Garages are well suited to become the home base for an excessive amount of your belongings, but what if, after a bit of spring cleaning, you notice that you finally have that extra floor and wall room to create the workshop you’ve always wanted. Garages are the perfect place to set up your messier hobbies. They’re relatively easy to clean, can be wired for adequate electrical power, and give provide your projects with shelter. So why not turn your garage into a simple, fully functioning workshop this summer?
What Will You Need?
The ideal workshop can be created on a relatively tight budget, and although each individual will have their own ideas for that workspace would include, at the bare minimum, you’ll likely need:
- A workbench
- Shelving
- Cabinets
- Amble lighting
All of which can be assembled for less than $600 if you plan to upcycle and build fixtures on your own. You can, of course, amp up your space if need be. After all, if you don’t find the space suited to your needs, you probably won’t use it. You should enjoy your workshop, and we’ll show you how!
Creating a Workbench
First things first, you’ll need a solid surface to work from. This surface or “workbench” should be as rock-solid, steady, and heavy topped as they come. Ask yourself, are you wanting to purchase a bench that’s premade, or are you willing to build it yourself?
1. Buying a premade workbench.
On the low-end, you can easily find a workbench for as little as $100, with prices increasing to about $500. Benches come in various lengths but are usually about 24 inches deep. Although the typical height of a workbench is 38 inches, figure out what will be most comfortable for you and your projects. You might want something as short as 35 inches, or as tall as 42 inches.
Pre-fabricated benches often include their own drawers and shelving, but if you’re on a budget, look for something barebones. Check out local online marketplaces to see if established workshops are looking to get rid of their old workbenches. If you don’t mind a used bench, you can find one of high quality for a reasonable price.
2. Building a workbench yourself.
If you’d rather build a workbench on your own, there are readily available plans on the internet as well as at home improvement stores. Simply put, a workbench doesn’t have to be physically fancy, but it does have to be sturdy and functional. Materials shouldn’t cost you more than $150. Check out handyman magazines and websites for detailed instructions on building simple benches.
Before you begin your build, figure out what is essential for its ease of use. Will you be building drawers as well? Will your bench need specific stands, or space for a miter saw? If your bench build requires a fair amount of complexity, the cost of materials will be significantly more and the build will take you more than a few days to build.
Building Storage
Planning out a workshop means saying farewell to lost bolts around the garage and coffee tins filled with random screws. There’s no need to rummage through unkempt storage when there are endless possibilities for usable storage.
1. Get trendy with it.
Go for wall mounted storage units, or modular systems for a modern look that allows for ultimate customization. With shelving and cabinetry that can be configured to your needs, you can add more modules as you see fit.
2. Upcycle old cabinets.
Old kitchen or bathroom cabinets are an excellent way to upcycle otherwise unusable cabinets. Search around for businesses that specialize in repurposing or salvaging old building materials. Get creative! If you find several sturdy cabinets, you can add plywood to their tops to create another durable work surface.
Lighting
No workshop is complete without adequate lighting. Bright, ambient light can make or break your space but doesn’t require an arm or a leg to get right. Whatever lighting fixtures you choose, remember to think about lighting brightness (lumens) rather than power (watts).
1. High-Intensity Lights
These lights are perfect for overhead lighting or for task lighting on your workbench. Even better, most high-intensity lights can be put on resilient goose-neck fixtures to make it even easier to control where your light source is aiming. Go for:
2. Recessed Lighting
If you’re looking for softer overhead lighting and your garage has a finished ceiling, try inexpensive recessed lighting fixtures. Recessed lighting is excellent to create an ambient atmosphere.
This post first appeared on https://utahgaragedoors.net