How to Build the Garage Workshop of Your Dreams

Homeowners often designate the garage as their own personal workshop. Garages are the perfect fit for home improvement projects, repairs and other DIY tasks that you tackle. Having a garage workshop is extremely beneficial, but it's important that you build yours the proper way.



We know a thing or two about garages. Danley's has been building garages in the Chicagoland area since 1959. Follow our guide to creating the ultimate garage workshop of your dreams.

Organization and Safety

The first factor to consider when deciding how you'll build your garage workshop is organization. The last thing you should have to worry about when completing any project is wasting time looking for a certain tool. Garage organization can be done in a ton of different ways. It's important to lay out your garage in a way that makes sense to everyone in the home and makes it easy for everyone to access their belongings. Safety in the garage goes hand in hand with organization. Knowing where everything is and not leaving things lying around makes for a safer garage. Keep in mind your garage flooring. Use an epoxy covering or rubber tile system to keep the floor as slip resistant as possible. Safety is the most important factor when completing any projects in your garage workshop. It's important to practice good safety habits because injuries can happen very easily if you're not being careful. Once your garage is organized, you can really begin to plan your garage workshop.

The Workbench

The heart and soul of your garage workshop is your workbench. It's where you'll be doing the most work. You can either buy or build your workbench - whichever you prefer. There are a ton of different styles of benches to choose from as well as pre-made plans if you want to build one yourself. Your workbench surface should be sturdy enough to handle excessive wear and tear. It's important that the base of your workbench is solid enough to avoid knocked over. Whether you want drawers, shelves or saw stands is completely up to you. You need to think about the kinds of projects you'll be completing in your garage workshop and get a workbench that'll fit your needs.

Let There be Light

Having adequate lighting in your garage, especially around your workbench area, is extremely important. Of course, you need proper lighting for safety reasons so you can complete your projects without any distractions. Trying to make accurate cuts and similar tasks is difficult if you don't have bright lights guiding you throughout. Remember, when figuring out what lights to buy for your garage workshop, pay attention to how many lumens the bulbs have instead of watts. Lumens measure the brightness of a particular light bulb.

Electrical Power For Your Garage Workshop

In addition to garage workshop lighting, you must make sure your garage has enough electrical outlets and will be able to withstand the amount of electricity you'll be using. Your outlets should be easily accessible and not far away from where you'll actually be doing the work. You shouldn't rely on extension cords as they can become a tripping hazard if they're left all over the place. We're not saying to totally abandon extension cords, just limit the use of them in the garage. If you're not completely confident in your electrical skills, you should hire a professional to do any additional electrical work for your garage workshop. Even the slightest mistake while running new wires can lead to serious injury.

Garage Workshop HVAC

Since you'll be spending a lot of time in your garage workshop, it's imperative that you have proper heating, cooling and ventilation. The last thing you want is to be sweating in the summer or freezing during the winter while you complete projects in the garage. When you have a garage built by Danley's, it'll be made with double walls for twice the insulation. Regardless, you should have fans and proper ventilation for the summer months to keep your garage workshop cool and comfortable. For the winter months, keeping a portable heater in the garage is a good way to warm things up. Remember to always turn it off whenever you're not in the garage as they tend to use a lot of power and can be a fire hazard if left unattended.

Tools For Your Garage Workshop

Obviously, you're going to need tools for your garage workshop. Much like your workbench, the tools in your garage should be tailored to the types of projects you'll be taking on. However, every homeowner should have a base collection of tools to get you through most simple tasks that arise. As you become a more skilled craftsman, you can add more tools as you need them.

Storing Your Tools

Having an organized collection of tools is the next step in creating the ultimate garage workshop. Keeping your tools in a neat and organized manner will only make your life easier. Knowing where all of your tools are will not only help you complete projects more efficiently but it'll add to your garage's safety. Try to keep your tools off the workbench as much as possible. Storing tools on your workbench will pile up and take away space very quickly. This can be tough, especially when you're trying to get rid of clutter with lots of woodworking tools around like circular saws, chisels, a drill press and more. It's worth the effort to build additional shelving and storage space for those items to allow yourself more room to work as well as a better looking and well-organized workshop. Investing in a toolbox is a smart idea if you plan on growing your tool collection as you use your garage workshop more and more. The sizes and styles of toolboxes are almost endless so there's sure to be something out there for you.

Don't Forget a Little Entertainment

Most people like to listen to music or watch TV while they work on their projects. It keeps the mood light and gives you some background noise to enjoy instead of the commotion of tool noises. You can choose to go all out with a full entertainment system complete with stereo, TV and surround sound or get something simple like a portable speaker.

Your Dream Garage Workshop Doesn't Have to be a Dream

Having a workshop in the garage is a staple for a lot of homeowners. They make life easier and you can learn valuable skills along the way to help you save money by not having to hire someone else to do the job. The ideas are endless when it comes to designing your own garage workshop but there are some constants that everyone should follow. If you find that your garage just isn't in the right shape to be transformed into your ideal workshop, then Danley's can help you out. We've been building garages in the Chicagoland area since 1959 and can build you a custom garage to match your specific needs. Get a free quote today for your new garage so you can build the workshop of your dreams in your dream garage.