The Cramp Room of a Cosplayer [room tour]

Hey guys! I'm here to share something I've wanted to do for awhile now. I know many cosplayers like myself are either living at home, with other people, or just have a really small space to work in and utilize. I want to share with you how I manage to create, store, and use 100% of my room for cosplay (and for my fandom merch lol). I'll have a photo of each part of my room with details as why it's functional. Hope you guys enjoy!

Here's a full shot of my room from my doorway. I live with my mom so my entire cosplay life has to stay within my room. It's a decent size room with a walk in closet but let me tell you, the more serious you get about your craft, the harder it is to keep everything in one place and organize!! I like showing off my convention purchases so I have a corner dedicated to my figures and any spots on my walls that aren't covered in racks have Zelda posters because I am Zelda garbage. From the outside, it looks like an average anime nerds room, but what you cant see, will remind you that I am in Cosplay Hell.

I do use the space under my bed to hold more bins and my suit case! I'm not kidding, every space here is used in some shape or form.

First up is my sewing table. I actually found this table at Habitat and thought it was perfect for what I needed. Plus it was the right size to fit against this weird wall. I mounted my TV up onto the wall and installed an electrical panel since this desk ways 10 million pounds, I would have no way to access the plug behind it. Not only does it free up floor space, it also keeps all the chords away from my work space vs the panel I have under my computer desk that I constantly kick (oops). 

I have only one sewing machine currently but when I had 2, the 2nd machine was on the other side. I used it mainly for embroidery. When it wasn't in use, it would go into a designated spot in my closet. I use the desk to cut fabric, paint, plan things, and assemble things. It's a pretty decent length. I also have it marked where 1 yard is for measurement purposes. It's a really nice sturdy desk and the storage those cabinets has is AMAZING.

Inside the cabinets holds all my patterns and short/unstyled wigs. The top drawer has all my patterns, they need to be organized better but as you can see, I have a lot (and I always buy more). It's easier to have them next to me while I work and plan new costumes because then I don't have to pull out bins to find them and have a huge mess like I used to. I keep other things in there to fill the space but at some point this drawer will be completely full of patterns!

The bottom drawer holds all my short and unstyled wigs, pony tail clip ons, wefts, etc. It's great for keeping things in a specific spot and not hanging somewhere. It's not that great organization wise since I have to dig to find the wig I need, but it's better than keeping them in bags like I used to! I also keep my plastic bags in there because everyone has bags inside bags SOMEWHERE in their house. Mine are here.

Here we have my bed side shelf. It's kinda a mess but somethings just cant stay organized. My chest holds some of my smaller cosplay props, my chest binder, my crafting supplies, etc. It's a great decoration but also great at hiding things. I keep my everyday stuff next to it like lotion, phone charging station, etc. Sometimes paint makes it's way up there lol.

The top shelf is my general stuff. I have my jewelry box that has mostly Lolita fashion accessories. I keep my 3DS there, paycheck stubs, pictures of my dogs that have passed, apparently a screw driver, and medicine. It's always good to have a place for your general needs. If I put cosplay stuff in every spot, it would be chaotic and I would lose my sanity.

The bottom shelf has those two bins. One holds all of my paint and the other holds crafting supplies, my horns, and probably a few other things. As a cosplayer, you gather up so much paint that it's hard to keep in one spot so I saw this bins for sale and figured it would do the right job. It's starting to over fill so I have to figure out some alternatives but for now, it works great. 

And I keep all my air fresheners on this shelf because cosplay rooms can get smelly because of all the paint, heating, etc. It's your best friend. Underneath the entire thing is where I store my craft foam also. It's a great spot, away from the dogs, and it uses up that space perfectly! Remember, the goal here is to use up ALL your space!

Next is my large shelving unit. I needed more shelves to put my wigs on but also to store all my sewing containers! It was a birthday present from my mom and it's been SO helpful. Now all my styled or really long wigs (or wigs with hats) have a place to hang. Most of my wigs tend to be shorter and not as styled, so I get away with keeping them in my drawer, but I know later down the road I'll run out of room again.

The middle shelf holds my box of notions, my pen jar, clothes my brother wants me to repair, and my game systems. I need to reorganize that whole shelf and figure out a better method of storing my notions, but it works for now.

