When most people start woodworking, they don’t have a big space to work on projects. In fact, lots of makers who’ve been at it for years don’t have a large woodshop — but they’ve learned how to make their space work, no matter the size. If you have a small workshop, here are four easy ways to make the most of it.
1. Mobilize everything
One of the easiest ways to make the most of a small space is to make everything mobile. If it’s large equipment like a jointer, table saw, or router table, add a mobile base. If it’s cabinets or even a workbench, put heavy-duty casters on them. Being able to shift everything around means you can create more space for projects, clean more easily, and keep yourself from feeling overcrowded or claustrophobic when using machinery.
If you can’t put wheels of some kind on everything, you may also want to consider a mobile miter saw stand. Having a permanent place to use and keep your miter saw is what every woodworker wants, and if that place is also mobile, you’re really getting the best of both worlds.
2. Use ceiling and wall space whenever possible
If you can get it off the floor, do it. Having wall- or even ceiling-mounted storage is such a simple way to free up floor space and give you more room to work. Wall-mounted wood racks and peg boards are great ways to store lumber and tools, or you can build your own system of custom wall cabinets to meet your needs.
3. Develop an organization system
When you have limited space to work in, it’s important to have a place for everything and everything in its place. Keep similar tools grouped together, and make sure to store them in areas of the shop that make sense for how you work. Keep the tools you use the most in a convenient spot for easy access and quick cleanup.
Once you’ve developed your organization system, you have to maintain it. To make sure tools, equipment, and supplies don’t get out of place, create a process for putting everything back where it belongs every time you leave the shop. Eventually, it will become habit to put everything away and you won’t even have to think about it.
4. Make a plan for your space before you move in
If you’re wondering if you’re actually taking advantage of everything your small workshop could offer, it might be time to rethink your shop layout. Reach out to other makers with small shops to get their opinions on space-friendly ideas, and push your creativity in developing new kinds of storage to build.
Tools themselves can take up a lot of your shop space. To make sure you’re not losing precious space to unnecessary equipment, try to get tools that do double duty or fold up and store easily. Folding workbenches and transforming tool stands are a great way to save room without compromising the amount of work surfaces you have.
You have the skills and the space to build awesome projects — now it’s just how you use that space to get the most out of your shop.
For more information on space-saving tools, check out our selection of mobile bases, portable miter saw stands, and folding workbenches on our website.
