guys that working on the floor isn’t ideal, and working at the computer desk meant I had to move everything off it when I was finished with a sewing sesh so my husband and I actually could compute at the desk. Moving stuff around all the time is a bummer.

My New Sewing Room Setup

Let’s talk a stroll around my sewing room, shall we? Please, you enter first. πŸ˜‹

Behind-Door Storage

I’ve used behind-door storage for my ironing board for years. It’s a good use of space, and I love keeping as much as possible off the floor. I keep my iron in another spot; I’ll get to that in a second.

Mirror

A large mirror has been in every sewing room in our three different houses (it’s featured early in the vid). Despite not being a full-length mirror, it does the job if I step back. I like not having to leave my sewing room (in most cases) to get a full-length perspective.

This improved sewing room setup features a behind-the-door iron holder.

1.) (Similar) mDesign Metal Over The Door Ironing Board Holder with Large Storage Basket – Holds Iron, Board, Spray Bottles, Starch, Fabric Refresher Iron for Laundry Rooms – WhiteΒ – Features a basket to corral pressing tools.

Closet

I am one lucky duck to have a closet (mostly) to myself for my sewing stufflings. In the old sewing room setup, all my notions and whatnot lived in the closet. Things in this space are quite different now. My ironing tools β€” press cloth, ham, seam roll, hem guide, etc. β€” moved in, and they live in a plastic box next to my iron, which I store vertically, per the manufacturer’s recommendation.

My stash also lives in my closet, along with tracing paper and my camera and camera accessories. Before this reorg, there was little breathing room in this closet. It looks full now, but it was positively crammed to the gills before.

Bookcase

I purged a lot of sewing and craft books from this skinny bookcase. Now all my sewing mags sit on one shelf, and my books fit without any volumes being stuffed in any available slit of open space. I swear my sewing media let out a sigh of relief after the purge!

This bookcase was in my husband’s dorm room (#oldschool), and it’s had different spots in our homes over the years. It’s not in great shape, and I hoped to get a new skinny bookcase at IKEA, but when I was honest with myself about it, this old shelf unit worked fine. It’s a little beat up, but it still holds stuff. I always could paint the chipped up spots (but I probably won’t because I haveΒ a life to live).

Editing the closet and bookcases were critical parts of my improved sewing room setup.

1.) (Similar) AmazonBasics 4-Shelf Shelving Unit – ChromeΒ – Industrial chic.

2.) (Similar)Β South Shore Narrow 5-Shelf Storage Bookcase, Pure White – Hard-working basic.

3.) (Similar) Sterilite 70 Quart/66 Liter Ultra Latch Box, Clear with a White Lid and Black Latches, 4-Pack – Most of my life is in Sterilite bins.

Sewing Table

OK, this is where the big changes start! I wanted my sewing machine and serger on one table, and I wanted a separate workspace for non-sewing sewing stuff (pinning, tracing, etc.)

This double-wide table from IKEA fit the bill. I was concerned it wouldn’t be sturdy enough for two powerful machines; it’s not a particularly expensive piece of furniture (just under $70), which often indicates low quality (especially in the world of IKEA). But with the fifth leg in the middle, it’s been great. I’ve yet to feel like it’s going to shake apart. And if shaking became an issue, Husband said he’d reinforce the unit. (Oh yes, my scrap basket now lives on the floor between my two machines.)

There’s a designated task lamp for each machine. Before I had a single lamp whose aim changed depending on where I was working. I love my new lamps because you can turn the LED diodes and bend the lamp neck. In short, I can get the light in the perfect place for whatever I’m working on, no matter the time of day.

And as long as we’re talking about the occupants of my sewing table, I have to mention my plant. It may sound corny, but I also like having a plant in my sewing room. It makes the space feel more homey and alive, and I feel like I’m taking proper advantage of my window.

This double desk from IKEA is my new sewing table.

1.) IKEA Linnmon (tabletop) and Adils (legs) double tableΒ – Great value.

2.) IKEA Harte work lampΒ – Bend it to your will.

3.) Pink Nerve Plant – Fittonia – Terrarium/Fairy Garden/House Plant – 2.5″ PotΒ – This plant is cat safe!

4.) (Similar) Bloomingville Scalloped Round Ceramic Flower Pot, Sky BlueΒ – Amazon has tons of cute pots for plants.

