Workspace decorations should bring inspiration

Dear Sandi: Our last daughter will be leaving for college next month, and I am finally going to have a room that will be devoted to nothing but my crafts and artwork.

I paint watercolors, do pottery work and have recently begun to experiment with paper.

I really want my room to be a fun and stimulating place for me to work in. What would you suggest? —Dwila Y., Salem

Paintbrushes are displayed in a container covered in paper. When creating a craft room, display your tools and creations as art. LOOSE ENDS

Hi Dwila: Lucky, lucky you. You are getting what most of us only can dream of, a creative place that does not have to share space with a bed for that unexpected guest or double as the laundry room.

I have such a space here at the store, but at home, that is a different matter entirely. My home design area includes Art’s computer and his work area, the washing machine and dryer, and, of course, storage for everything else that doesn’t currently have a place of its own (of which I have far more than any reasonable person should).

However, my space at the store is wonderful, so I will tell you what I find to be essential in a personal design area.

You mentioned some of the things you love to do. Surround yourself with pieces of this type of work, both your own and others pieces that inspire you. Visual mental fodder also is creatively stimulating.

Whether you're looking for handmade paper, furniture, fabric or accessories, you will find it at loose ends. If it is unusual, organic and fabulous, then loose ends is the place. Showroom hours are 8 am to 5 pm weekdays and the first Saturday of each month 10 am - 3pm at 2065 Madrona Ave. SE, Salem, or visit us online at www.looseends.com Questions? Give us a call at (503) 390-2348.

I love books, and I find that having a library of various types and subjects — devoted to everything from calligraphy to faux painting and designing a classical Chinese garden to making your own potpourri — helps to keep my creative juices flowing. It is not at all necessary that these books have anything at all to do with your chosen disciplines. What you want from them is the mental stimulation that any type of creative activities will provide.

I find that having the “tools of the trade” sitting out and highly visible is helpful. Paintbrushes are a good example. A bouquet of them is not only visually appealing, but their mere presence, displayed in that manner, invites you to pick one up and do something with it. Find a wonderful old pot, splash some paint on it and let your tools be part of your inspiring decor.

I also like to have a few bulletin boards on the walls. Most creative people seem to eventually collect LOTS of loose ideas, such as magazine pages, photos and scribbled notes on napkins. These tend to collect in the bottom of purses, in a box or, best-case scenario, in folders or a file drawer, never to be taken out and seen again.

Sandi Reinke is an author, frequent television guest and lead designer for loose ends (www.loosends.com), a Salem-based interior décor, garden, and casual lifestyle company. To ask Reinke a decorating question, e-mail info@looseends.com or mail her at the showroom address, 2065 Madrona Ave. SE, Salem, OR 97302. Phone: 503-390-2348.

I still keep that file drawer full of folders, but I do have wallboards where I can tack up something that currently is catching my fancy. It might be a picture that I find particularly inspiring, project ideas that I want to try in the near future and don’t want to forget or a quote I really responded to. The trick with the boards is to keep them relevant and ever-changing. Don’t let them become just another collection spot.

So, Dwila, how do you process? What gets your imagination really flying? What colors, shapes or objects do you feel good with?

It is not so much what the item is as how it makes you feel. Surround yourself with things that help you with your creative process, and don’t be concerned with what other people think you should have in a studio or work area. This is a space that is yours alone, and it should be filled with things that nurture your creative spirit. September 16 , 2005