The Best 12 Art Studio Ideas For Every Space and Budget

So you’re looking for new art studio ideas but budget or space woes have got you down? I know over the course of my art career, I’ve had about every type of art studio possible, and I’m sharing only the most successful with you. From small to dreamy to low-budget art studio ideas, here are the best of the best! 

Designing your art studio can be as fun as your hobby itself! But, if I’ve learned anything over my decades of painting, it’s smart to do all the research you can to be sure you learn the best possible studio ideas right from the start. Having had a half dozen studios myself, I’m giving you only the best art studio ideas that I and other professionals swear by. 

You are going to learn all the art studio ideas  including  art studio ideas for small spaces, art studio ideas for basement, art studio storage ideas, art studio design ideas, small art studio ideas, art studio design layout, art studio ideas at home, how to start an art studio from scratch on a low budget, small bedroom art studio ideas, diy art studio ideas, dream art studio and more!

As an artist myself, I can tell you first hand the best art studio ideas that are sure to send your hobby soaring!

This post is all about the very art studio ideas for every space and budget. 

Art Studio Ideas For Every Space And Budget 

1.Art Studio Ideas   

A beautiful, well lit and organized art studio makes painting easier and more tempting.

You don’t have to let space, time and budget challenges prevent you from having your own wonderful studio.

With a little guidance, planning and creativity, you can come up with art studio ideas that make not only a workable studio but one that will catapult your art career!

2.Art Studio Ideas For Small Spaces 

Some of the best art studios live, or start, in small spaces.  So don’t let a small space keep you from having big art studio dreams!

The benefits of a small space are less overwhelming options, less expensive to transform, easier to close off and less area to mess or clean up!

All you need to set up an art studio is a work surface, easy-to-clean flooring, supply storage, decent lighting, a chair and a water source.

Here are some helpful tips for creating that small studio:

• Consider a table top easel and ceiling-mounted lighting to save on floor space.
• Store infrequently-used items elsewhere like the garage or a shed.
• A large roll of plastic can be quickly and easily rolled out on a floor, or on work surface, for protection.
• Utilize vertical storage such as wall-mounted pegboards, wine racks, open shelving.
• Try Commando hooks on the wall to hang drying, in-process or completed works.
• A chair with casters can be rolled in and out of the space and therefore do double duty.

Art studio ideas for small spaces are as limitless as your imagination.

Picture from extraspace.com. You can click here to purchase low priced floor to ceiling shelving like this at Kohl’s.

3. Art Studio Ideas For Basement

Converting your basement into an art studio is an excellent idea!

Most of us have basements that aren’t utilized much, and cleaning up can be as simple as closing a door.

The biggest challenge when trying to convert a basement into an art studio is creating the essential art studio component, good lighting.

To improve or create natural light:

• Knock down any non-load bearing walls you can.
• Free up areas near windows for the studio by moving in-use items such as washer/dryer or lounge furniture.
• Install mirrors to reflect any sunlight back into the room or flank the windows with floor-to-ceiling mirrors to give the illusion of more or larger windows.
• Use crystal and glass accents and bright cheery colors to enhance the lighting.

Once you’ve mastered the lighting, add an easy-to-clean work surface and floor covering, sink, storage solutions, a comfy adjustable-height chair or stool and you’ve got yourself a fabulous basement studio!

There are many art studio ideas for basement that are easy and affordable, so get started today!

4.Art Studio Storage Ideas 

Storage ideas for your art storage come in two forms: those that are left out and those that are put away.

Art studio storage ideas that are in sight are easier to get to and often bid you back into the studio.

For in-sight storage consider these low-cost options:

• Cleaned out jam, sauce, cookie or pasta jars or other glass containers.
• Wine racks.
• Peg boards.
• Containers with magnetic lids that adhere under metal cabinets.
• Open shelving
• Rolling carts
• Silverware organizers
• Cardboard boxes or storage bins

The placement of your art studio might necessitate packing away your supplies frequently.

Picture from art-shed.com. A rolling cart for your art supplies can purchased at Bed Bath and Beyond by clicking here.

Here are the easiest pack-away storage ideas:

• Wall mounted or chest of deep drawers in which you can place large bins with specific items.  Such as a bin for acrylic paints, a bin for watercolor paints, a bin for all drawing implements, etc.  This keeps the items organized and saves you trips.
• Skirted sinks or tables in which you can easily roll under a cart or bins.
• Storing less-used items in the highest cabinets, have a footstool handy, many fold up and can be easily tucked out of sight.
• Covered boxes that are attractive enough to keep out on surfaces.
• Utilizing a shed or garage for overflow storage.
• Take a picture of your work in progress before putting it away and set it as the wallpaper on your phone to prompt your return.
• Schedule studio time in your planner to keep you from avoiding it.

