Using furniture to make study and craft centres

IF you’re looking to make more use out of your furniture and space, consider these simple DIY projects.

The study block

To create a desk with drawers, cupboards and shelves, look for a cupboard that offers both a drawer and cupboard, or perhaps a shelf and closed cupboard. Buy two. Set them up a metre or so apart and lay a tabletop across the top.

Alternatives to tabletops include: book shelves, doors, easels, and draft boards so look in home decoration, furniture, hardware and art shops.

Tip: If you have a long top, you may want to buy four cupboards. Set these back-to-back, and use the inside storage for items you don’t use often – or textbooks that you want to pass on to the next child.

The craft island

If you have a room with a centre that’s not being used, set up a craft island by assembling a collection of storage cubes. Storage units allow you to mix it all up, combining open spaces where you can put a wicker basket, big drawers, small drawers, shelves and so on in any combination that you like.

Then place a top across it all for a neat, uniform look. If you have lots of space, you might choose to build a long island that has “indents” where you can sit. Measure these indents carefully during your design and be sure they fit comfortably with work chairs.

Tip: For this to work well, it’s easiest to stick to one manufacturer so that you have uniform heights and widths – otherwise you will find yourself with wobbly components.