After their daughter Savannah was born, Liz Small and her husband, Eric, finished their basement and added a crafting space. They wanted to make room for both Savannah and Liz, a graphic designer for Terry Bicycles, to get creative.

Liz says a Pottery Barn desk inspired the space, though she ended up buying most of the supplies at Michaels and the Christmas Tree Shops for just $75. "I'm a do-it-yourselfer," she says.

Now 4, Savannah loves to spread out her paints and paper on the desk, and the Smalls love that they can keep those supplies organized. A big bonus: Because the living room is adjacent, Liz can make cards while Savannah plays, or Savannah can paint while Liz folds laundry. Pretty crafty, indeed.

• Jim Deshler

• A repurposed door makes for an extended work surface.
• Art supplies are sorted into easy-to-reach buckets.
• Scissors are stored up high, where kids can't get to them.
• Wrapping paper and ribbon hang from dowels on the wall.
• Paper lanterns add light and color.
• Old-school desk, a roadside find, is a work space just for kids.