Are you tired of never having enough space for your projects?
Imagine having somewhere to go whenever you want to work on that to-do list. With your own workshop area, you can finally build that bird house… or umm table. Whatever project you’ve been putting off, you can conquer it in your space.
The issue:
Most homeowners don’t have the luxury of an extra room to turn into their dream workshop. Instead, they try to cram their hobbies into an already busy garage.
Here’s the deal…
According to a recent CRAFTSMAN survey, garages in America are so cluttered 36% of owners don’t even have enough room to park their vehicles.
Your garage is supposed to store your car?!
Portable storage buildings are the perfect solution. Build yourself one of these bad boys and now you have two options for storage. Getting a proper metal building set up gives you your own special place to work without giving up your garage.
Interested in learning how to design the perfect workspace?
Let’s get into it.
What you’ll learn:
- Why Work Spaces Are So Important
- Finding Your Perfect Portable Storage Building
- Building a Workshop from Square One
- How to Maximize Your Workshop Space
Why Work Spaces Are So Important
Picture this…
You have a proper area to spread all your tools out. Not worried about putting everything away at the end of the day. Your new hobby isn’t crammed in the corner of your garage barely touching your uncle’s mower.
Well, you can make that a reality.
Demand for personal workshops is at an all-time high. In fact, the US outdoor storage market is expected to reach $3 billion by 2029. There’s never been a better time to build out your own space.
Storage buildings give you:
- Total independence from your house. Work at your own leisure.
- Privacy to work late nights or weekends.
- More space than you know what to do with.
Oh and don’t think these little hobby spots cost a fortune. You can easily build a decent storage unit for a few thousand dollars.
Finding Your Perfect Portable Storage Building
All storage buildings aren’t created equal.
Before jumping into design, let’s talk shop. What are you going to be using your space for? Building furniture is going to require different tools than repairing your cars.
Ask yourself these questions:
- What tools will you be utilizing? (Power tools need power outlets.)
- How much room do you need? (Don’t sell yourself short here.)
- What will you be making? (Some materials need special storage conditions.)
Some of the most common home workshops include:
- Metal buildings
- Wood buildings
- Plastic/resin storage buildings
Metal storage buildings take the cake when talking about workshops. They can house heavier storage like power tools and provide more security with heavy-duty locks.
Building a Workshop from Square One
Time to get into the nitty-gritty details.
Before diving in you should know…
This isn’t a one-size-fits-all kind of plan. Your workshop is unique to you and your hobbies. Use this guide to light a path, but don’t be afraid to venture off into unknown territory.
With that being said, here are the most important workshop essentials.
Electricity is everything.
When running power tools all day you’re going to need ample power sources. Don’t cheap out on your electrical capacities. You’ll want multiple outlets for your tools.
Make sure you plan for 220v outlets as well. Tools like table saws require more power. (The same goes for your welder if you’re doing some metal working.)
Additional things to consider:
- Drop down lighting above your work areas
- Lamp lighting at key stations
- Plenty of outlets in multiple locations
- Heavy duty circuit for your dust collector
Your floors matter.
Who knew you’d be spending so much time standing? Save your feet by adding some soft flooring. There are specific mats made to combat fat-pad atrophy. (Read: standing for long periods of time)
You can also buy flooring materials that connect together to form one large coating. Epoxy flooring is cheap and looks pretty good. Bonus tip: they’re easy to clean.
Get storage OFF the ground.
Wall-mount everything. Don’t clutter up your work areas with storage containers on the floor.
Pegboards, slatwall panels and overhead racks help keep everything accessible but out of your way.
Workbench placement
You’ll want to build your main workbench near the best source of natural light. Don’t empty just for looks, natural lighting provides better visibility for your projects.
The last thing you want is to make a rookie mistake because you can’t see what you’re doing.
How to Maximize Your Workshop Space
This is where most people fail…
After they build their handy dandy workshop, they don’t think about how they work. People get caught up with making their workshop look pretty on social media.
Not your workshop.
Break up your workspace into sections.
If you have an assembly section don’t put your cutting area next to it. Sawdust and fresh wood glue do not mix. Place your stain and finishing workspace away from your tool area.
Think about the flow of your work.
Your raw materials should enter one side of your shop. Get assembled in the middle. And completed projects should exit on the opposite end.
Why roam around your entire shop when you don’t have to.
Climate control is your friend.
Garages and portable buildings are terrible at staying comfortable. During the summer it can get blazing hot in there. If you don’t have heat or air conditioning your spendable seasons go down dramatically.
A simple window AC unit and space heater can change that. (Don’t forget ventilation either.)
You’d be surprised at how much dust builds up in there after running your saw for 8 hours.
Think about security.
Don’t make it easy for people to break into your new workshop. Invest in some nice deadbolt locks. Preferably motion-sensor lights too while you’re at it.
Small alarm systems can be found at your local hardware store.
Leave room for expansion.
Your project list will only grow once you build your perfect space. You think you’ll be doing woodworking? What happens when you get side-tracked into restoring antique furniture… or metalworking?
Plan for excess room and storage now. Don’t have to tear down walls later.
Neat right?
The beauty about portable storage buildings is they can be moved. If you downsize or decide to build a mansion, you can take your workshop with you. Not only that, but you can upgrade or add-on later as your needs change.
Building a permanent structure is a big financial commitment. Something that isn’t required with portable storage buildings.
Wrapping It Up
Investing in your hobbies is never a waste.
You’ve opened up a world of possibilities. No more lingering projects or half-assembled furniture. You have all the space you need to perfect your craft.
Quick recap:
- Invest in something that fits your hobbies. Don’t just buy something because it’s cheap.
- Think about your workshop before you build. Electricity and Lighting are key.
- Design your space around how you work.
- Don’t forget climate control. And always think about security.
The culture of DIYers is continuing to grow across the world. Particularly here in the US. Making sure you have the right space to hone your craft is crucial.
Don’t wait any longer. Design your dream workshop today.
Happy building.
