I'm also going to share the workhorse tools and products most used in the shop and hope you find them helpful. *affiliate links are included - see my disclosure policy.
A Basement Workshop Tour When You Don't Have A Garage
In late December, while Mr. Frugalista was home on Christmas break, I decided to take advantage of the extra set of hands and have him help me get our basement workshop organized. I couldn't take rummaging through plastic bins to find things like screwdrivers and pliers any longer. So off to Home Depot we went to get a few sheets of pegboard. The pegboard hooks and hangers we already had, no surprise, in a large plastic bin!
Using leftover paint from our son's bedroom (he has now grown and a homeowner himself) we spray painted the pegboard for a punch of color and to add some energy to the workspace.
I can't tell you how nice it is to have all the hand tools hanging where I can see them!
At the end of my wall-to-wall work bench, I set up a packaging station to wrap small items that I sell and/or ship.
You can see my work table is well used by the layers and layers of paint. It's a six-foot folding banquet table from my Dad's former classroom (he taught automotive electronics).
The adjustable hydraulic mechanic seat on wheels underneath is a must have, I'd be lost without that thing!
I love these plastic wall mount storage bins we found at Home Depot to house my furniture hardware. I could use a few more of these.
On top of the white plastic, storage cart is something I could not live without in the workshop. When I'm working in here that Bluetooth speaker is blasting 70's rock (and I'm dating myself). Chances are if you try phoning or ringing my doorbell, I won't hear you because I'm singing at the top of my lungs and doing the hustle with a paint brush in my hand.
As you probably noticed, I love to line drawers with paper but the problem was I had them stacked on a shelf and they were collecting dust. Mr. Frugalista came up with the clever idea of taping two garbage cans together, cutting the bottom off the top one to make a swing door using nylon zip ties for the hinges. It may not look very professional but it works like a charm!
Before my chalk paint was stacked three deep and one on top of the other. A real pain when you wanted the back bottom can. My neighbor, a.k.a. the furniture fairy gave me a small bookcase that worked perfectly for storing cans of paint and supplies.
The metal file cabinet beside it holds small stencils, printed graphics, and decals that I use on furniture pieces.
I had nowhere to hold small jars of paint and various supplies that I use on a regular basis. We repurposed a wall mounted shelving unit that we made for our son's room to display his Maisto Diecast Car Collection and it gives me loads of storage.
Tip:
Many of you asked about the containers I use to store my twine, jute, and rope - you can see those on the top shelf on the far left. Pringles containers with a hole in the center of the plastic lid, using a hole punch, are perfect for storing these.
The workbenches were made by our son when he was still living at home. This used to be his mountain bikerepair custom rebuild space. Hence, the bike part related stickers you'll see scattered around the workshop.
The shelves are repurposed bi-fold doors on metal shelf brackets that run the length of the room. So handy for holding power tools, etc. You'll have to forgive the clutter in the photo below as it was taken last week during the frenzy of preparing for the outdoor market on the 23rd. Pretty much all the furniture and jewelry boxes in the picture below are finished and ready to take.
Our house is a bi-level so it's great having large basement windows that bring lots of much-needed light into the room. We added more shelves above the windows for scrap lumber and trim storage.
One day I may get around to finally painting the concrete floor and replacing the ugly beat up ceiling tiles but like I said in the title of this post, she ain't pretty but she's functional!
Last but not least I have to introduce you to my Shop Assistant, Sexy Rexy. He's cute, he's cheap, but he naps on the job a lot and spends far too much time at the catnip salad bar.
Only a consummate DIYer would give up such valuable real estate for a workshop. This would make an amazing family room but when you don't have a garage and don't have a spot to build one, then you do what you gotta do!
I have tools that I cannot do without in the workshop and so I thought I would share some of them with you today. Not all are the same brand that I have but that is because some are only sold at specific Canadian retailers. Every workshop should have at least one of these...
There are a lot of products that I use on a daily basis and can't do without. I'm sharing a few of my favorites here...
I hope you enjoyed the tour and found some of my storage solutions helpful. If you have any questions, don't be shy and either leave a comment below or email by pressing the Contact Me link at the top of my blog.
As you probably noticed, I love to line drawers with paper but the problem was I had them stacked on a shelf and they were collecting dust. Mr. Frugalista came up with the clever idea of taping two garbage cans together, cutting the bottom off the top one to make a swing door using nylon zip ties for the hinges. It may not look very professional but it works like a charm!
Before my chalk paint was stacked three deep and one on top of the other. A real pain when you wanted the back bottom can. My neighbor, a.k.a. the furniture fairy gave me a small bookcase that worked perfectly for storing cans of paint and supplies.
The metal file cabinet beside it holds small stencils, printed graphics, and decals that I use on furniture pieces.
I had nowhere to hold small jars of paint and various supplies that I use on a regular basis. We repurposed a wall mounted shelving unit that we made for our son's room to display his Maisto Diecast Car Collection and it gives me loads of storage.
Tip:
Many of you asked about the containers I use to store my twine, jute, and rope - you can see those on the top shelf on the far left. Pringles containers with a hole in the center of the plastic lid, using a hole punch, are perfect for storing these.
The workbenches were made by our son when he was still living at home. This used to be his mountain bike
The shelves are repurposed bi-fold doors on metal shelf brackets that run the length of the room. So handy for holding power tools, etc. You'll have to forgive the clutter in the photo below as it was taken last week during the frenzy of preparing for the outdoor market on the 23rd. Pretty much all the furniture and jewelry boxes in the picture below are finished and ready to take.
Our house is a bi-level so it's great having large basement windows that bring lots of much-needed light into the room. We added more shelves above the windows for scrap lumber and trim storage.
One day I may get around to finally painting the concrete floor and replacing the ugly beat up ceiling tiles but like I said in the title of this post, she ain't pretty but she's functional!
Last but not least I have to introduce you to my Shop Assistant, Sexy Rexy. He's cute, he's cheap, but he naps on the job a lot and spends far too much time at the catnip salad bar.
Only a consummate DIYer would give up such valuable real estate for a workshop. This would make an amazing family room but when you don't have a garage and don't have a spot to build one, then you do what you gotta do!
I have tools that I cannot do without in the workshop and so I thought I would share some of them with you today. Not all are the same brand that I have but that is because some are only sold at specific Canadian retailers. Every workshop should have at least one of these...
There are a lot of products that I use on a daily basis and can't do without. I'm sharing a few of my favorites here...
I hope you enjoyed the tour and found some of my storage solutions helpful. If you have any questions, don't be shy and either leave a comment below or email by pressing the Contact Me link at the top of my blog.
OR 