The bottom shelf holds my thread cases and more notion cases on top of my jewelry container. It's easy to access when I'm sitting and don't have to get up to get a new bobbin like I used to. Tiny compartment containers are your best friend so PLEASE invest into them!

Beneath it all is WIP projects, my trash can, and my new T shirt form for my artist tables. It's a good place to keep something out of the way but if I don't clean it often, it gets really ugly looking and I start losing my stuff.

Next up is my most used corner: My computer desk. I have a bunch of my art related things here like my tablet. But this is where I do the most planning for my cosplays. You can see my figure collection and my beloved BJDs. This area is pretty much has no cosplay storage but it's a good place for me time vs my bed for nap time. The desk has an inside compartment where I keep paperwork, business cards, and other important files.

You cant really see it, but next to my desk is a filing cabinet. It holds my desktop and has a few mailing envelops beside it, but the first drawer is where I keep my older game systems, controllers, and chords. The bottom drawer has all my BJD clothing.

I like how this space turned out and like being in this corner when I'm not working on cosplays. That and I have a computer addiction. :^)

Closet time! I have a nice walk in closet that I have maxed out completely. I leave it open at all times so it flows nicely but I also use the door to hang some of my cosplay shoes and every day life shoes.

As you can see, there are only 4 bins here (each labeled). I cant fit anymore in there so when my fabric bins get too full (like one is right now)  I have to go through and throw away or donate to make more room. I also have my artist alley bin in there too.

I keep all my current run cosplays in here and whatever I do retire get piled up, put in a hanger bag, and placed in storage. I am one of those people who don't get rid of their cosplays because I am so attached to them. My storage unit outside also has more bins dedicated to old shoes, props, and my figure boxes. I also keep most of my power tools in there when I'm not making armor. My mom bought this shed 2 years ago and it's pretty much been consumed by my cosplays. Sorry mom lol.

I also use the shelf space on top with more cabinets. Here I keep all my binders, old drawings, notes, etc here for easy access and organization. On top of that is where I keep my fashion hats and my feather collar from Kageyama. I have to use a step stool to get to them haha.

Continuing down the shelf line, I keep a lot of misc things here. Such as more tools for prop making, my iron, Seth's armor, and those bags old smaller merch things like keychains and buttons while the other is a bag of stuff I am trying to sell. Behind that is a small box for all my technical boxes (like phone box, TV box, etc). I keep those for insurance purposes.

I want to reorganize this whole shelf but it's kinda hard since I have no idea where else to keep my armor.....I'll figure it out some day!

Another view from my closet, I told you I wasn't kidding when I said this closet is maxed. Here I keep more misc things like my video games, my prized Zelda display tower, books, manga, more WIP things, props, EVEN MORE Zelda related things. The pink shelf in the corner holds most of my manga but was also the former home of my 2nd sewing machine (but now my camera has claimed that spot). I keep my laundry basket in the corner next to some of my artist alley equipment. My closing dresses it also here and I even found room to keep my tiny ironing board! Anything that hands is a blessing.

I love keychains. So ones that I REALLY love I hang up while the rest sit in my closet. I use this little board, which in between my TV and door for notes and reminders. Like doctor appointments, potential cosplans, conventions, and my best friends wedding save the date card (I'm emotional over that). It's a good spot for notes and when I'm going through a con crunch, it's a good spot to keep a list of what needs to be done. During the con season, this board is COVERED in notes. Right now it looks really tame.

A random Moe appeared!

I use the space behind my door too. I keep my large scaled cutting board there and also my mirror. I use the corner and the mirror to do checks on cosplays as I'm working on them to make sure it looks alright on me. Having a little mirror has helped me so much you have no idea. And not having it mounted on a wall allows me to take it to another room if needed.

And that's it!

I hope you guys enjoyed my little room tour. I know I have a lot more space to use and that means taking down some of my beloved posters, but I haven't reached that point yet!

I hope some of my storage uses are helpful to you or give you some idea on how to tackle your own storage problem. I'm a little lucky because I have that shed, but it still gets hard sometimes! And now that I'm getting into armor making, it's going going to get harder and harder.

Thanks for reading, if you have room tours yourself I'd love to see them!