How to Design a Home Workshop | Home Guides

Build a workshop in your home to encourage creativity and promote tool organization. Hobby and craft projects deserve a dedicated space that will keep them safely removed from active spaces, such as kitchens and family rooms. Locate your home workshop in a dedicated corner of an existing room, such as utility room or garage, or in a free-standing building designed to take on large projects.

Workshop Wisdom

Start with a scaled floor plan or use an online program to create a room layout. Include existing windows, doors and other features, such as electrical outlets and overhead lighting locations. Create an inventory list of the main elements you want in your workshop, such as a table saw or storage cabinets. Experiment with several floor plans to maximize the available resources needed for specialty tools or equipment, such as a pottery wheel or a kiln. Verify electrical specifications and hired a licensed electrician to update existing wiring or lighting, as required. Counter-height bar stools are a practical seating choice in workshops that have counter-height workbenches and tables.

Specific Needs

A home workshop dedicated to a specific skill, such as automotive restoration or repair, requires equipment and tools that are readily available and well-organized. Store favorite tools in a rolling cabinet with a variety of drawer sizes to accommodate many items. Use a labeling gun to identify specific drawer contents and encourage proper tool placement. Add a pegboard and an assortment of hooks and storage components to organize items such as paintbrushes, hammers and hand saws. Include power strips on workbenches for rechargeable drills and other power tools.

Homemade Haven

To provide ample space for a variety of workshop activities, consider the hobbies and crafts of all family members. Children of all ages appreciate the dedicated space that a workshop provides to nurture their creativity. Include a wall with shelving and a bulletin board to display craft projects or pictures of personal masterpieces. Keep dangerous chemicals stored inside cabinets or on high shelves if toddlers have access to the workshop. Plan for a sewing corner to handle quick clothing repairs and fabric projects, such as throw pillows and homemade curtains.

Designer Tips

Choose flooring materials in a workshop for their durability and ability to forgive abuse, such as paints splatters and sharp edges. Spruce up cement and garage workshop floors with cement floor paint to handle spills and accidents with ease. Insulated tiles and certain types of commercial carpets minimize workshop noises and static electricity and are easier on the body than hard surfaces. Maximize lighting by locating workbenches or tables beneath natural and overhead light sources. Include a computer desk to access instructional videos that simplify your workshop projects.