A lot of you are probably wondering why Javon ‘The Designer’ is writing about how to set up a workshop in your garage….

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Well… I’m not just writing about adding a workshop to your garage; I am also writing a series of posts about remodeling your home garage as a whole. I am writing it because I have a garage, a workbench, and a bunch of old power tools that I would like to update, and decided to bring you along for the process. 

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I have all of these things because I love to CREATE—not just on the computer. I enjoy making physical items. It’s kind of meditative to step away from the computer and use some different tools outside of Adobe. 

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Before I show you what I am planning for my garage, I thought I’d make this as helpful as possible for you, and walk you through all of the things you should know before you start designing your home workshop.

 

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Planning Your Garage Workshop

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Before you rush to buy tools or furniture, it's important to plan your workshop setup. And for those people who can’t wait to break out the credit card, I have a few links later in the article that will help fulfill your need to spend money. I am legally and morally required to say that those are… or will be affiliate links and I will be getting a very small percentage of your purchases, and if I get better at my negotiating skills you should be getting a very small discount on the price, and we can call it even.  

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Assess Your Needs

Think about the kinds of projects you'll be working on in your garage workshop. Are you primarily going to be woodworking, building furniture, or making home repairs? Each type of project requires a slightly different layout and specific tools, so assessing your needs is the first step in creating an efficient space. There are a lot of things you can do with your home garage but lets just focus on these three examples.

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Woodworking

Woodworking requires a mix of specialized tools to shape, cut, and finish wood. The essential tools include a table saw for precise cuts, a router for adding decorative edges or hollowing out wood, and a miter saw for angled cuts. A drill is necessary for drilling holes, while a sander helps smooth surfaces for finishing. For hand tools, a mallet, chisels, and a plane are useful for more detailed work. Additionally, a dust collection system is crucial to maintaining a clean and safe workspace, as woodworking produces significant dust and debris.

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Building Furniture

When building furniture, you'll need both power tools and hand tools to create strong, precise pieces. The core tools include a power drill for assembling pieces with screws, a miter saw for cutting wood at angles, and a circular saw for cutting large boards to size. A jigsaw may be used for intricate curves or cuts, while clamps are essential for holding pieces together during assembly. For finishing, a sander or orbital sander will provide smooth surfaces, and a woodworking vise will ensure secure positioning when doing detailed work like sanding or painting.

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Home Repairs

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Home repair projects often involve a mix of tasks, such as fixing plumbing, repairing drywall, or replacing hardware. For these jobs, you'll need a cordless drill with multiple bits for drilling holes and driving screws. A hammer is essential for general repairs, and pliers and wrenches are vital for working with pipes or tightening hardware. A stud finder helps locate structural supports behind walls for safe drilling or mounting. Utility knives are useful for cutting materials like drywall or carpeting, and leveling tools such as a spirit level ensure that your repairs or installations are aligned correctly.

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Measure Your Space

Now that you know what type of projects you will be working on, you need to figure out if it is possible to do that in your garage. Accurately measuring your garage is a crucial first step in setting up a workshop. Knowing the dimensions of your space will help you plan the layout, determine where to place equipment, and ensure everything fits without feeling cramped.

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Start by measuring the length, width, and height of your garage. If you plan to store large items like lumber or furniture, consider the vertical space as well, especially if you plan to install overhead storage or racks. Mark out areas for different work zones, such as cutting, assembly, and storage, while keeping in mind the need for ample walking space to avoid any accidents.

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A tool like the Bosch Laser Distance Measure can help ensure accurate measurements with ease. This handy device eliminates the guesswork, providing precise readings in an instant.

If you are like me and just want to speculate with some standard Garage dimensions take a look at the graphic below for standard sizes. Sizes may vary depending where you are in th country so just use these as a starting point.

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Budget Considerations

Budgeting for your garage workshop is crucial. While it’s easy to get excited about buying the best tools and equipment, it’s important to prioritize your purchases based on necessity. Start with the essentials—tools and storage solutions—and gradually add features as you go. I am currently working on a Budgeting Calculator for a Home garage workshop, I will update this article with the link once it is done. 

