Design Ideas

Hardwood floors and other essentials for your new art studio

February 25, 2013

As culture writer Marshall McLuhan once famously quipped, "Art is anything you can get away with." But actually getting art underway tends to be the most difficult part of the task. It's easy to sit back and dream of the great paintings, artisan jewelry or astounding pottery we'd produce if only we had the time - or the space. Since there's no time like the present, why not embark on crafting your own personal art studio? With the right space - basement, spare bedroom or even attic - and the best room design, you'll have the ideal locale to create your masterpieces. But before you launch on this endeavor, consider these tips.

Go with hardwood floors
If you're assembling an art studio in your home, one thing you can't go without are hardwood floors. Only hardwood has both the versatility and the durability to stand up to whatever your studio space throws at it! Anderson Floors has been in the business of handcrafting hardwood flooring for over half a century, and the designers and craftsmen are only getting better. Consider the Lone Star collection for instance. These engineered hickory boards present a broad tapestry of romance and adventure reminiscent of the American Old West. With the hues of deserts and prairies buried deep in the patina of wood, you'll find plenty of inspiration in your flooring alone!

Bring in a lot of natural light
Whatever your chosen art - jewelry-making, painting, sketching or any other creative pursuit - chances are that you'll need top-notch lighting to better see whatever it is you're currently working on. Bringing in plenty of natural light is usually the best option, since - unlike lamps - sunlight allows you to see full spectrum colors. Skylights and large picture windows should help you with this goal.

Keep your storage options plentiful
Whether you need micro-organizing bins with drawer cubbies for your jewelry-making tools and pieces or large-scale space for your giant canvases, keeping storage open is an absolute necessity.

Stay inspired
Sometimes, even when you've gotten the ball rolling on a personal project, keeping up with it can be trying and difficult. Set your room up with a variety of inspiring prints, paintings, magazine clippings, designs, instructions or whatever else happens to get your creative blood flowing! 

Anderson Reader

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