Studio EVERYTHING! My recipe for a productive, positive, prolific creative space
Studio Everything:
My Recipe for a Productive, Positive, Prolific Creative Space
Over the years, I’ve fine-tuned my studio into a sanctuary of creativity—a place that’s organized, inspiring, and functional. Below is my “Studio Everything” list: a blend of tangible items (many on my Amazon list) and intangible elements that can’t be bought, like kids and pets. I’ve included descriptions, tips, and the concepts behind each so you can adapt them to your own space, no matter its size or your medium. Here’s what makes my studio run smoothly:
1. Tables That Go Up and Down My all-time favorite is a Husky table with a manual crank to adjust height. It’s sturdy, stable, and has wheels with brakes on all four. I stand to paint, sketch, or write, but when I sit or have small visitors, we roll it down to the perfect level. It’s a game-changer for flexibility.
2. Tables That Fold Out and In I snagged a tea cart from a thrift shop (Apalachicola Sponge Company) with a bottom shelf and folding sides. It’s 18” x 30” folded down, expanding to 48” x 30” when open. The wheels and versatility make it a gem—it tucks away when I need space. Can’t link my exact find, but here’s a similar option on Amazon for a desk extender.
3. Tables That Roll Here and There Another treasure: a three-tiered metal rolling table my daughter and I rescued from a neighbor’s giveaway pile. It’s likely a garden accessory, with a handle and wheels, perfect for stashing supplies in a corner. Check out a similar one on Amazon.
4. Easels on Wheels I splurged on a beautiful rolling easel from Amazon. Unlike my old foldable ones, this stays out as a furniture piece, displaying finished works or paintings in progress. I added a heavy board to the base for paints and supplies—setup is half the creative battle, and this streamlines it.
5. Storage Bins with Lids & Doors on Wheels & Collapsible Oh My! I was skeptical when this lightweight, flat-packed cabinet arrived, but it won me over. With smoked-glass doors, shiny copper studs, and leather-like handles, it’s cute and sturdy despite being plastic. It opens from the top or front, sits perfectly by a window, and holds a tripod setup.
6. Lightweight metal cart has raised edges on the top shelf and three-sided lower shelves, securely holding supplies while keeping them visible. I hide unused clutter but love seeing my active tools at a glance.
7. Gallery Walls on Wheels I don’t have these yet, but they’re climbing my must-have list. My 500-square-foot studio has windows and French doors on all four walls (plus two skylights), a design I love for light and mood—it beats the basement cubicle days! But it limits wall space. Pegboards help, yet rolling gallery walls could solve my hanging woes.
8. Glass on Tables A revelation: glass tabletops double as palettes. Acrylics, oils, glues, and gels scrape off with a razor blade (add water if they’ve sat a few days). Sharpies work for sketching or brainstorming—wipe with Windex when done. I order ¼-inch tempered glass with flat polished edges from a local shop. It’s durable, safe, and kid- and pet-proof in my chaotic studio.
9. Brush Holder I use flower vases of varying heights for brushes, but my go-to while painting is a sideways pen holder from Staples. Wet brushes dry horizontally to avoid water seeping into the handle, preserving the glue. It also keeps them from rolling off the table.
10. Kids and Pets My kids, their friends, our cat, and dog bring so much energy & inspiration! But during summer or spring break, boundaries are key & sometimes mean restricting the kids (less so the pets—parents, you get it).
11. Plants Healthy, trimmed plants add magical energy, endorsed by feng shui and Vastu experts. I use my compass app to place them per recommendations. Vastu’s “serene yet energized sanctuary” vibe (see transcendencedesign.com) aligns with my space.
12. Clear Boxes I confiscated my kids’ toy bins for supplies, but their colors were distracting. Swapping to clear Amazon boxes (cheaper than the covetable shoeboxes) keeps focus on my art. Four years in, they’re still working kinda great. The sturdier clear shoe boxes may be replacing them at some point.
