We’ve all been to an art studio to enjoy activities like painting, sculpting, or even wood-burning. However, with the pandemic keeping us inside, many have tried to find ways to stay creative within the safety of their own home.
If this sounds like you, a perfect solution to your problem might be to create a home art studio. Home art studios can come in many different forms and can easily adapt to fit your needs. You can go all out and install built-in shelving or keep it simple by installing wheeled tables to push away at the end of the day. The possibilities are endless. To help you get started, we reached out to several art experts from Austin, TX to Ridgewood, NJ to provide tips on how to create an amazing home art studio.
Block out distractions
The most important thing is to have a dedicated space to create your art. If you live with others, you should set boundaries for your personal creative space. Then use the other areas of your home to display your art to give your home a fresh look on a regular basis. – Kevin Swallow
Make sure your home art studio is well ventilated
Ventilation is important so it is best to locate your home office in a room that has large windows or doors that can be opened to let more air in. I use a lot of spray paint and oil paints and the fumes can be overwhelming at times. Some studios I’ve worked in have had dedicated rooms for spraying but this is a room that you don’t want to spend a lot of time in. Ciarán McCoy aka PIGSY
Bring in natural light
Choose a desk and situate it under a window so your artwork pops. Natural light is the best light to work in. – Nicole Cicak
Have backup lights for when the sun sets
I converted our spacious basement to a home art studio when I had to move from a large outside studio during the pandemic. In my case, I researched different types of lighting to bring in light. It’s always a work in progress learning what setup works for you. – Marcia Reich
LED shop lights are inexpensive, flexible, and perfect for video production, green screen lighting, or general illumination in my studio. They save money on installation cost and time, put out a lot of light, and use very little power which helps keep my studio cool and my electric bill low. Hardwire them to a switch for healthier lighting that can be stylish and easily reconfigured on demand.” – Sharp Art Studio
Create an adaptable layout
Where are the sink and water supply? Where are the electrical outlets located? These essentials are vital to a good flow in your studio. Keep your supplies somewhere handy, but not crowding your workspace. Create a flow to your layout so when you are working you can intuitively go from supplies to the workspace to tools and back and forth. – AJMattila Art Studio
Loose vinyl planks over concrete floors are a must. These planks can be lifted up if damaged and replaced easily while the backing makes for a supportive flooring to stand on. They can also add value to your home should your home art studio ever need to be converted back to a family room. – The Art Room Lessons
Invest in movable furniture
My work surface comprises two folding tables configured as an L shape under which I store tote bins, but these tables can be reconfigured into one large table in the center of the room with space to move around them. Either configuration allows me to work from a bar stool or regular chair. – Greta Hildebrand Fine Art Studio
Ditch high-end fixtures, the minimal will do
A home art studio should be fun, functional, and most importantly, frugal. New paint, an inexpensive gridded countertop, and the ability to add and subtract cabinets to fit any space not only provide an excellent working surface but also keeps more waste from going to the landfill. – Alexa Karabin
Storage is a must
The key is having plenty of shelves and racks to keep paints and other materials organized. It is also crucial to have storage for final pieces and a designated area for works in progress to dry properly. – Nicolle Cure
My favorite thing in my home art studio right now is two huge cube bookshelves. I keep supplies, handmade art books, and natural materials organized by group – some contained in pretty baskets or boxes, and some on display. The minimalist display highlights what inspires me while hiding the mess. – Amy Maricle, Mindful Art Studio
For works in progress, consider a custom shelf
My real workhorse in the home art studio is a custom shelf. It holds works in progress, or plein air studies when I’m working on a larger studio version. The depth of the shelf accommodates framed work for open studios or a collector’s visit. – Christine Debrosky Fine Art
Floating shelves are the perfect way to create a highly versatile work area that can display multiple artworks from start to finish. They come in many styles to match any decor, and different lengths allowing them to fit into any size of room without taking up floor space. Line them end to end for full wall length displays or above the desk for easy access. – Katie Croonenberghs
Build an easel wall
I cherish my large built-in easel wall. It’s at a slant with pegs so I’m able to paint any size canvas comfortably and it gives my art plenty of room to just sit and breathe while also working on a different piece. – Allen Designs Studio
Use a pegboard to hang your tools
Installing pegboards on your walls is great to both hang tools and to avoid putting too many nails in the wall when hanging your paintings. – Christine Rasmussen Art
Repurpose containers to hold art supplies
Taking care of the environment is very important to me. I love repurposing items like old jam jars and other containers for brush and tool holders. Thrift stores and swap meets are great for finding used equipment and materials too. – Shannon Amidon
Install systems that preserve your art
Different media require different approaches when it comes to displaying or storing your art. Charcoal, pastels, and mixed media need to be sealed with special sealers and placed under glass. Watercolors should also be displayed under glass as they will fade over time if hung in direct sunlight. Acrylic and oil artwork do not need glass when displaying, only a frame. – Master Art Studio
Make your space enjoyable
Design a space that you’ll enjoy spending time in. For me, that means a home studio with natural lighting and a gallery wall to hang my paintings. – Sarah Jane Tart
Set aside a space that inspires you to achieve your goals
When I designed my home art studio I had a couple of top priorities: I wanted a place to visibly see my monthly and annual goals and a space to display art from other local artists and my own art too. I thrive on setting goals and challenging myself to reach them, so there’s something so satisfying about checking off boxes next to the tasks I’ve doodled on my chalkboard. – Peak One Art Studio
Surround yourself with inspiration
We look at our own artwork every day so establish a collection of artwork, photographs, or inspirational poems, novels, or designs that will support the journey you want to take and map out where your art will go. Art reflects the world around us – allow that space to be a positive exchange of ideas. – Maddey Wiker, Art Studio in the Lakes
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