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Designing the Layout

Now that you’ve assessed your needs, measured your space, and figured out how much you can afford, the next step is to design the layout of your workshop. This step is my favorite part, so alow me to impress all of you none architects with my architecture skills. For everyone who is an architect, please don’t judge my plans too hard, I got kicked out of architecture school, I only know the basics. 

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I am going to use this example from an average-sized two-car garage sizes.

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Woodworking

Option 1

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/350295677279838058/

Insert - image of the garage plan - tools added blank - 

Insert - image of the garage elevation - tools added blank - 

I am inspired by this image I found on Pinterest. This layout may extend past the space between the garage door rail and the wall, but you may still be able to park two cars in your garage. 

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Option 2

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/80853755799914512/

For everyone who doesn’t care about blocking the parking space for your spouse, you can consider building what is known as the Ultimate Woodworking Workbench. These have wheels so you can roll the bench to the center of the garage when you are using it and roll it to the side when it is not in use. This is great if you don’t like being confined to a wall when building. But you will lose a parking space. 

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Building Furniture

I actually do not know what tools are needed to build furniture. Soo… if you are looking to build furniture in your garage, you will have to do your research on this one. I think you may be able to use the previous layout with the Ultimate Woodworking Workbench. It has Ultimate in the name so hopefully, you are able to fit your needs into that layout. If you find a better layout send me a DM and let me know so I can update this section. 

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Home repairs

Example 3

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/492649953265330/

Taking inspiration from this image I found on Pinterest. This layout only uses the space between the garage door rail and the wall that giving you plenty of space to park your two cars. 

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A closer look at my future workshop

There are several key features every garage workshop needs to ensure it’s both functional and comfortable. Let’s take a closer look at the woodworking example from option 1.

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Workbench

A solid workbench is the backbone of any workshop. When choosing a workbench, consider your height and the type of work you’ll be doing. A sturdy, level surface is crucial for assembling projects and working with tools. Look for a workbench with a built-in vice or one that can be customized for your needs.

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You can either build your own workbench or buy one. Below is the workbench I have. It would be cool to build my own workbench, but I already have this one and I have plans to integrate it with my storage in a way that allows me to either work on the wall or roll it to other parts of the garage.

 

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Storage

The more organized your workshop is, the easier it will be to find and access the tools you need. Consider the following storage solutions:

Pegboards:‍

Hang small hand tools like hammers, screwdrivers, and pliers on pegboards to keep them visible and easy to reach.

Cabinets and Drawers:‍

Store smaller items such as screws, nails, and parts in cabinets or drawers to reduce clutter.

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Overhead Storage:

‍Racks or shelves mounted on the ceiling are ideal for storing larger, less frequently used items like ladders, lumber, or seasonal tools.

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Rolling Tool Chest:‍

A rolling tool chest is a versatile storage solution, offering organized compartments for tools while allowing easy mobility to keep your essentials within reach during projects.

Lighting

Good lighting is essential in any workshop. A combination of overhead lighting and task lights will ensure your workspace is bright and free of shadows. Choose energy-efficient LED lights for their brightness and long lifespan. Overhead lighting should be bright enough to illuminate the entire workspace, while task lighting should be directed at your workbench or cutting area for precision.

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For overhead lighting, I plan to install Hex Lights for bright, even illumination, while task lighting will be provided by recessed lights embedded into the overhead storage, casting focused light directly onto the workbench.

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Dust Collection

Dust and debris can accumulate quickly in a garage workshop, especially if you’re working with wood or other materials that create dust. A dust collection system will help keep the air clean and prevent debris from interfering with your projects. You can purchase a standalone dust collector or integrate one into your power tools.

Conclusion

This is only a part of what I envision for my garage. My wife is really into having a home gym in the garage, so my goal is to create a space that has a workshop, gym, storage and a place for my random DIY things. All of these probably wont get built, but I really enjoy designing these spaces. 

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