[Related Post: How This Amazing Planner Changed My Art Career And Life]

There are thousands of art studio storage ideas, the key is to pick the ones that work best for your space.

5.Art Studio Design Ideas 

It’s a good idea to consider all these art studio design ideas before embarking on creating your studio.

Organizing the space:

• Shelves and racks: Freestanding shelves, wall shelves, and racks are a must for an art studio. Use them to stock and store cans of paint, brushes, clay, and tools.
• Folding table: A folding table frees up space when you don’t need it. They’re also portable, making them a handy item if you want to do some artwork elsewhere like outside.
• Plastic containers: Clear plastic bins make finding all of your art supplies easy. Make sure you separate your art items by type, then store them in the bins. A plastic container with a lid will keep your things clean and free from damage.
• Mason jars: These handy organizers are great for paintbrushes, pencils, and much more. You can place them on a desk or table, on shelves, or hang them on the wall for quick access.
• Wine rack: Repurpose a wine rack and use it to organize your art items. It’s a perfect way to hold small jars of paint. You can also fill the wine rack with the Mason jars to keep each one separated and organized.
• Pegboard: This handy accessory is a perfect addition to an art studio. Mount a pegboard to the wall, then add hooks and small bins to hold everything neatly in place.

Picture from ohhappyday.com- you can find pegboards like these at Amazon – click here!

When deciding which of these art studio design ideas work best for your supplies and space, be sure and measure carefully before purchasing!

Work surface option considerations:

• What size is the artwork you do?
• Do you  work flat or raised, or both?
• Do you need to display your work on a shelf or the wall while you’re working on it?

Answer these questions to decide whether you need a flat workspace, a table-top easel or standing easel and whether you need hooks or ledges on a wall to display your work.

Somewhere to put your paint and painting tools:

A small desk with drawers and perhaps a couple of shelves with doors would be sufficient for those who work on small pieces. You can skirt the legs in order to hide the less attractive storage items all the better!

Bar carts, tea trollies, wire bins on casters are ideal if you need to tuck away items.

How much space do you need for other art materials?

It isn’t every artist who has only one form of art. There are those who like to use different materials and work in more than one medium, I know I enjoy painting with watercolor as well as acrylics and drawing with pencil or pen and pastel. Storing these supplies in separate containers may be more efficient than digging around through one large pile for that perfect pink pastel!

You could also stash your different sized items in separate places.  I have huge and small canvases.  I keep my small ones stacked in my studio and my large ones in the garage.

In short, you may have to make some unexpected decisions such as what makes sense to separate and to divide, how to use “dead” space, and what works for studio extensions in your environment when considering all the art studio design ideas.

6. Small art studio ideas 

Small art studios are fabulous, bigger isn’t always better!

Think on this:

• Less space to clean up
• Cheaper to set up
• Easier to “hide”
• You can redecorate the entire space in a snap

Picture from skillshare.com. Utilize ceiling space for storage by purchasing shelving like this at Wayfair- click here.

Now that I’ve gotten you excited about small, let’s talk about the challenges of small spaces:

Look up, down and all around to use every available square inch:

Up: Can you store racks on the ceiling.  There are some made to pull down when needed so no stool required! How about a pully system to hoist items up and out of the way?

Down: Trap door anyone?  There might be space to spare under your flooring. Under tables are not just for dust bunnies!  You can claim that space for stacks of canvases, bins on wheels, or caster carts.

All around: Is there a closet nearby you can commandeer, a corner in the garage to snag or shed you can hijack?

Small art studio ideas can be ideal with a little creativity!

[Related post: 12 Wowza Ways Markers Can Improve Your Artwork]

7. Art Studio Design Layout   

Here are the main questions you must answer while designing your layout:  

Somewhere to put the thing you are painting ON

• What size is the artwork?
• Do you prefer to have your work flat or slightly raised on a table or desk?
• Do you prefer to work with a painting nearly upright?
• Do you need space to view your work in progress from a distance?

Answer those questions to decide whether you need a large space on the floor or wall to view works in progress or a flat workspace or whether a standing or desktop easel is enough.

