Want some ribbons?
I have way too many that are in disarray. I promised myself I would get my studioffice organized before the holiday season begins so I can work more efficiently and that means ribbon organization, too. Well September is almost over -time to get a move on and get it done! Look at all those tangled ribbons! How did I ever let them get this way?
Well – there is one reason and his name is…
Yes, he is up on top of the hutch in my dining room!
See all those loose ribbons hanging in the armoire? I used to have them all nice and neat, but if I leave the doors open – Trax jumps up and pulls them down. Since the ribbons are on spools they sometimes roll right off the spool and onto the floor. He thinks my studioffice is his very own amusement park!
I keep most of my ribbons on tension rods. I can fit four above this shelf. Curling ribbons are to the back. I also found a long basket that is perfect to hold ribbon rolls in a neat and orderly way.
Since tension rods are made to fit any size opening they work the same way in a closet as they do for their intended purpose to hold up a window treatment.
How to use a tension rod to hold, store, or organize ribbon:
Pull rubber tip off the ends of a tension rod and then place the ribbon on the rod. The rod is doubled up in the center where one side goes into the other. You may need to widen the hole on the ribbon spool to get it over that section or just add the spools from each end.
When the rod is loaded with spools – replace the rubber tip. Use straight pins to secure the end of the ribbon on each spool.
If you have never used a tension rod – they are quite simple to use. I used the short size. They also come in longer sizes. The package will state the width you can adjust it to. To hang it – turn one end one way and the other end the other way to lengthen or shorten. Check the fit and adjust so the rod is tight against the two sides of the cabinet or closet.
I place my most used ribbons toward the front of the cabinet. What is great about this way to store ribbons is that it keeps the shelf clear for something else, doubling your storage space. When a roll gets empty – you simply take the rod down, add or remove a spool, and put it back up.
Much better. I just have to remember to close the doors when I am not in here to keep them this way.
Smile inducing organization!
Now I have to tackle the rest of the room.
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How-To Make a Ribbon Organizer on a Wall
My Crafts Closet: Up Close and Personal
I wish we had a craft closet like that!
creative minds are rarely neat people! :)
I love your ribbon storage AND your craft room!
gail
Oh Trax is so darn cute, bet you can’t get too mad at him. Great idea on the tension rods, but I wouldn’t expect anything less from you :) I saw someone on Pinterest use tension rods for pot lid dividers, seems those rods are pretty useful for more than just a cafe curtain!
What a great space you have! And the extra organization will make it sooo easy for you come holiday time! Love the tension rod idea!
I love your craft closet! I’m swooning with envy. Is your fireplace (previous post) in your dining room? I saw your dining hutch on the opposite wall. Great photograph with the pumpkins and chandelier in the reflection.
Hi Katherine-
The mantel is in my dining room is just that – a mantel – no fireplace behind it, but wouldn’t that be nice. I would use the room much more if we could sit around the table and enjoy a fire while dining- it would add the perfect ambiance! The mantel has a story – you can read more about it here.
https://inmyownstyle.com/2010/11/how-i-decorate-my-mantel-for-christmas.htmlhttps://inmyownstyle.com/2010/11/how-i-decorate-my-mantel-for-christmas.html
I have my ribbon on a tension rod and I’m glad to know about using the straight pins! Love your organization of your craft room!!!
My collection of ribbons is growing and I’ve always wanted to do something like this. You’ve inspired me to finally get it done. Great work!
Wow that is a lot of ribbons. Beautiful! What a cool craft space! Think I need to buy a house now so I can make a cool craft space like that!!
What an astounding craft room! You could moonlight as a professional organizer! I want that room! hahaha
Love the idea of using tension rods! I may just have to do this with my wrapping paper!
Hi Leslie-
That is a brilliant idea. I have a corner filled with it all stuffed into an urn. Now I have to figure out where to put it – perhaps at the top of a small coat closet in my foyer. The width would be good for the length of the wrapping paper. – On boy now I am excited!!!
GREAT idea- What are you going to do in all your spare time?;>) xo Diana
Oh man that looks soooooooo nice! I to am TRYING to get mine organized! Will have to see IF I have some where that I can put a tension rod!
TENSION RODS. Genius. Pure genius.
Amazing selection and I like how you can see everything. Certainly organized now – well done on that front…it can get overwhelming.
