How to Convert a Garage Into a Work Shop

Decide what your new workshop will be used for. Go into the garage and visualize the setup that you want. Measure the space you have to work with, and check where the electrical outlets/light fixtures are. Sketch out your design. Graph paper, a pencil, and ruler work great, but if you want to go a little more high-tech, you can draw up 3-D plans using a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) program. Google SketchUp is a quality program that you can download for free.

Go to your local municipality to see if you need any permits. If you're just doing something as simple as cleaning out your garage and building a workbench, you shouldn't need a permit, but if you start knocking down walls or adding plumbing fixtures, you will. Your municipality will also be able to tell you what you can do yourself and what you'll need to hire a licensed electrician or plumber for.

Once the permits are approved, clean your garage out. Have any work done to the infrastructure of your garage (new doors, windows, flooring, plumbing, or electrical work) completed.

Install your workbench. You can buy one from a store like Home Depot or Lowe's, follow plans that you find online or in a book, or custom-build one to suit your needs. You can find a variety of free workbench plans at FreeBenchPlans.com.

Now that your workbench has been built, you'll need to store all of your tools. You can buy tool chests from retailers like Home Depot, Lowe's, and Sears, and store heavier tools and socket sets in them. Put up a pegboard along one of the walls to hang tools like saws, levels, yardsticks, paintbrushes, or trowels. Nail a 2x4 against a wall, the drive in nails partway to hang items like shovels, rakes, and brooms (measure the items before you install the nails). Use old glass or plastic jars like peanut butter or mason jars for items like nuts, bolts, nails, and washers.