11 Simple Ways I Keep My Home Pottery Studio Clean, Calm and (Mostly) Under Control

I painted my home pottery studio in the same soft neutral beige we have throughout our home. It helped keep the space connected to the rest of the house and gave the room a soft, calming feel.

And honestly? You don’t really see the clay splashes on the wall — which is a nice bonus.

I really believe a peaceful colour makes a big difference — even if you're working from a shed or a small spare room. The space doesn’t have to be perfect, but it should feel good to be in.

I recommend choosing a soft, natural tone you already love or use elsewhere in your home. Something that feels familiar and grounding from the moment you walk in.

From the beginning, I wanted this space to be just for making. No storage, no boxes, no random stuff — just clay, tools, and work in progress.

The only thing I’ve let in? A few tiny clay pieces my kids made. They always make me smile.

Keeping it clear helps me stay focused. And if something doesn’t belong… I move it out.

I built my main workbench myself so I could make the best use of the room. I planned it to fit how I like to work — and it’s still one of the best decisions I made when setting up my home pottery studio.

I also added a few simple wall shelves to store lighter items. Nothing fancy, just functional — and I painted the edges black to match the BROR shelves, so everything feels calm and cohesive without being too matchy.

If you’re not in a position to build things yourself, that’s totally fine. Just go for pieces that fit your space well and don’t overcomplicate it. A sturdy table, a few shelves, and a layout that makes sense for you is more than enough.

Having a home for each tool makes everything run smoother — especially when you're juggling lots of tasks in a small pottery business.

My trimming tools are together, my throwing tools have their own spot, and all my brushes live in one container. I also keep my glazes organised on rolling dollies so I can move them around easily when I need them, and tuck them out of the way when I don’t. It’s made glazing days much more efficient, and keeps things from piling up in the wrong places.

I set up my wheel and worktable near a window to get as much daylight as I can — it makes a big difference when trimming, glazing, or just staying focused.

For darker days or evenings, I use this rail lighting system  with adjustable spots, which lights the whole studio evenly.

Next to my table, I also use the  TERTIAL desk lamp  from IKEA — it’s flexible, simple, and perfect for detail work.

Good light really changes how a space feels — and how long you can comfortably work in it.

This one habit changed everything. I keep a cloth in my water bucket and take small moments — after trimming, between throwing, before glazing — to wipe down my space.

It keeps the mess from building up and helps me mentally reset between steps.

In the beginning, I kept everything — failed glaze tests, cracked bowls, pieces I wasn’t sure about. But it slowly started to weigh the studio down.

Now I’m much more honest with myself: if I’m not going to use it or sell it, it goes. It’s easier to think and work when the shelves aren’t full of things I don’t need.

At the end of the day, I take a few minutes to wipe down the bench, rinse my tools, and stack things where they belong. I don’t clean the wheel every day — usually every few days, unless it really needs it — and I don’t mop the floor daily either. But I do remove any large bits of clay or splashes so it doesn’t build up.

It’s not about being perfectly tidy — just keeping the space workable. That small reset means I can walk in the next day and get started without feeling like I have to clean before I can create.

Every few months, I walk through the studio and look at what’s actually working. Do I still use that shelf? Is that tool always in the way?

My wife usually helps with this (and enjoys it way more than I do). We move a few things around, and it always makes the space feel lighter and more in tune with how I’m working at that moment.

I also do a proper clean and reset after each shop update. Once everything’s packed and shipped, it feels like the perfect time to tidy up, reclaim clay, and set the studio up for a fresh start — ready to begin again.

Whether you’re running a small pottery business or simply enjoying it as a hobby — there’s always some admin involved. Orders, notes, glaze recipes, lists, ideas... it can pile up quickly if you don’t have a system.

I’m lucky — my wife is amazing at organising, and thanks to her, everything has its place. Glaze recipes are neatly written in a notebook, I use a physical diary to plan my weeks, and all the small things like labels, pens, and tape are easy to grab.

I also keep packaging out of the studio completely. I’ve set up a small area in our attic where I pack all my orders — that way it doesn’t take up space where I work. There’s a reel about it on my Instagram… and I’ll be writing a full blog post about it soon. 

As you’ll see from the photo at the start of this blog — and in some of my older Instagram reels — things have changed a lot since the beginning.

The core setup is still the same, but I’m always tweaking little things. Moving tools, adding workspace, reorganising shelves, making space for new habits or letting go of what I don’t use anymore.

Your home pottery studio doesn’t have to stay fixed. Let it grow with your process. It’s not about getting everything perfect — just creating a space that works for the way you work right now.

That’s what keeps it exciting.

If you're building or refining your own home pottery studio, remember: it doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to help you do what you love.

A few calming choices, a bit of order, and some daily rhythm go a long way — especially when you’re running a small pottery business where your space is your engine.

Start small. One shelf, one habit, one wall colour. You’ll feel the shift.