My Craft Room Makeover
Happy New Year! Going into 2026 with a new craft room. After years of working in my craft room, I finally reached a point where something had to change. While the space looked bright and clean, it wasn’t working for me anymore. Especially as someone who spends hours shaping paper petals and working on detailed paper flower projects. My old setup was mostly white IKEA furniture, and although it served its purpose for a long time, the tables and desks were constantly shaky. Every time I shaped petals or worked with pressure, my tables would shake. My drawers were also falling apart to the point where they weren’t even functional anymore, they were basically just decorative. Originally, my plan was simple: replace the drawers. But once I started, everything snowballed into a full craft room makeover.
I wanted solid furniture that could actually support my workflow. During Black Friday, I found several surprisingly affordable, well-made pieces, and before I knew it, I had upgraded my entire craft room. Every new piece feels sturdy, intentional, and functional!
Around this time, my friend @SharonYPark came over! She has the cutest makeup studio, and seeing how thoughtfully designed her space is, gave me so much inspiration. Having my bestie there to help me pick furniture made the process feel less overwhelming. Sometimes you just need another creative eye to say, yes, that’s the one!
One of my goals with this makeover was to reintroduce color without overpowering the space. I still wanted everything to feel calm and neutral so my paper flowers could remain the focus. So I added a lot of wood and stone tones. They pair beautifully with paper flowers and keep the room feeling nature-inspired and warm, instead of sterile like my previous all-white setup.
One of my favorite additions is the couch. I really wanted a small lounge corner where I could rest between projects, sketch new flower ideas, step back and think creatively. It’s also become a cozy spot for my son and husband to relax while I’m working, which makes the space feel even more lived-in and special.
To make the room even more versatile, I added a portable projector that I can set up in minutes. Now my craft room doubles as a place where I can work and hang out, whether I’m watching something in the background or testing my own vlogs.
Beyond the furniture upgrades, it was important to me that this space truly reflected my work as a paper artist, not just how it looks, but how I displayed my work. I kept my paper flower wall, which displays some of my favorite sample flowers. Being able to see past designs at a glance helps spark new ideas and reminds me of techniques I’ve developed over time. It feels like a visual archive of my creative journey. Next to the couch sits my giant paper hyacinth, which is still one of my all-time favorite flowers I’ve ever made. It almost feels like a sculptural art piece, adding scale and personality to the room. I styled my paper lemons on the cabinets for a pop of color and another favorite paper calla lily lives on the sideboards. On my desk, I keep my paper dandelion and paper plants, quiet reminders of why I love transforming paper into something that feels alive.
Another huge improvement came from finally reorganizing my craft closet. I literally took everything out and I was able to sort through all of my supplies and give everything a proper home. Cardstock, tools, floral wire, paints, and materials are now easy to find in my closet. Having an organized supply closet with doors closed when needed is the perfect way to hide my supplies but convenient to get to!
Every piece in this room now has a purpose. I’ll be linking everything below:
One small detail I absolutely love is my new tool bag. It was originally designed as a makeup bag, but it works perfectly for holding all my crafting tools. It fits beautifully on my desk and keeps everything organized without sacrificing style.
Seeing the before and after of this space still makes me smile. What started as a simple drawer replacement turned into a full transformation one that finally supports the way I work as a paper artist. Watch the process of my craft room makeover on my recent vlog linked here or above.
This craft room now feels sturdy, cozy, inspiring, and functional and honestly, I don’t know why I waited so long to do it. Can’t wait to go back to work in the New Year creating more paper flowers and crafts. Wishing you all the best 2026.
-Sara Kim