Passion Projects: How to Fuse Your Passions With Your Home

by Nancy Budd 02/28/2021

Photo by Burst from Pexels

Designing your own home is such a delight! Finally, an opportunity to squeeze everything you've ever wanted into your own custom space. However, it may not be as simple as it sounds. Incorporating everything you want into your own home's design can feel like an impossible feat. But it is possible to incorporate your hobbies and passions into your new home. 

These tips will make it easier to make space in your new home for the things that light up your soul. 

Multi-Purpose Hobby Rooms 

For artists, sewists and crafters of all stripes, a studio dedicated to the craft isn't just a dream. It's the dream. But not every floor plan (or budget) allows for an expansive studio dedicated to watercolor, quilting or robotics. This is where extremely effective multi-purpose rooms come into play. Use your non-negotiable spaces and a few efficient design choices to make a space perform double duty.

  • Combine a laundry room and sewing studio. A built-in sewing desk, space for an ironing/cutting board and built-in cabinetry for fabric and notions storage (as well as all your laundry supplies) pair well together and allow you to shut the door on both sewing and laundry projects when you need a break. 
  • An expansive den or family room can double as a music room when designed with space for a piano, drum set or other musical paraphernalia. Having a corner of the room dedicated to making music can make it far easier to pick up an instrument and let the notes flow. 
  • A study/writing room/library is a must for many homeowners. Choose a position with plenty of natural light and a bit of distance from the noisier parts of the house. Incorporate built-in bookshelves, maybe a cozy window seat and all the hygge touches necessary for turning out works of greatness. Even a small reading/writing space can double as a homework room, a well-appointed home office where you'll actually want to spend time or simply a quiet place to regroup after a chaotic day. 

Intentional Garage and Outdoor Spaces

Some hobbies happen almost exclusively out-of-doors. For horticulturists, gardeners and those aspiring to grow their own vegetables, it can be well worth the time and effort to either hire a landscape designer or just sit down with a paper, pen and blueprint to consider what parts of your yard will offer the best spaces for cultivating your passion projects. 

For craftspeople who prefer to work with wood, metal or other materials that require a different type of studio space, a workroom attached to a garage is often the ideal choice. Ensure the space will offer plenty of ventilation, easy access to get materials in and out and ample light and space to work effectively. For some, a hobby space or workstation in a garage attic is the perfect solution. For others, adding an extra garage bay to be used as a workspace is the perfect compromise. 

The options are endless, and that can feel overwhelming at times. But by identifying your non-negotiable features and ideas, you'll be able to design a home that's uniquely yours with the space you need to make your hobbies come to life.