Penny is an artist who uses her creative side and imagination to express herself. She’s now using this opportunity with ASDNext to not only do that through art, but also blogging. For much of her life, she felt like the “quirky sidekick” stereotype in a movie, always doing what others expected of her. When she was diagnosed with autism later in life, that all began to change. This news was life changing and she knew it was time to rewrite her story. She’s no longer on the sidelines of this so-called movie that is her life, she’s the director, leading-lady, or whatever other part she needs to play to figure out who she REALLY is! Every small step toward authenticity is now a victory for her in this new stage of life.
View all postsCraft Space Makeover: An Autistic Perspective on Organization
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As someone with Autism, I have always found comfort in creativity. Arts & crafts require minimal social interaction, can be learned through instruction, and offer enriching sensory experiences. BONUS, every project I complete SECRETLY boosts my confidence as well. Since I started earning my own income, I have spent a significant portion of it on craft supplies—though I prefer not to think about exactly how much. All these craft supplies live in a dedicated room in my house that desperately needs organization. With the start of a new year, I’ve embarked on a journey to discover what works best for my space.
Step one was assessing the actual space. As they were here to stay, the main furniture to work around was a long folding table, a tall wooden table, and several shelving units. I have a large closet with sliding doors that I previously used for storage, but it wasn’t very efficient. Items were either stacked haphazardly on the floor or placed on high shelves that were difficult to reach. Toward the end of 2024, I acquired two shelving units but struggled to determine how to utilize them best. I aimed to keep the shelving units hidden behind the closet’s sliding doors; I just needed to develop a system that worked best for me. It’s not enough to place items on a shelf; they must be organized clearly so my brain can easily understand and grasp a system.
The next step was to consider the main activities I enjoyed and how to categorize them. My activities revolve around my Cricut Maker 3, sewing machine, stickers, paper, and laptop. Last spring, someone also made the mistake of getting me candle-making supplies, which I figured would be my new hobby. Dreams of an endless supply of handcrafted candles danced around my head. This was until I realized I needed the patience to wait for the wax to harden. The curse of being creative is thinking you can conquer any DIY project.
After narrowing down my main activities, I could further break things into subcategories. Although this process might sound boring to some, I enjoy it; this is where I thrive. Talking about organizing trumps actual organizing. The subcategories I selected were “Candle-making,” “Papercrafts,” “Tools,” “Markers and Watercolors,” and “Etsy Blanks.” From there, I could shop for containers. I had two kinds in mind: clear totes and fabric bins. Clear containers let me quickly glance at a shelf to find what I needed rather than digging around on the floor. Fabric bins would be great for concealing current projects in all their messy, majestic glory. Buying the containers together ensured they matched in size and style. Several bulleted lists and $100 later, I finally felt ready to DO the organizing.
Back to the craft room, it was time to tackle the clutter! I pulled everything out of the closet and made a big pile on the floor to sort through—piece by piece, deciding which items belonged in each container. Since I had my categories and subcategories lined up, finding a home for everything was super easy. Plus, I love working on the floor; it feels oddly calming! #FloorGoblinLife. Clear plastic bins have additional labeling with my Cricut, making everything blatantly easy to find. Supplies like my fabric stash for sewing and a mess of Cricut vinyl went into the fabric bins. I even set up an “Easy Crafts” bin— a great tip I picked up from someone on YouTube. This bin contains coloring books, perler beads, and quick craft kits I’ve collected over time. Whenever I want to unleash my creativity or need a break from a long-term project, I can grab that bin, whip up something simple, and enjoy a little dopamine.
It’s been a couple of weeks since I implemented my new organizational system, and the sense of accomplishment from this makeover is genuinely satisfying. Once a chaotic jumble, my craft room was transformed BACK into a creative sanctuary. Transitioning between projects has become much easier, and my closet looks significantly neater now. This organizational transformation has simplified my space and reignited my passion for creating. With everything sorted into categories and bins, I can concentrate on what matters most—making art and enjoying the process. I hope my journey, along with the tips I’ve shared, inspires anyone who is struggling with their own cluttered space. Happy organizing!
Penny
