Transform Your Home Garage into a Productive Workspace for Your Creative Endeavors
In medium to large-sized houses, the garage is typically a space owned by those wanting to store their vehicles. However, it turns out that the garage can be used not only as a storage area but also as a productive workspace, commonly known as a workshop. Curious about how to design it yourself? Here's how to transform your vehicle garage into a workshop area.
1. Clean Your Garage
The first thing to do to make the garage usable is to remove all unnecessary items like household appliances. Differentiate between household items and tools for the workshop. The garage storage area should be utilized with tools that can be useful for building or repairing something. Safety is paramount in a workshop area. Remove items that could be hazardous. Organize the placement of necessary tools and equipment.
2. Design Your Workbench
Every workshop needs a workbench to repair or create small parts. Whether you build it yourself or buy a workbench, it should have a strong and stable construction. The legs of the table should be sturdy, and the tabletop should be durable. The material for the workbench will vary depending on the workshop projects you plan for your garage.
3. Choose Suitable Storage
In managing a workshop, the primary investment is in equipment. The price of equipment is not cheap, so it should always be kept safe and well-maintained. Therefore, high-quality storage that can be locked if necessary is needed. The storage will have safety foam or hanging areas for the equipment, preventing them from piling up.
You can also design storage on the garage walls to place frequently used tools, making them easy to access and locate. Simple wall storage will facilitate your work.
4. Ensure Easily Accessible Power Sources
For power sources, avoid placing electrical cables on the floor. This can sometimes pose a high risk if tripped over or stumbled upon. Utilize the walls or ceiling for electrical outlets. If needed on the floor, direct the cables to pass along the garage walls to avoid hazards while moving around the workshop.
5. Adequate Lighting Inside the Space
Home garages are usually very dark, requiring adequate lighting to design a productive workshop. Lighting from spotlights arranged on tracks on the ceiling can be an easy choice for garage lighting. However, this lighting can be inconvenient when the light source is behind you, causing shadows on the objects you're working on.
Therefore, additional lighting that is good for the workshop is needed. Fluorescent lights placed on the ceiling are hard to beat due to their economical cost and brightness. Desk lamps are also needed on the workbench to assist you when working on tasks that require focused lighting.
6. Heating and Cooling for the Garage
Garage spaces usually lack proper insulation. This will make your garage very hot in the summer and very cold in the winter. To make your work more comfortable, install indoor heating or cooling systems.
7. Choose Durable and Easy-to-Clean Flooring Materials
Garage floors are usually not well-thought-out because they are just used for storage. However, if you decide to make it a workspace, the floor will often be walked on or used for various activities. Choose floor coverings with a smooth surface for more comfort when standing for long periods. Additionally, easy-to-clean floors will save you from worrying about stains left on the garage floor.
8. Equip Your Workshop
As mentioned earlier, workshop equipment is an investment for workshop owners. The more complete the workshop equipment is, the better it will be for your workspace. However, keep in mind the size of the room. Do not buy equipment that will take up a significant amount of space as it will disrupt your activities. If you don't have enough storage space but need certain tools, you can rent them from a nearby store or equipment rental service.
9. Include Entertainment
While working, you may sometimes encounter things that make you feel bored. Therefore, equip your garage with entertainment equipment like speakers to listen to music. Place a flat-screen TV on the wall or a computer monitor so you can enjoy entertainment like watching movies or news.
10. Ensure Air Quality with Ventilation
Ventilation is one of the important things to consider. Air needs to enter and exit the garage to make the space cooler and more comfortable. The use of an exhaust fan is a good option for the garage. With this fan, hot air and dust will be sucked into it, creating a safer working environment.
Source: lifehack
