Look how an artist, a writer,Photographer, actress, and mom Sarah Greenman created an art studio in a weekend for under $300. Here’s what she had to say about her project. “Every design choice in my home was dictated by budget. I work from home as a freelance artist and have two kids, so most of the pieces in the studio came from thrift stores and dumpsters. I often work on large-scale pieces, and my office, which also doubled as a guest room, was simply too small. I needed a bigger space. Armed with a strict budget of $300, my husband and I transformed some of our rooms into an art studio over the course of a weekend. We converted a 18 x 18-foot garage, originally intended for two cars, into a creative space using existing furniture from other rooms in the house. The total cost of my renovated garage was $274, including about 2 gallons of paint and four new dining chairs.
Before the transformation we used thisThe space, a former garage, doubled as a TV room and a toy stash. It was dingy and drab. The previous owner had renovated the garage by bricking up the garage door, installing flooring, and covering the walls with faux wood. Since he did it himself, there was no insulation, so the walls were hollow in places, which left me struggling with spiders and geckos from time to time. The owner said it cost him about $600 to remodel the garage decades ago. After our renovation, the home office was transformed into a cozy studio where I can work, create art, and take photographs, and teach classes and workshops. The rug sits directly on the gently sloping cement floor, which adds interest to the composition of the art on the walls. I painted the walls Black Suede because I love dramatic art. Tip: Most art studios have white walls, which provide extra light and help keep the focus on the art. But the dark color scheme of the space can also be a great backdrop for artwork.
The garage is not insulated, which can sometimes be a problem.hot Texas summers and cool winters. An air conditioner in the corner often comes in handy. The sofa creates a cozy atmosphere in the living room and a social area for clients during seminars. Most of the furniture is purchased at thrift stores and consignment shops, so some pieces have some wear, giving it an antique feel. The gold brocade on the chair is torn at the sides, but a piece of faux sheepskin and a graphic pillow give it new life.
When I work in my studio, I likereference books and beautiful things at hand that stimulate my imagination. A coffee table, colorful pillows, a flower pot, books and works of art create a modern interior design.
The antique table takes center stage.I use it for meetings and seminars, work and sometimes for dinner when I am here for a while. The metal chairs were the only new furniture I bought.
In the corner I set up a work area, whichincludes my library of bookcases that have followed me everywhere since college. The small soft box is for my 3-year-old son’s toys, who often joins me when I work. I installed two pendant lights above my desk using fabric hooks and an extra-long extension cord. Pro tip: Get organized with two notepads, like the ones on the wall next to my desk. One lists the current day’s work, the other the next day’s to-do list.
I have arranged convenient storage systems for the necessary itemsthings. All my everyday files are easily accessible in a portable file station, which is basically an old basket. I can move it to my desk when I need more space.
I don't write in any particular place,so I brought a small portable table that keeps all my materials at hand. A ceramic vase from a thrift store is used for brushes and tools.
Canvases, art supplies andEasel always at the ready. The lampshade is my latest project, displaying the poem “Sonnet XVII” by Pablo Neruda, written in permanent marker. The poem starts at the top and spirals over and over, gradually moving into the shadowy lower part of the lamp. Tip: A used kitchen cart can be used to store paints, sprayers, and other art supplies, giving new life to an old object.
I moved the piano from the dining room, which givesI now have the freedom to play whenever I want without waking my family. The quote that hangs above the piano, "A stool is a family heirloom," is from beloved author Louise Bogan. "I bought a faded used signature at a yard sale for $5 and created an original using acrylic paint. An old antique typewriter holds my sewing machine and shares space with a cork bust I found in a store's junkyard." What a brilliant way to turn an unwanted space into the perfect studio!
Turning the old garage into a home office studio
