Your garage is the perfect place for all kinds of work, from repairing home appliances to mechanical work to arts and crafts. It’s outside of the main part of the house, and you won’t have to worry about getting scraps or pieces on the carpet. However, it’s an enclosed space where you’re protected from the elements, and it’s spacious enough to allow you plenty of room to work. But in order to do your best work in the garage, you need a surface space where you can do the work, and that means a garage workbench.
You have several options when it comes to garage workbenches, but one of the first things that you’ll need to decide is whether you want your workbench to be freestanding or built into one of the walls of your garage. Take a look at some of the pros and cons of each option so that you can make your decision.
Freestanding Workbenches 
One of the biggest benefits of a freestanding workbench is that it can be made portable. All you have to do is add wheels and you can easily move the bench to where ever you need it. You may not think that you have much need to move your workbench around, but you may be surprised by how handy it can be to have the ability to move the bench when you’re cleaning the garage, when you’re working on a big project and need access from all sides, or when you move something into the garage that necessitates rearranging your current setup.
On the other hand, if you’re building your own workbench, a freestanding bench will probably require more material, which means that it may also cost more money to build. Plus, if you have very limited space in your garage, even a portable workbench may take up too much room.
Built-In Workbenches 
If you have limited materials and need to save on building costs, it can be simple and less expensive to make a built-in workbench that is attached to your wall. And if your space in the garage is limited, it can be easier to build a workbench into a corner or other small area than to try to fit in a freestanding bench. What’s more, when you build your bench into the wall, you can add pegboard or Slatwall panels to the wall in that area and easily give yourself more storage space for the tools that you’ll need when you’re at your workbench.
However, it’s important to remember that with a built-in bench, you won’t be able to easily move the workbench in order to approach your project from a different angle or reach a tool that you’ve dropped. And before you add a built-in workbench to your garage, you should be as certain as possible that you’re not going to want to rearrange the layout of the garage anytime soon.
Everyone has different workbench needs. Some people find that they need both freestanding and built-in workspaces. Take some time to consider your specific needs before you make your decision. For more great garage design ideas, contact us.
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