I know there is an article already about having a scrapbook nook, but I wanted to show you what can be done if you have a whole room to yourself.  Granted my scrapbook room is not very big.  It's something like 8 x 8 feet.  That's an estimation, but trust me it's small.  Anyway, I've got to put all of my ideas into action and really create a space just for me.  We've just moved into a new home and there was an extra room that I got to claim as my own.  Yay!  Anyway, I wanted to show you what a real scrapbook room looks like.  You'll never see this kind of room in a magazine.  It's cluttery, it's full of second hand stuff, it's also a storage room, but it's mine!  It's a REAL room.  So, according to me, here's how you put together a real scrapbook room.

First list your large items that need to fit in your room.  I had the following:

  • writing desk
  • small TV console
  • 2 large paper racks
  • plastic drawers
  • plastic paper trays
  • computer
  • office chair
  • printer
  • large bench with baskets and coat hooks


Okay, I know this sounds like a huge waste of time, but trust me, it will save you a lot of stress from moving stuff around.  Take measurements of all of your large furniture items.  Then convert that to graph paper.  Make every foot count as one square on the paper.  Cut out the shapes of your furniture.  Then take another sheet of graph paper and measure out your room and draw it out on the paper.  Now use your little model shapes and figure out where your furniture is going to fit.  Now you'll be all ready to but in the furniture without the hassle of not getting it right the first time.

Now you're ready to add your gear.  Here's some tips I found helpful:

  • Organize your photos with clear plastic page protectors.  Get some binder rings and hang them up with hooks on the wall.  You can see your photos right in front of you, instead of hunting around in a box.
  • Use a tackle box for eyelets, brads, snaps, etc.  Any little pieces will fit and you can keep them organized and within an arm's length of your workspace.
  • Organize your patterned paper according to color scheme.  Then you can mix and match paper without searching all through your collection.
  • Have a comfortable chair.  It's simple and obvious but sometimes can be overlooked.  You need a chair that you can sit comfortably for hours.  I have a wheeled office chair so I can roll back and forth between my computer and work desk.
  • If possible, find furniture that can be dual purposed.  My bench works as a photo organizer, the baskets are full of scissors, adhesives, and pens, the top is used for organized paper scraps and the bench opens up for extra storage.  I put my extra scrapbooks in there.
  • Stack stuff up!  If you need floorspace, the walls are your solution.

Well, that's my room.  I hope it inspires you to also claim a room as your own.  It doesn't have to be a large room, just enough for you and your gear.  Make it cluttery, make it useful, make it yours!

Do you have a great idea to add to Tips and Tricks? Email me at heidi@mycroproom.com and we'll see about publishing your idea right here on My Crop Room.