Design Camp Before & Afters! Kids’ Art Space Transformations
Have you heard about Art Pantry Design Camp yet? It’s my online course to help you set up an awesome kids’ art space in your home. One of my favorite parts of Design Camp is getting to witness the amazing transformations that take place for these families.
I love seeing the physical spaces transform, but what I really love is hearing about the other kind of transformation- how kids interact with the space and with their art supplies after it has been transformed.
Although I’m a sucker for beautiful design and I believe in the power of good design (where inspiration meets function), the reason I teach this course is to help parents (and sometimes grandparents!) set up a dedicated space for creative exploration that works well for your specific family.
Each family has different needs, but the end goal is for kids to have more creative independence with easy access to tools and materials. When you create a space that is organized and inviting and then teach your kids how to use the materials safely, they will grow up with this creative “workshop” in which to explore the world around them.
Before and Afters
I first wrote this post after the Fall 2017 session of Design Camp and am now updating it to include a few before and after photos from the Winter 2018 session.
These “before and after” photos are from participants in Art Pantry Design Camp living in locations around the world. They range from small spaces to full rooms and were made for kids from toddlers to tweens. These photos were taken at the end of Design Camp so some spaces were still waiting on containers, an art display area, or additional lighting. Hopefully you’ll still get a sense for the awesome transformations.
Art Space 1
Art Space 2
Art Space 3
The family in the photo above created this small art space in the corner of their playroom. This family also has a basement craft room that they wanted to update. Their goal was to make it more organized, inviting, and accessible for their kids. They also wanted something that will work well for many years, as their kids get older. Here are the photos of their basement craft room.
“Thanks Megan for all your help and support during the Design Camp! The project was a lot of work but the results were amazing. This weekend we spent a ton of time together as a family working on projects! I am so thankful to have this space to spend time together as a creative family.” -Heather, mom of 2
Since this space is for the whole family and they love to build things, they also decided to add a workbench with power tools and other carpentry items.
Art Space 4
This is a great example of how you can carve out a corner of a dining room to make space for art. Before Design Camp, the supplies were hidden away in drawers and the table and easel were in front of the fire place. In the “after” photo, you’ll see how they made room for open shelving and the easel in an unused corner and set up the kids’ table at the end of the dining table.
You really helped me get out of my tired mom rut/ breathe some new creative life back into this house and our family. Thank you sooo much!” – Renee, Mom of toddler
Art Space 5
Art Space 6
Art Space 7
“The kids are loving it and it’s so much easier to keep organized!” -Anna, Mom of 2
Art Space 8
“Even our 9 year old neighbor who is ALL boy LOVES our art space! He will paint and draw for hours with the kids after school.” Terri, mom of 3
Art Space 9
This Design Camper already had a small art space that she set up with the help of my e-guide, The New Playroom. You can see it was already a nice space, but she wanted more storage and felt like something was off. Through Design Camp, she was finally able to create the space she was envisioning.
Art Space 10
This Design Camper already had an art space, but it was cluttered and disorganized. She wanted to find a way to make this space more organized and inviting as well as to replace the outgrown table and chairs.
Art Space 11
This Design Camper wanted to create an art space in the corner of her living room. Because it’s in their main living space, she wanted to make sure it was not too crowded and that it would fit in with the rest of their living room decor.
“We love the art space and it truly gets used every day. I use it every morning to write lunchbox notes too!…When we have playdates, the kids always gravitate to it.” -Kate, Mom of 3
If you want to set up an organized and inviting art space for your kids, no matter the size, I will guide you through the process and help you create a space that works well for your family.
Click here to learn more about Design Camp or to save your spot.
