How to Organize an Art Studio

I'm lucky enough to have some, well alot, of space in our new digs for me to work.  I still have my old studio at 411 Cleveland.  I'll be using 411 for it's awesome window exposure to downtown Loveland.  Plus it's a great location for the yearly studio tour.

Studio at 411 N Cleveland

So now I'm working on unpacking and organizing the new home studio.  I've posted some pictures below of how it currently looks.  Yikes, what a disaster!  The pictures are pre-organization but I'll keep you updated on the post organization when I'm settled.

How does one organize an art studio?  

That's the question I've been kicking around.  I've been planning furniture/storage placement and figuring out a budget for it all. 

Lighting

For most artists this is a huge concern and cost.  A valid point, but for me I'm not concerned about exact color--I like any color in any shade.  In fact, I just watched a video on Hulu about an artist that moved from NY to the West and wanted to recreate the harsh florescent light she was used to.  So if lighting isn't your concern, your probably a minority but don't feel like you HAVE to have super expensive full spectrum/natural/daylight bulbs to be an artist.  Although with all this said, they can be kinda nice on dull winter days.

Work Space

Depending on your medium this will be different for each artist.  I'm a painter.  So I'm leaving a portion of the studio fairly open where I can hang my paintings on the wall or have an easel.  I'll most likely use a rug or drop cloth plus plastic to protect the walls.  I'm renting my space so I do have to be concerned about getting my deposit back.  Not to mention, a build up of paint on the walls is hard to remove in the future.  I'll also have a rolling cart or table that will hold my paints, brushes, and water (I use acrylic).  Think about a place to clean-up.  Will you need to have a sink handy?  Or will some old rags and work clothes be enough?

Ventilation

I really don't have a concern about this for my area because I'm not working with super harmful materials.  A fan will suit my purposes.  But if you're spray painting and working with chemicals it is important to think about.  

Flexibility

I'm putting almost everything (besides some storage shelves that will remain against the wall) on wheels. I want to be able to easily change the space to meet my needs.  Plus having the same space day after day doesn't feed my creative nature.  A divider could be useful too.

Storage/Furniture

Shelving for all my stuff (my husband just doesn't get why I have so much of it) is a must.  You need space to store or have readily available tools, materials, and things that inspire you.  Beside shelving, I'm also thinking about a peg board or mounting a rod with "S" shaped hooks to hang my supplies.  I'll be using baskets, boxes, and jars to organized my materials into groups on the shelves.

Your furniture will depend on your craft too.  I'm wanting to offer art classes so I'm looking into buying a table and chairs for the center of the room.  The table can double as work space.  Another good idea is a table or counter top that is standing height.  A drafting table with a top that raises at an angle is great if your doing alot of drawing.

Have any ideas on ways to organize a studio?  Or clever multi-use solutions for small spaces.  I'd love to hear any suggestions you have on how I could use my space.  

Thanks for reading,

Angela