13. Flat Files These heavy metal files from Florida State’s Bills Bookstore keep unframed papers and photos neat. You’ll need help setting them up—they’re solid!
14. Vertical Shelves Also from Bills, these sturdy shelves sit under my flat files, holding stretched canvases, foam core, mat boards, sketch boards, and portfolios. They tame studio chaos.
15. Pegboards Framed in gold for bling, my white pegboards with hooks hang supplies, framed art, or canvases beautifully.
16. Bling Amid the mess of projects, I add sparkle: a crystal tray for oil pastels, huge gold frames, and white-and-gold spotted wallpaper on a door. It counters the rustic vibe. Find similar wallpaper on Amazon.
17. Wealth Corner I researched this for fun: the farthest left corner from your entrance symbolizes abundance. I added plants, wood, and water-themed art from my Oceans series (some still available!). Weekly saltwater cleaning is part of the vibe ritual.
18. Stable, Heavy Pieces For balance in an ever-shifting space, I rely on my childhood piano, a recliner in my break nook, a small marble top laptop desk, and IKEA shelves with 16 cubicles for records, books, and folders. They ground the energy.
19. Canvas Boxes These unbleached cotton canvas, open-top boxes (about 1 cubic foot) dot my studio and 1938 cottage home. They hide clutter subtly—I purge them yearly to ditch what’s unused.
20. Good, Adjustable Lighting Stand-up floor lamps with adjustable direction, brightness, and hue (warm to cool) keep me on track. I blend warm and cool for daytime work. Clocking out with dimmer settings prevents burnout—a must for the self-employed!
21. A Signature Color or Theme. “Honey gold” emerged organically, now paired with neutrals to tame the chaos and let my colorful art shine.
22. Sharpie Markers Paired with glass tabletops, Sharpies jot epiphanies or lists—Windex wipes them clean for a fresh slate.
23. Glass Spray Bottle With a few drops of lavender, peppermint, lemongrass, or orange essential oils, this freshens the air or cleans glass palettes (scrape first). I avoid plastic—microplastics pushed me to glass.
24. Razor for Glass A straight razor keeps glass tops spotless—simple & effective.
25. Wipe Boards Magnetic ones stick to my file cabinet for intentional lists or notes—wiped clean when done.
26. Pegboard Hooks and HoldersS tandard hooks hang art or supplies neatly.
27. Ring Light When natural light fades, this flatters for Zoom calls, live vids or headshots—key for creatives.
28. Tripods I use a ring light/tripod combo plus portable ones for field trips, thrifting, or quick consults (“Does this look good on me?”).
30. Mobile Office A Sherwin-Williams bag holds my laptop and supplies—pack-and-go ready.
32. Scratch Pad and Pen A paper pad and my bright yellow pens (rubber grip, smooth ink) are brainstorming staples. Want one? Subscribe to my email list and message me at me@honeyhilliard.com with “Honey, I’d love a bright yellow studio pen!” plus your address.
33. Apron/Smock Paint stains are inevitable—I keep these handy.
34. Outfit Options For bulk social media shoots, I swap tops (a la Stu McLaren’s Adidas jackets) to fake multiple days in one session.
35. Extension Cords With lighting, charging, and photo setups, I keep a few on hand—no hunting required.
36. Hanging Tools and Hooks Wires, nails, drills, and hooks keep art and pegboards functional.
37. Stepladder(s) High ceilings demand one.
38. AirPods Hands-free listening or talking is a must for multitasking (yep)
39. Clutter Hiders Use your beautiful hat boxes or pretty suitcases. Chaotic supplies stay out of sight unless in use—everything gets a home.
40. iPhone Tripods With the right settings and lighting, our cell phones definitely rival pro photography on a budget.
Final Thoughts
These solutions evolved over years to craft a peaceful, productive studio. Whether you’ve got a bedroom corner, acres of land, or just a laptop, these principles can help you build an organized, sacred creative space. Wishing you the best in your practice!