Somewhere to put your paint and painting tools

A small desk with drawers and perhaps a couple of shelves with doors would be sufficient for those who work on small pieces.  Facebook Marketplace and DIY cabinet designers are great places to find the perfect piece!

Tea or bar trollies are a great option too.  Having wheels makes them easy to move  and tuck them away in a corner or under a work surface.

Large clear plastic bins are ideal for storing supplies, they are indestructible and clean up easily.  Plastic shower totes are also great ideas as they have a handle and different niches to help you stay organized.

How much space do you need for other art materials?

There are those who like to work in more than one medium, I know I enjoy painting with watercolor as well as acrylics, and drawing with pencil and pastel. In my first studio, I made the art studio design layout mistake of not considering this.

Ideally you want to have your supplies and tools for each of your mediums in separate places.  That way when the urge strikes you to re-create that sunset with watercolors, you can grab the supplies with one hand and know exactly where to set up before the feeling flees!

Don’t be discouraged if you have a small space.  Many spaces can do double duty by merely changing out the work surface.  For instance, slapping down some newspapers on a counter top is perfect for pastel drawing and can easily be swapped out for a plastic table cloth for watercolor painting.

How much extra do you need to keep in stock?

Some artists work very fast and need a constant supply of canvasses or boards for the next painting. I actually work on several paintings at once, to keep from that annoying “overworking” habit.

And if you like to take advantage of discounts for larger quantities, you  may need to consider a storage space that is not part of your actual studio

Get creative and think practical with your art studio design layout, think outside the studio-box, ask others who live with you for storage ideas. You may be surprised at who is willing to give up some closet space or knows a great corner in the garden shed for your supplies.

8.Art Studio Ideas at Home     

Before you start planning your art studio, there are several important things to consider, including:

• Budget: While budgeting is no fun for us creative types, it will save you a world of pain if you set aside a certain amount of money BEFORE you dive into building your art studio. The little necessities that don’t first come to mind will blow your budget if you don’t consider them initially such as cleaning supplies and light and water sources.
• Lighting: We all know natural light is best.  Closely examine your work space for lighting during different times of day and night.  Ideally you want a combination of overhead and task lighting as well as fixed and adjustable lighting to make up for any lack of natural light.
• Ventilation: Proper ventilation is crucial, especially when working with paints, glues, and other potentially volatile mediums. Be sure that you have windows, fans and good air circulation in your HVAC system.
• Sink and water: We all hate clean up time but you can make it easier on yourself if you have a water supply handy. Installing a utility sink is an affordable, durable choice. Their deep basins and are perfect for us busy artists who need quick access to water.
• Workspace: Consider how much room you’ll need to work. You’ll need different spaces if you draw versus work on massive sculptures or canvases. If necessary go through the motions of working in the considered space to help you find the best layout before shelling out your hard earned cash.
• Privacy: Do you need quiet to concentrate or do surrounding sounds  enhance your creativity? Most people forget this part of setting up a studio. Depending on your needs, you may want to consider sound dampening materials or a music system.
• Floor protection: This is another frequently overlooked topic. Floor coverings that are  easy to clean and on your feet are a must (hello, no carpet!!).  Vinyl, tile and polished concrete are great options.  If changing out the flooring isn’t in the budget, head to a home improvement store such as Home Depot and get a large role of temporary floor covering such as these Surface Shields for under 15 bucks!

You can get these affordable floor protector rolls at Home Depot by clicking here.

• Chair: A comfortable chair is a must when working on your art. Look for chairs with ergonomic support so you don’t end up with a sore neck or back. Chairs with wheels make it easy to move around the studio as needed.

Creative ideas on where to set up the studio:

Think of these often overlooked options when deciding on your art studio ideas at home:

• Shed: An outdoor shed is an excellent spot for creating art, drying paintings and sculptures or for storing larger pieces.
• Garage: This is a fantastic place to set up an art studio, and many already have utility sinks in place. The garage door lets lots of light in, concrete flooring is easy to clean and durable, the ventilation and storage options are great too.
• Patio or outdoors: A screened-in patio or a garden studio is an excellent choice for creating art. They provide an inspirational link with nature and also privacy that a space in your house may not afford.
• Attic: The attic is an excellent area to work on your art if it has proper heating and cooling to protect you and your work.
• Corner: If you don’t have an extra room, consider designating a corner of the living or dining room to become your art studio.
• Under the stairs: Carve out a spot under a staircase. This is ideal for  making smaller works. Wall mount everything possible, such as an easel, to give you more room.