This is genius! :)
Diane-I love this ribbon storage idea. You’re timimg is perfect because I am working on organizing my craft/sewing room this week. Thanks for the inspiration!
Hi Diane! What a great idea. I don’t have a lot of ribbon but it would free up a couple containers for something else ;-) Love your studio, too!!
That is one awesome craft armoire! So pretty and organized…I’m a tad jealous. :-)
Hi Sandra-
It was a hand- me down from my husband’s parents. I has taken on a new life every time we have moved. It was a pantry closet once, a bar, and I even used it as my clothes closet for 4 years. I like it best as my craft closet.
I am so jealous of your craft area! I have a small corner to store stuff in a small closet and have to move it with each project!
Hi Rachel-
When we moved into this house – this room was the area deemed on the builders plans as the formal living room. I knew we would never use a formal living room and it would be a total waste of space if we did, so we made it onto a room that we are in constantly. The decor has changed over the years, but the function has always been the same – a place to spread out and work.
I have some very serious studio envy…and that craft closet is at the top of my list of things to covet! I have a great space for my studio but it is a mish mash of pieces of furniture and remarkably crappy storage! After looking at the view of your studio, I am thinking that maybe just a coat of white paint on everything would make it at least look cohesive. Thanks for the inspiration!!
Hi Suzan-
All my furniture is a mish mash, too. Painting it all any color and perhaps adding one accent piece in a different color will seamlessly bring it all together. I wish I had some before shots of the room to show you. It looked like a junk furniture store.
Love this! I’ve been struggling for a week now trying to come up with a way to organize my ribbon overload. I had a brilliant idea – or so I thought – but when I went to create it, it failed. If I had somewhere to create storage like this, I would be all over it. Pinning now to remember later…when I have a house someday. lol
Have a great day tomorrow Diane!
Thanks Tiffany
I did a search a few years ago and loved Martha Stewart’s use of a rain gutter to organize ribbons in. She had them attached to a wall. I thought that was pretty clever idea.
Diane, I have to say, despite your incredible organization, the amount of ribbon and craft supplies you have terrifies me! LOL The sheer volume…I’m speechless (or as close as I ever get to it!) How many crafts do you estimate you could make with all that ribbon and crafting materials? Have you checked to see if you could enter the Guiness Book of World Records?
Hi Nancy-
I save everything – all the scraps and bits and pieces of stuff as you never know when you will need it. After working in display for so many years where I had a whole “prop room” filled with goodies to use you realize how nice it is to have everything you need in one place. That is what I have tried to create in this armoire. I was lucky to get a lot of ribbon from the store I used to work at. They were no longer going to provide gift wrapping services and sold all the supplies to the employees. I got a huge box of wide satin and wired ribbon for $5.00. If you really want to see a craft room with lots of supplies check out Cathe Holden’s site – Just Something I Made. She is amazing at how she organizes all of her stuff. There is also a book and now a magazine called Where Women Create. It is filled with the craft and studio spaces of many artists, crafters, designers, and bloggers. You will get lots of inspiration looking through it.
Hi Nancy – I wanted to add to the e-mail I sent you that I create for a living so having a lot of supplies just makes sense. Cathe’s is pretty awesome!
Great idea Diane and your craft/ribbon closet is amazing. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Mandy
Good job on organizing the ribbon! Hopefully Trax will keep his paws off of it lol. Good luck with the rest of the room :) What an awesome space you have!
Thanks so much. Trax is a cutie. Even though he makes more work for me at times, he is my buddy.
Love it! And that piece of furniture is gorgeous. What on the inside of the door looking on the door on the right? Where the paint chip cards are? Really great storage piece, not a spot is waisted!
Hi Laura-
It is a Dremel Drill bit set. I got it at Costco a few years ago. It was made to hang on a wall. Every Dremel tip imaginable is in that hanging case.
You have the best ideas. I read you and think, “now why didn’t I think of that!” Thank you once again!
Thanks Lynne. My mom was super creative and always thinking outside the box. Growing up in that environment just became the norm for me to look at things with fresh eyes.
What a great studio you have. From the space to the ribbon closet. I would like really like working in there even after Trax has rolled ribbons on the floor.
I spend quite a lot of time in there. When we first moved into the house I knew we had no use for a formal living room, so I made it into a studioffice.
It is my favorite room in the house. I spend lots of time in here.