Desk and Ruler Shelf

Let’s talk about this new work space! This desk is mission control. I can spread out on it. If pattern pieces aren’t too large, I can cut fabric on it. The drawers store all the notions and whatnot that used to live in my closet. Now they’re all nicely separated and I can see most everything I’ve got in one go.

Probably the coolest thing about this desk is its glass top. I give all credit to my husband for this idea; it’s a stroke of genius. I use the glass top as a tracing light box. I put my compact floodlight under the desk and shine it up and viola! Tracing never has been easier.

I’m also deeply into this picture ledge, which I use for ruler and pin cushion storage. I love not have to get up from my desk to grab a ruler. It’s the little things, guys.

My new sewing room setup includes a new desk and storage cabinets from IKEA.

1.) IKEA Alex desk cabinetsΒ – My desk is two of these cabinets plus a glass tabletop.

2.) IKEA Glasholm glass tabletop – Doubles as a lightbox for tracing! (This tabletop is no longer available, but you might want to check out glass-desk options in this post about sewing tables.)

3.) Milwaukee M12 12-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Compact Flood LightΒ – Stellar job site light. (Would be a great present for a DIYer/home improvement person in your life.)

4.) IKEA Mosslanda picture ledge – A great spot for small things.

Here’s a little vid of my glass-top desk in action:

Dress Form

The dress form used to be over by the mirror. Now she lives in her own little corner by the thread rack, tucked out of the way. In her former location, she was just out there, vaguely blocking a full view of the mirror.

In this new sewing room setup, the dress form and thread rack live in an otherwise dead corner.

1.) (Similar) Dritz Sew You Dress Form, SmallΒ – Well-reviewed on Amazon.

2.) (Similar) US Art Supply Premium Beechwood 120-Spool Sewing and Embroidery Thread RackΒ – Having all my thread in one place makes me happy.

My Ultimate Sewing Room Setup

So I got some new furniture and moved stuff around. Big picture, what does this REALLY mean for my sewing practice and workflow?

I mentioned what I liked about individual sewing room elements. When these elements come together, I have a U-shaped sewing studio! I can flow from my desk to my sewing machines to a pressing station (when my ironing board is set up) in a lovely circle. I didn’t have this before, and I struggled with where to unfold my ironing board. No more! This new sewing room setup also lets the middle of the room breath as a big, yummy, open rectangle.

When I walk past my sewing room now, it’s almost irresistible. The new furniture and layout remind me of how lucky I am to have this big room (mostly) to myself for my craft.

I'm thrilled with this U-shaped sewing room setup.

What Could Be Better About My Sewing Room Organization

Serger Instructions Basket

The wire basket that holds my serger books used to live next to the serger on wall hooks. I could sit in front of my serger, reach down, and grab them (and I did that a lot!).

Since my serger spot changed, I haven’t found a great place to put my serger books so they’re within reach. I hung my basket on the 3M hooks where I used to have my little tin pails. The books are within reach, but it feels like a weird spot. Suggestions? I’d like something off the floor.

Organized Pegboard

Dreamy mood and inspo boards are such a thing; they’re totally going to be a cliche of the 2010s (is there a nickname yet for this decade? The clock is ticking…).

ANYWAY. There’s a small amount of useful/functional stuff on my bulletin boards (e.g., my crotch curve, inseam pocket pattern piece), and then it’s mostly layers and layers of objects that make me smile β€” pics, art from my boys, comic strips, etc. Maybe I could set up my boards with inspiration based on the projects in my queue? What would you do? TBH, I don’t look at my boards and get filled with anxiety.

My jam-packed pegboard and basket with serger books could be made over in my new sewing room setup.

Desk Chair

You might have noticed I don’t have a chair for my desk. I’ve been using the chair in front of my sewing machine (because my buns only can be in one place). Perhaps I should find another caned chair for my desk. (I have a thing for caned chairs.) Anyway, I could improve efficiency by having a designated desk chair.

You and I both know it would take practically zero time to resolve these minor issues. But will I? Stay tuned! πŸ˜‰

Over to you, my darling sewing dears: What’s your ideal sewing room setup? If you could make over your sewing room, what would you do? What furniture and storage would you add or upgrade? How can I make my space even better? I’d love to hear your suggestions! Fire away.

P.S. ICYMI, here’s the previous post (which also features a rad video):Β Lucent Visor: The Urban Bonnet.

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