Imagine a perfect garage workshop with all the tools neatly put away in practical spots, no clutter, good lighting and plenty of space to move around and enjoy your hobbies to the fullest. This is a dream of many handymen out there. But it doesn’t need to stay a dream. No matter if you love to work on your car, mess around with plants or practice woodwork, it’s possible to create a perfect garage workshop that will fit your needs to the T.

Add extra electrical outlets

Before you start adding any tools and workbenches, it’s necessary to equip your garage with plenty of access to electricity. Most tools today are electric, so you will need plenty of outlets and adapters for tools, appliances, entertainment and lighting.

Light it up

Garages are not famous for being light and airy. However, improper lighting can make your DIY projects and hobbies inaccessible and even dangerous. Adequate lighting is key for designing a perfect garage and it will boost your productivity and safety. Track lighting is a practical and cost-effective solution. To accompany track lighting and eliminate shadows, add lamps and plenty of flashlights for when you need to focus on specific tasks and detailed work.

Plan your layout

Creating a proper garage workshop design is crucial before you start equipping the space with tools and machines. So consider will you be using the entire space for your handy work. Do you need space for heavy machinery like plastic shredding machine for waste processing? These machines require a little more space but are still very compact for their purpose of recycling and repurposing different materials like paper, cardboard or plastic. Make sure to leave space to store lumber, metal and pipes close the entrance.

Set up your workbench

No matter what you’re planning to do in your garage—pimp your ride, make furniture or tend to your plants—it’s impossible to do it successfully without a workbench. Your ideal workbench can be constructed or bought and placed in a way that fits your needs the best. When choosing a bench, pay special attention to the base and legs—it needs to be stable and sturdy enough to support sawing, hammering and heavy tools.

What does it mean to get a sturdy and stable bench? Well, the top surface should be made out of hard material that doesn’t dent (usually it comes down to hard wood or metal). There are also fold-down benches, perfect for small garages. No matter what you choose, focus on a heavy top and solid legs.

Consider cooling and heating

In most cases, garages are not insulated and are equipped with bad fixtures like doors and windows. What these will make out of your garage during the year is create a too-hot-to-handle summer environment and a too-cold-to-move-your-fingers winter environment. To create a cozy, safe and practical garage workshop, consider proper cooling, heating and ventilation. In most cases, handymen are satisfied with window air conditioning units for cooling and space heaters for heating. Make sure your windows are working properly, especially in case you often work with paint and gases.

Boost storage

It’s amazing how many tools we end up having in our garage over time, all of which need to be stored somewhere to make your work easier and to prevent injuries. Drawers and bins are the best places to store your tools because they protect both you and your tools while allowing good organization. Other great storage options are pegboards and wall magnets (perfect for easy access), tool boxes (mobile) and tool rolls (keep everything compact and protected).

It’s possible to turn your average garage into a DIY haven by using these tips as a guide. After a few tweaks to your space, you’ll have a workspace that inspires you and offers you safety, practicality and peace.

Guest Contributor: Diana Smith