Do you have an artsy kid in your family?
Art is especially important for the developing young mind. It’s been shown to improve social skills and help kids better manage their emotions.
Stocked with art supplies, tools, and inspiration, art stations are where kids can create anything. Whether it’s a drawing, a clay sculpture, or a diorama, they can work on it anytime.
An art station is a great way to release creative energy, stimulate the brain, and inspire the artist inside everyone. Setting up an art station in your home can get your kids into arts and crafts and help them hone their creative abilities.
But how do you create one? What do you need to get started?
If you’re not an artist, it can be hard to know where to begin. You have limited space, limited supplies, and limited time.
We know that house cleaning is already overwhelming, and creating an art station for your kids may feel like an added burden.
That’s why in this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about setting up an art station for kids at home, from choosing a space to deciding what supplies are best suited for your child.
Let’s get into it!
Supplies You’ll Need
Before you even start putting the actual station together, you’ll need to gather your supplies. Without the tools, how can your little ones create?
You can tailor this list to your children’s age and personal preferences. Some might love glitter and pom poms, while others might be all about the paint. Pick things your child enjoys, colors they love, and a medium they would want to experiment with.
Here’s a list of things that you probably already have lying around at home:
- White printer paper
- Scissors
- Tape
- Black marker
- Mini stapler
- Glue
- Recycled toilet paper rolls
To really take your art station to the next level, try buying some of these craft supplies from a local store (if you don’t have them already):
- Coloured construction paper
- Googly eyes
- Pipe cleaners
- Coloured paint (oil or watercolour)
- Paintbrushes
- Coloured pencils
- Coloured markers
- Craft sticks
- Mini pom poms
- Ribbons
- Craft jewels
- Stickers
How to Set Up Your Art Station
Once you’ve got supplies together, it’s time to actually set up your art station. Feel free to get as creative as you’d like, and put it anywhere you want. Here are some tips to help guide the process.
1. Choose the Right Space
First off, think about where your kids do art right now. Do they do it in their rooms, in a common living room, the kitchen, or in the backyard?
If they already like to do art in a specific area, that might be a good spot to set up an art station. You want a place that your kids already gravitate towards when they’re feeling creative.
If nothing comes to mind right away, think about where your kids like to go in the house. Pick a place that’s active and often used by others in the family, like the kitchen table, a corner spot by the window, or something similar. You want a space that’s already the hub of family activity.
If you pick somewhere too secluded or away from the action, it’s more likely that it won’t be used.
2. Build a Caddy
Instead of just putting your art station around a normal desk, try mixing it up a little bit. You can create a custom art caddy for your kids to play with.
Use a regular caddy and deck it out with artistic items. If you’re feeling especially artsy, you can even build one yourself!
To customise it for your arts station, you could put things like a chalkboard, a whiteboard, cups with markers or pencils, a painting easel, and a pegboard organiser for miscellaneous items.
This can make storage a lot simpler too. You can attach shelves or other organisational areas on the caddy to put things like paint, markers, paper, and more.
3. Get Creative
Creativity goes beyond just paper, pencils, and paint. Give your kids some room to express themselves beyond the paper or easel.
Try putting up a dry erase board along the wall of your station. Alternatively, you can set up a board with magnets depicting pictures, letters, shapes, and more. You can also try incorporating some fun, hands-on types of creating. Work with them to make putty or kinetic sand.
Why not think outside the box? Try things like sculptures, jewellery making, sewing, storytelling and more. You never know what kind of lifelong passion you could inspire.
4. Set Boundaries
While there’s no such thing as too much creativity, letting your kids run wild with the paint might end up making a mess. If you decide to leave messy items like paint, markers, chalk, or glue out for their use, you need to set some rules on how they’re used.
Sit down and have a conversation with your kids about your expectations for the art station. Let them know that:
- Art supplies aren’t toys, they’re tools to create
- Don’t colour on the walls, table, or floor
- Always lay down newspaper and clean up your mess
- When you’re finished, put everything back where it’s supposed to be
How to Create a Simple Art Station for Kids
Giving your kids a dedicated spot for art can do wonders for their creativity. Not only does it give them an outlet for their energy, but it can expand their mind and allow them to practice their growing skills.
If you want to create a unique, inspiring art station for your kids, it only takes a few art supplies to get started! As long as you buy your supplies, pick the right space, and set reasonable boundaries, there’s no limit to what your kids can create.
Looking for more organisational tips and tricks to keep your house sparkling clean? Check out our blog for more!
