Hobbies are an important part of our life, and a lot of us struggle with finding the space or right area at home to work on them. Whether your hobby is woodworking, bird watching, beer brewing or even something as simple as starting your own blog or working out, you’re going to need a space just for you to hone in on your new skills. Here are some tips on how to make your home fit your favorite hobbies no matter what they may be:
Discover Your Favorite Hobby
You might be wondering: what if I don’t know what my favorite hobby is yet? Well, the world is your oyster and you can begin to try out whatever hobbies might interest you, especially if you’re newly retired. If you don’t want to leave the comfort of your home, but still want to try something new, you can buy some books on bird watching as this can be an all season activity.
Check out my guide on winter bird feeding tips to make your backyard or home the perfect winter wonderland for all sorts of species of birds. If you’re interested in something more adventurous, test out different activities with your friends during your free time like hiking, camping, car shows, and more.
You could even take the leap and invest in something that’s been on your bucket list all these years such as creating that man cave you’ve always dreamed of having or traveling to the top golf courses in the country, but you’ve never had the time to do before. Once you find a hobby that’s calling your name, you can start looking for the best place in your home to start adapting for your hobby.
Create a Space Dedicated to Your Hobby
Some hobbies require more space and funds dedicated to it than others. For instance, some hobbies like bird watching only need a big window and a spacious landscape, whereas something like woodworking, beer brewing or painting might require a whole studio. When choosing a hobby that requires a lot of knowledge, make sure you seek education like a masterclass course or the proper certifications needed to ensure you can perform it safely.
If you’re really devoted to your newfound trade, invest into a space you can make your own, and start looking at what renovations may need to be done to create the perfect environment for you. Whether that may be finishing your basement, cleaning and repurposing your garage, or completely remaking a room, some serious blueprinting and remodeling will need to be done to fit your vision.
Finance Your Hobby
Now that you have the time necessary to develop your skills and you’ve picked out your at-home space, it’s time to start purchasing the necessary materials for the renovation and the hobby itself.
These more expensive hobbies such as woodworking or refurbishing cars, can sometimes cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, but by looking into your financing options it may be easier to afford than you think. Look at the money in your retirement savings, your monthly bills, and how much you estimate your hobby and renovation costs.
Then, create a budget to help you save for your “hobby fund”. From there, try to find different ways to save on other bills to help put more money in your pocket, like restructuring your home loan. A benefit of refinancing your house is that you can take the money you save from your lower monthly payments and slowly add to your new hobby fund. You can also cash-out all at once to get a lump sum of money to redo your space right away. This allows you to save money, while not breaking the bank or taking out an additional loan. Rather, you’re simply reestablishing your already existing plan.
If the project doesn’t need quite as big of a budget or you’re willing to wait a bit longer to make it happen, look into other simple ways to save. You should consider the 52 week challenge, which allows you to save money over time, starting small with just one dollar the first week.
Now that your finances are settled and you found the right location for your hobby, it’s time to get started on making your home fit your hobby.
Finding the right hobby for you is essential as everyone’s interests, time and finances are different. By trying new things on your own or with friends, you’ll be sure to come across the best fit. Don’t forget to make sure you’re fully committed to your hobby before taking the next steps and repurposing a space in your home to fit your new pastime.
With the holidays rapidly approaching, many of you may be thinking that it would be really great to have a dedicated craft space. Making handmade gifts for loved ones is rewarding. And, if you’re REALLY into crafting, you might think about selling your items on a platform like Etsy or Facebook Marketplace.
I’d love to know what you’re thinking. Leave a comment below!