Clean out the closet and prepare to make it fresh.
Many rooms, including almost all bedrooms, have closets. Closets often end up underutilized, either packed with boxes or stuffed with clothes that rarely get worn. With a little thought and work, you can turn a closet into a space that serves multiple purposes---with style. Does this Spark an idea?
Art Studio
Having your supplies ready to go will inspire you to paint more often.
Install a desk---which can be as simple as a wide, secure shelf at waist height---and shelving. Paint the walls and shelving a wild, creativity-inspiring color, like purple. Keep everything you need to create art on hand---even water in a jar to soak paintbrushes in. Organize craft materials by type of art or craft: sewing supplies in one wire bin, paint in another and scrapbooking supplies in another. Schedule regular time in your miniature studio.
Writer's Nook
Make your nook as plain or fancy as you like.
Start with shelving, a desk and an ergonomic chair. Coat the walls in a restful paint color, such as sea foam green. Store your old journals, writing inspiration books, reference materials and works-in-progress on shelves. Keep the desk nearly bare. On it, have only a cup of pens or pencils (whichever you prefer to write with) and a writing surface---legal pads, a journal, laptop computer or unlined computer paper. Affix a sign to the closet door: "Writer at Work."
If you write a lot (or think you might, now that you have a nifty writing nook), make sure the desk is positioned at optimum height and your chair is adjustable and provides sufficient back support.
Culinary Closet
Keep all your cupcake masterpiece materials in one easy-to-access place.
Festoon the walls and shelves with a candy color, like pastel yellow or glossy red. Mask off the trim and paint it white, creating a sort of cheerful, gingerbread-house look. Line up your many cookbooks on a convenient shelf to encourage browsing. Add bins for specialty flours and sugars. Store the specialty cooking items you love but don't use often, such as cake pans, cupcake papers and cake decorating supplies, in clear bins or wire bins so you can see them. The more visible they are, the more you will be inspired to cook.
Pantry extras, like that case of diced tomatoes you bought when they were on sale and you had a double coupon, can go on the high shelves.
Tags: color like