Olá, dear creative Reader

We often imagine that artists create in beautiful studios filled with endless shelves of supplies, large worktables, and plenty of room to spread everything out. While those spaces are certainly inspiring, they aren't a requirement for building a meaningful creative practice.

This week, I wanted to invite you into my own little creative corner and share how I've learned to make a small space work for me. Along the way, I'll also share a few simple organization tips that have helped me keep my desk functional, inspiring, and always ready for the next art journal page.

The Heart of My Creative Practice

If you've watched my videos for a while, you probably know that I don't have a dedicated art studio. Instead, I have a small creative corner within my home office—a space that I share with my husband. And honestly, that's perfectly fine. It sits next to a large window, so it receives beautiful natural light throughout the day, and it has everything I need to create.

Over the years, this little space has gone through several different configurations. I started with a single desk along one wall, and after a while, it was actually my husband's idea to add a second desk on the opposite side of the room. Since the room is quite narrow, having two work surfaces made a surprising difference. I could leave one desk dedicated to filming or projects in progress while using the other for everyday work, and it quickly became one of the best improvements we made to the space.

Unfortunately, during this past winter, we had a roof leak, and that second desk had to be removed while everything was repaired. Although the repairs are finished, I'm still waiting to see how the roof behaves after the next heavy rain before moving the desk back into place. So for now, I'm working in a smaller setup again—and it's been a good reminder that creativity isn't measured by the size of your workspace.

Beyond my desk, I've also added a few storage solutions that help keep the entire office organized. An Ikea Kallax bookcase holds my growing collection of floral books, past art journals, and a variety of art supplies, while my Raskog utility cart keeps many of my everyday materials within easy reach. These simple pieces have made a huge difference in helping me create an organized space without needing a dedicated studio.

Like any creative space, mine is always evolving. Once I'm confident the roof is no longer leaking, I can't wait to bring back my second desk. I'd also love to install a few more shelves on the opposite wall to gain additional storage, upgrade to the larger Raskog-style utility cart so I have a dedicated place for my sewing machine, and invest in better lighting so I can comfortably film videos during the evenings and throughout our darker winter days. Little by little, I'm shaping this small corner into a space that grows alongside my creative practice.

Tips for Organizing Your Art Desk (Even a Tiny One)

Whether you have a dedicated studio or just a small corner of your home, staying organized makes creating so much more enjoyable. Over the years, I've learned that a functional workspace isn't about having the perfect furniture or expensive storage—it's about creating a system that works for you.

1. Everything needs a place

This is my number one rule. Every supply should have a dedicated home. When every brush, stamp, glue stick, or paint has its own place, cleaning up becomes much easier, and you'll spend far less time searching for things when inspiration strikes. It's also much easier to keep your space tidy when you know exactly where everything belongs.

2. Keep your favorite supplies within easy reach

Think about the materials you use most often and keep them close to your workspace. My everyday pens, scissors, adhesives, acrylic paints, and watercolor palettes are always within arm's reach, while supplies I use less frequently are stored in drawers. Your organization should support your creative habits.

3. Organize by category

Instead of storing supplies wherever they fit, group similar materials together. Keep all your collage papers in one area, stamps in another, paints together, brushes together, and so on.

When everything is grouped logically, finding what you need becomes almost automatic.

4. Make cleanup part of your creative routine

I rarely leave my desk without spending a few minutes putting everything back where it belongs. It isn't about keeping the space perfect; it's about making sure it's ready for the next creative session. Future you will always appreciate coming back to a tidy desk.

5. Don't wait for the "perfect" studio

It's easy to think you'll be more creative once you have a bigger room, more shelves, or a dream studio. But I've learned that creativity adapts. This small corner has been where I've filmed videos, designed newsletters, created journal pages, and explored countless flowers. It reminds me that what matters most isn't the size of the space—it's how you use it.

Come Take a Tour of My Art Desk

This week's video is a complete tour of my current art desk setup. I'll show you where I keep my supplies, how I organize everything in a relatively small space, and some of the little systems that help me stay organized without making creativity feel rigid.

If you're looking for ideas to improve your own workspace, I hope you'll find something that inspires you, whether you have a full studio, a craft room, or simply one corner of your dining table.

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Your creative space doesn't need to be large or picture-perfect to become a place where beautiful things happen. What matters is that it feels welcoming, functional, and ready whenever inspiration arrives.

I hope this little tour encourages you to make the most of the space you have and perhaps inspires you to reorganize one small corner this week. Sometimes, a few thoughtful changes are all it takes to make creating feel lighter, calmer, and even more enjoyable.

Until next time,

Want to explore the language of flowers throughout the seasons? Download my free Winter Flower Guide and Spring Flower Guide, each filled with seasonal blooms, their symbolic meanings, and gentle art journaling prompts to inspire your creative practice.