Picture from allendesignsstudio.com. You can purchase wood floor sealant to make it suitable for a studio by clicking here.

Art studio ideas at home can be anything you dream of!

9.How to Start an Art Studio from Scratch on a Low Budget

This studio in a bag is available and affordable at Michael’s, click here to check it out!

Studio in a bag is the best idea EVER because it solves so many studio problems! You can literally roll out or roll up the contents in minutes and hang it on a door hook and out of the way in minutes!

It’s perfect for new artists who want to know how to start an art studio from scratch on a low budget but who may not be ready to commit to a permanent studio yet, artists on the tightest of budgets, artists who rent their dwelling and artists who travel or who enjoy working in many different environments.

This is also an easy affordable way to start learning what you might need for a more permanent studio when your budget and space allows.

10.Small Bedroom Art Studio Ideas   

From dornob.com- You can store everything in the walls including a pull down bed which you can get from Rockler by clicking here.

An extra bedroom has one advantage over other spaces—a door! If you work best in a quiet area, then a small bedroom with some privacy is perfect for your art studio.

If you need the room occasionally, for out of town guests or the college kid, you can still use it as a studio in between visits utilizing these small bedroom art studio ideas:

Replace the furniture: You may have more space in the room than you think. Scaling down the furniture, (do you really need the drum set in there, can you tuck a small chest in the closet?) or purchasing dual purpose items (a large top desk that can double as your work surface or a small sleeper sofa) help free up space.

Temporary covers for everything: If changing out anything isn’t an option, then cover the floor with temporary paper or plastic available at all home improvement stores, your work surface with old newspapers or freezer paper, and the walls by tacking up drop cloths or old sheets to capture flying paint. These are easily swept away when you need the bedroom.

Think vertical: Floating shelves above your work surface and floor to ceiling drawers and shelves can be useful for storing supplies, If you get creative with your supply containers, they can also serve as a beautiful display for your occasional guests.

Wall-mounting creates space: Consider wall mounting anything possible such as your easel, a pull-down bed, task lighting and fold-down shelving.  These can easily be tucked up and out of the way when guests drop by.

Small bedroom art studio ideas can lead to a flexible room that does double duty!

[Related post: 9 Genius Art Party Ideas To Sell Art (& Have A Blast!)]

11.DIY Art Studio Ideas   

DIY art studio ideas are the BEST studio ideas because they use your creative energy!

You don’t need to be a contractor, plumber or handyman to create an art studio. In fact, your DIY project may serve you better in many ways plus save you big bucks in the long run. 

DIY

• ventilation- If you can crack open a window or skylight, (ceiling or box fan a bonus), you’ve got ventilation
• storage- repurpose jars, cans, wine racks, bath totes, Tupperware and baskets for your supplies. Get a few roly carts or screw in a few shelves on the wall to put it all on and voila!
• work surface- take a desk or dining table your not using, cover it with old newspaper, a plastic table cloth or freezer paper and you’re good to go!
• cover the floor with plastic or thick paper from a wide roll sold at home improvement stores.
• natural light- recreate an extra window by adding task lamps and using daylight bulbs in all lights.

You can purchase daylight bulbs like these at Amazon.  Just click here!

You DIY art studio ideas can be as fun to play with as your artwork!

12.Dream Art Studio

It’s easier to create a dreamy art studio than you think. No, you don’t have to move or win the lottery! Consider these easy additions to create the art studio of your dreams:

Greenery- Plants make a gorgeous indoor-outdoor look and soften a work space. Consider easy to grow spider plant, scented plants like herbs, majestic trees like fig and lemon or the climbing pothos plant which are especially dramatic if allowed to crawl up the wall and wind around the rafters.

Floor to ceiling natural shelving to store your completed work with string or cardboard dividers can be a work of art in itself! Or cover all available wall space with narrow display shelves and place your work all around the room for a dreamy and inspirational touch!

Paint the studio all one color such as white or glossy black for a dramatic backdrop for your art.

Add a touch of glam.  Add a huge crystal chandelier, wooden rafters, a painted or wallpapered ceiling depicting a sky, or a second-hand tufted armchair that gets more interesting with paint splatter.

Go dreamy or go home can be your motto for the space you call your studio!

This post is all about art studio ideas. 

Other Posts You May Like:

• Best Ideas for Getting Art Commissions
• Killer Guide To Painting For Beginners In Only 9 Steps
• 9 Genius Art Party Ideas To Sell Art (& Have A Blast!)

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