Garage cabinets, workbenches and storage

Although the idea behind the domestic garage is to store a car or vehicle, these days the garage often acts as a multi purpose storage area and frequently a workshop and even a den. This means that most garages benefit from storage, a tidy appearance and frequently a bench or work surface for hobbies and home improvement projects.

Given this multi-activity use, there is an ever increasing number of companies that now produce garage cabinets, garage storage units, wall mounted shelves and compartments, and special floor and wall surface finishes for the inside of a garage.

Specific information about garage cabinets and storage units can be found here garage cabinets.

The result is that your garage need no longer be disorganised, poorly finished or untidy. Instead you can install garage cabinets that can be multipurpose, or intended for specific storage items like tools, fixings etc. These cabinets can be simple and functional, or stylish with aesthetics similar to those of kitchen units. They can incorporate draws, storage boxes or any other storage area and the design can be compact for limited spaces, or more extensive for larger garages.

Garage workbenches

The garage workbench has never been more popular. Today more people have hobbies that require the use of some kind of bench or worktop than ever before and with good lighting and a power supply the garage provides the perfect environment for these activities.

Most garage workbenches are strong and sturdy and intended for everything from joinery to metal working and small scale mechanics. With drawers and under bench storage they can hold tools and equipment as well as any item that is being worked on.

Many of these benches can be easily adapted to fit (or have connected) tools like lathes, fixed drills and wood working equipment. In fact many home workshops are almost as well equipped as those in commercial premises.

By using purpose specific lighting and even including additions like ventilator or extractor fans, the garage can become a comprehensive home workshop and an area from which you can undertake almost any home improvement or motor vehicle project.

Completing the garage design

If you really want to make your garage look good inside and out, there are a lot of things that you can do.

Firstly you can think about where you place and use your storage units and workbench. Good ergonomics will help your garage look good whilst maximising its space and keeping everything that you need accessible when you need it.

The obvious location for a workbench is at the end of the garage beyond the point where any vehicles are parked. This area normally has the biggest uninterrupted space and it is also normally the location for a window offering natural light and ventilation.

Cabinets (with doors or drawers) can be positioned close to the bench or, if space permits, down one or both side walls of the garage. Always bear in mind that you need adequate opening space for the doors and drawers.

In the USA, Canada and Australia, where garages are much larger than their European counterparts, many owners choose to give the floor and walls of their garage a smart and easy to clean finish. This normally involves the application of a special floor covering (e.g. an epoxy resin) or tiles. Both are tough, capable of resisting spills (e.g. oil) without staining and easy to wipe clean. They also look good and, in the case of tiles, you can select from a multitude of different tile designs.