custom workbench Archives - Garage Tailors

The gift-giving season is upon us. If you’re a parent or grandparent, you may find yourself in need of a workspace where you can create or assemble toys and other gifts away from prying eyes. Or perhaps you simply want a workshop where you can work on crafts and hobbies. Your garage can provide the needed workspace and solitude.

Create Workable Space

If your garage is the family dumping ground for old toys, furniture and sports equipment, you might find it difficult to make room in your garage for your vehicle(s). Finding space for a safe, comfortable workspace in your garage probably seems like an impossible dream. However, integrating a slatwall organization system, like slatwall, into your garage reserves much-needed floor space.

Wall organization panels utilize movable shelves, hooks and baskets to store toys, tools, sporting goods and other items along vertical wall space. With most items stored neatly along the walls, you can carve out a back corner or sidewall to create workspace or a makeshift Santa’s Workshop.

Locate your new workspace near an existing electrical outlet. If your garage lacks sufficient outlets or enough power to accommodate your work, have additional outlets installed by a professional electrician. The use of extension cords should be minimized. If an extension cord is required, make sure it’s approved by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).

Standard incandescent overhead lighting is adequate if you do little more than park your vehicle in your garage. To create a functional workshop in the garage you’ll require directed task lighting. Ceiling-mounted spotlights and track lighting can flood a particular area with much-needed lighting. Tabletop or desk-mounting lightings provide focused lighting on your work surface. If you’ll be working beneath an overhead cabinet, under cabinet fluorescent lighting is a good option for creating directed task lighting.

You’ll also want to stay warm and cozy while you’re working. A fan-forced electric garage heater is a relatively inexpensive way to safely warm the space. There is no messy fuel to deal with and no open flame, so electric heaters are maintenance-free and easy to operate. Be sure to follow all of the manufacturer’s directions and don’t place the heater too close to anything combustible.

Now that you have a warm, well-lit corner of the garage, it’s time to find the perfect workspace.

Explore Workspace Options

The most essential component in your garage workshop will be the flat workspace. There are a variety of options for your work surface:

Custom cabinets.

A sleek, highly-flexible modular cabinet system like Contur Cabinets offers timeless design and highly-functional cabinets and workspace at an affordable price. Sturdy, adjustable shelves and spacious, lockable drawers provide ample space to store tools and materials.

Box store workbench.

A typical wooden or stainless steel workbench, available at any home improvement store, can provide a flat work surface, if additional storage isn’t needed. Carefully measure the space in your garage to make sure the workbench will fit. A bench with adjustable height is preferable, particularly if more than one person will be using the space. Opt for a model that has a footrest; this will help alleviate strain on the legs and back.

Reclaimed furniture.

For a quick fix, repurpose an old desk, table or dresser into a work surface for your garage. This is a great way to make use of that damaged piece of furniture you just can’t seem to let go of. If you don’t have a table or desk that’s the appropriate size or height, try garage sales or resale shops. Repurposing furniture and other items reduces your carbon footprint and gives new life to a treasured old piece. Just be sure that any standing workbench has an appropriate height, so as not to cause back or neck strain.

Made-to-measure workbench.

Creating workspace in your garage may seem hopeless if you have very limited space or an odd configuration. However, an innovative garage renovation specialist can create a custom or made-to-measure workbench to accommodate your space. Even in a small, one-car garage a fold-away workbench can provide the workspace you need.

For more tips on how to set up an ergonomic standing workspace, refer to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.

Plan for Next Year

A reclaimed desk or box store workbench can be an ideal short-term solution for assembling toys and other items in preparation for holiday gift-giving. However, if you’re looking for a year-round workshop for gardening, auto or bicycle maintenance or crafts and hobbies, these solutions might not provide the storage and space you require. Begin planning your garage renovation now.

A garage renovation specialist can maximize storage and workspace in your garage, creating a custom or made-to-measure workbench, if needed. Check out some of amazing garage transformations Garage Tailors Garage has done in the Greater Toronto area. Then begin thinking about how you’d like to use your garage in the year ahead. Whether your goal is to store all of your bikes, tools and lawn care equipment and still have room to park your vehicles or to create a bona fide workshop in your garage, we can help.

