Getting ready to transform your garage from a cluttered storage space to a fun, custom garage workspace for hobbies of all kinds? If you’re like many people, your garage is one of the least organized spaces in your home. With the right organization strategy—and the right fixtures and features—it’s easy to turn even the most chaotic garage into a space you’ll love to be in.
Follow these five professional tips to create your own custom garage workshop:
- Create a designated workspace
- Add power sources
- Create smart storage
- Provide plenty of light
- Invest in high-quality, modular flooring
Read on to learn all about how to create your custom garage workshop.
Create a Designated Workspace
Start by picking a suitable spot for your garage workshop. If you’re working with a two-car garage, it’s smart to use one side for a workshop and the other for parking. Or maybe you have some extra storage space at the back of your garage that could be better utilized. No matter where you set up shop, make sure there’s plenty of room for your tools and materials, as well as space to move around.
Consider the layout of your potential workspace and try to create a flow that helps you seamlessly move from one job to the next. If you have enough space, that could mean creating separate areas for different types of work, like a dedicated spot for woodworking, painting, or electronics.
Add Power Sources
As you carefully plan an ideal layout for your garage workshop, consider the placement of power sources. If you have an older home—or if your garage simply doesn’t have enough outlets or power sources—you’ll need to plan for all the power sources you’ll need.
Generally, if you plan on working with large power tools, you’ll need a parallel electrical system with a dedicated circuit breaker. This is a smart investment since a short circuit could blow power to the entire house. Also, consider proper storage of any combustible elements at this step to prevent the risk of fire in your garage.
Create Smart Storage
An efficient garage workshop is an organized one, and you need to invest in and install all the organization features you need to keep your tools and materials in order. Depending on the type of work you’re doing--and how much you need to store—you should add any of the following smart storage options to your workspace:
Mounting modular, wall-mounted garage storage systems, like the Slatwall storage system, allows you to store both heavy and light items while freeing up floor space.
Invest in high-quality, customizable cabinets that integrate with your workbench and provide storage for equipment and materials of all sizes.
Install overhead storage racks to hold a wide range of items and free up valuable floor space in your custom garage.
Provide Plenty of Light
Whether you’re a woodworker, painter, or hobbyist of any kind, you need ample light to see what you’re doing. If your workspace doesn’t get ample natural light—or if you plan to work after dark—install fluorescent lights on the ceiling. They provide plenty of light while conserving valuable floor space. You should also invest in task lighting fixtures that focus light on the specific areas you’ll be working. Bob Vila has some tips for choosing the right lighting for your space.
Invest in High-Quality, Modular Flooring
Garages see plenty of wear, tear, and abuse—with vehicles and equipment coming and going, it only makes sense that your garage floor may be cracked, stained, and unsightly. While you could invest in a costly, permanent coating for your garage floor, interlocking modular tiles can be a more affordable solution.
Swisstrax tiles can cover every square inch of your garage and are customizable to complement the look of your garage. They're slip-resistant, too, so you don't have to worry about you or your family sliding around if you track in some rainwater or if there's a water spill.
Conclusion
There are plenty of factors to consider as you create your custom garage workshop. From layout to fixtures, lighting to flooring, make a comprehensive plan for your personal workspace and remember that staying organized is critical in making the most of your space. By investing in the right storage and organization systems and features, you can keep your tools and materials organized and focus on pursuing the hobbies and passions you love most.