What happens when you are out of space in your home or studio for your art/craft/business? There are several solutions, of course. Looking for more space inside your home, looking for space outside your home. Creating more space by cleaning out your studio.
Sometimes the thought of paying for off-site storage comes up. It did when I first outgrew my studio in our previous home. My husband and I were thinking about storing some of my supplies while we worked out whether to renovate our home to create a studio or sell our house and buy a new one that could accommodate a studio, or buy a new house and wait til we had the money to renovate, and I'd work with a partial/small studio in the meantime.
Maybe we could postpone the decision by renting a storage locker “for a few months” until our choice was more clear.
Little warning bells should go off when you read this...
Two dear friends, small business consultants, lectured me during this time. Unfortunately, they also knew my deep, dark secret--I'm a total clutterbug and hate throwing ANYTHING away (in case it comes in handy someday....)
Their contention is that only major equipment/expensive supplies that are not replaceable should ever be stored, and not for very long, either. The reasons are something like this:
People tend to use off-site storage as a way to postpone making a decision about something. They can't bring themselves to decide whether to keep stuff or not. The task of sorting through it is daunting. So they store it for "only" $30 a month. Someday, they’ll figure out what to do with it.
Trouble is, once it's out of sight, it's also out of mind. If it's not there to use, you won't use it or even think of it. If you do need it, it's not there to use.
Every year in storage is another $360 you've spent not to make that ultimate decision. If you are hoping to save money by not having to buy that widget again, you're eating up that savings by paying to store it.
If we squish it in our studio, it's still an issue because if you can't see it, you won't use it. If you go exploring and start opening drawers looking for it, each drawer is a new "Wow! I forgot I had these!" and another distraction.
Every "thing" you "might use someday" is a huge distraction, too. Recognizing the potential in every thing also means carrying the burden of that potential. Instead of pouring your focus and energy into the art you can make right now, you can be constantly distracted by all the possibilities open to you.
Instead, they suggested focusing on one small area or drawer, and setting a specific time frame to devote to de-cluttering that one area or drawer. And they suggested getting brutal about what things actually contribute to your highest and best use of your artistic focus and time, and what is a distraction.
Please note: This is MUCH easier said than done! I derive a lot of pleasure from odd stuff I've picked up, and have fun playing with it. I have a terrible time letting go of stuff, too.
But when it starts to crowd out the purpose of my studio--to create the art that carries the most power, the work that I’ve invested my best and highest effort to make—then it’s time to make those hard decisions about what stays and what goes.
My open studio events, though they are difficult to prepare for, fill this critical need for me once a year. I am forced to wade through the piles and bags of stuff I’ve accumulated, and decide whether it stays or goes. I am forced to reorganize, to make room for the stuff I absolutely need/want to keep, and to let go of the stuff that’s really not exciting/inspirational/functional. It’s either got to float my boat, or I have to let it float someone else’s boat.
Two things reminded me of this today. One was a topic of discussion on a crafts business forum, where someone was considering storing some of their supplies until they had time to figure out how to reorganize their studio. They are at a critical stage of their business, trying to plan for growth.
The other was an artist friend who lives in a single room in a group home. His studio and living space is a room less than 1/5 the size of my current studio. He’s hoping to find his own 2-room apartment, so the two can be separate. It was a sobering thought….
Don't pay people to profit by your inability to act. Decide what is important to have in your home, in your life, and in your workspace. And ACT on that.