With the holidays quickly approaching, you’re probably still searching for a unique Christmas, Hanukah or Kwanza gift for that special person. If he or she enjoys spending time in the garage (or would like to), you’re in luck. We’ve got five gift ideas that will make your garage lover a happy camper.

Finally Being Able to Park the Car in the Garage

If the items stored in the garage have taken over, forcing you to park outside in the cold, give the gift of indoor parking space. Start by creating a viable plan for the space. Assess what you have stored in the garage. Decide what should be tossed (broken furniture, ruined paint, unusable items, etc.). Make a list of items than can be donated (furniture and sporting goods no longer needed, duplicate gardening tools, etc.). Then plan separate spaces for each type of item stored in your garage. For instance, create dedicated zones for automotive accessories, gardening accessories, sporting goods, etc. Determine if there is a need for additional storage space, like shelving. Make sure you have everything you’ll need on hand.

Now that your plan is in place and you have all of the necessary tools, it’s time to take action. If the job seems too big to tackle alone, make it a family affair or invite a few friends over. Bundle up, clear space for a portable heater, turn on your favorite playlist and begin executing your plan. First, eliminate or relocate as many items as you can. Once the space has been pared down, you’ll have more room to operate. Move everything to the perimeter, making use of shelving, hooks and baskets that will allow you to store items vertically. Continue until you’ve cleared enough space to park inside your garage.

A Workshop or Craft Space

Need a gift for a woodworking or gardening enthusiast? Consider creating a gardening or craft station inside your garage. A dedicated workspace for crafts and hobbies can be created relatively simply by re-purposing old furniture and cabinetry. First, determine where you want to locate the work area. Then reclaim the wall space by removing or relocating items. Next, create a flat work space. An old table or cabinet might do just the trick. If not, foldable workbenches or task desks are available at your local box store.

When planning your workspace, don’t forget to provide adequate storage for tools and other accessories. If a sturdier workspace or heavy duty storage is needed, modular cabinetry might be the best option. Modular cabinets, like European-style Contur Cabinets, offer a clean, modern aesthetic and plenty of hidden storage. Need a unique workspace solution? A garage renovation specialist can create a custom workbench.

Find Space for the Things Your Loved Ones Cherish

The amount of cherished items we own continues to expand, yet garage space remains fairly static. So how can you snag additional storage space for your loved one’s favorite things while conserving enough space to park your vehicle(s) inside the garage? Go vertical.

Don’t limit storage to the perimeter floor space. Instead, find ways to store items along the entire height of the wall. This can be accomplished with a wall organization system, like slatwall, which makes use of complementary shelves, hooks and baskets to display items neatly and attractively. Heavy-duty shelving units, available at big box or wholesale stores, can also provide vertical space.

Need even more storage space? Try looking up. Overhead space is an ideal spot for storing cherished, but rarely used items, like seasonal decorations, and large, bulky items like canoes, roof rack storage containers or leftover siding.

Give Athletes & Weekend Warriors Dedicated Space for Sporting Goods

Active families can easily fill a garage with all of their sporting goods. Bicycles, golf clubs, skis, hockey gear, bats, balls, kayaks, snowboards, lacrosse equipment and other items jockey for space throughout the year. When not stored properly, expensive golf clubs, skis and other equipment can easily be damaged. Smaller items, like balls, knee pads and helmets are frequently lost. Protect your investment and save precious time by creating dedicated storage space to house the sporting goods of your athletes and weekend warriors.

This can easily be accomplished with a wall organization system. Just add hooks, baskets and shelves to accommodate sporting goods. Then create dedicated baskets for each sport or family member. Many wall organization systems include storage solutions for specific sporting goods—like skateboard or kayaks.

Schedule a Consultation for a Garage Renovation

If organizing your garage seems overwhelming, or you’d rather have a professional renovate your space, consider enlisting the aid of a garage renovation specialist. Garage Tailors Garage specializes in garage transformations ranging from small organizational projects to major garage renovations. Contact us to discuss how you can give your favorite garage enthusiast the gift of a transformed garage space.

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Create Workshop Space in Your Garage