Hi,
Interesting old "Ford"? project looking thing in the background.
I work in a small space and am also in the process of restructuring. Buying some new tools and cabinets and reusing other things.
My main idea is to get an extra long workbench on the longest wall with extensive cabinets above and below. This addresses several issues.
Most-often-used tools and supplies will be in the same general area (against the same 16' wall).
• Makes things easier to find or track down as well as stay focused on the task at hand.
The rest of the space will be basically empty except for the larger work or something that does not go near the bench.
• This will make the place look bigger and less cluttered.
There will be some shelves but I prefer cabinets as it will make the small space less cluttered looking when things are put away. Also keeps the dust off all the tools, cans, whatever that would be impossible to clean without taking everything back down. Dusting cabinets is easy. Especially if you have a vacuum.
I found that thinking in terms of "a small kitchen" helps put thing in perspective. Certain things go in certain places, the refrigerator for example. You don't have to think or decide. If it needs to be cold it goes in there. Pots and pans near the stove; hot tools for hot work. Everything is hidden behind a door. I don't know what you are planning on doing but in a kitchen you usually have a work area and a stove for hot things. In your shop you may have a similar set up. Cabinets above and below the bench hold tools and supplies related to those jobs, just like in a kitchen.
Just an idea. Shape and bend to suit your needs. Perhaps what suits your space best is an "L" shaped corner work area or the whole back 5' deep area of your garage. The point is, as much as possible, everything is near by and the rest of the shop is mostly empty except for perhaps storage cabinets. With certain practical or safety exceptions, of course.
I've no pix yet as I've just started building the bench. I haven't decided if I want to build the lower cabinets or just buy a roll cab or two and be done with it. Now that you mention it, I am renting so perhaps investing only money instead of time & money is better. I can get fancy and build my ideas when I own the place. Hopefully I'll have more room to work with too. Thanks for bringing this up and helping me figure that out.
Actually the first thing I should do is paint the wall.
