At G&M, we’ve been crafting timber buildings for over 35 years, and in that time we’ve seen our customers transform their buildings into all kinds of different spaces, from boat storage rooms to artists’ studios. Having a dedicated building at home for a hobby, craft, or activity can bring a real sense of joy, purpose and convenience to your life. Whether you’re creating, recharging, or focusing, a timber workshop offers you a world of options.
So, if you love the idea of adding a workshop to your garden, but aren’t quite sure how you’d use it yet, this blog post is here to spark your imagination. Below I’ve shared 5 of my favourite ideas to help you picture what your own workshop could become.
And the best thing about our 3-Tier Workshops is that they’re guaranteed to stay dry and come with a 30-Year Guarantee, making them reliable for all sorts of projects, and a space that can evolve with you over time.
Can a Workshop be an at-home gym?
If you’re short on time, fed up with busy gyms, or just prefer to work out in your own space, an at-home gym is a brilliant way to use a Workshop. Having a workout space right in your garden will allow you to make time for yourself, without the hassle of actually having to go anywhere.
In terms of flooring, rubber tiles will help protect the timber floor underneath, while reducing noise and absorbing impact from jumping, lifting or dropping weights.
You could create a weights area with a bench, dumbbells and cable machine. Then, have a separate zone for cardio machines and an open area for HIIT sessions or mat workouts.
Installing electricity will allow you to run machines, a heater or fan, speakers for your favourite workout playlist and even a mini fridge stocked with water and juices. Adding coloured lighting will personalise the space and create an ambient workout environment – no more headache-inducing gym lighting.
One thing to consider when planning a gym setup is building height. Equipment like squat racks and stairmasters need extra headroom, so a building with a low ceiling won’t always be suitable. At G&M, our Garages and Workshops are similar in design, but one key difference is height – our Garages are taller than our Workshops as standard.
Depending on how much overhead space you need in your gym, a garage could be a better option. Alternatively, you can customise your Workshop to be a few boards taller – giving you the extra height for a comfortable workout.
Can a Workshop be a bar?
Turning a workshop into a bar is a brilliant option if you love entertaining. It gives you a space that’s always ready to host friends and family, without having to rearrange the house every time you have people over.
If you want to take your bar to the next level you could even line and insulate the room – helping you to control the temperature year-round and adding a more finished aesthetic to the space.
You’ll need a bar counter to make and serve drinks on – you could even make one yourself if you’re handy, or buy one online that matches your bar’s decor. Putting up plenty of shelves around the bar counter will give you a convenient place to store all your drinks and glassware – and make for easy drink mixing.
If you install electricity to your bar you can even add a fridge to keep drinks cool, feature lighting to add to the atmosphere, and a TV and sound system for sports nights and parties.
Another cool idea is to add a canopy to the front of your workshop, and to opt for double doors so that you can create an inside-outside space – perfect for summer BBQs and garden parties.
Can a Workshop be an art studio?
An art studio is one of the most popular uses we see for our buildings. With a few extra windows, a Workshop can be transformed into a bright, creative space filled with natural light.
Our Workshop comes with one horizontal uPVC window as standard, but if you’re using it as an artists studio, we’d recommend adding a triple vertical uPVC window as well to maximise the amount of light.
You can set up a large workbench to draw or paint from, dry projects, and lay out all your supplies. It might be an idea to add a comfy stool too, so you can sit when you need to and stand up when you need more room to move. Storage will be a must, so shelving for canvases, paints and paper and drawers for brushes, pencils and pastels will make sure everything stays organised.
This is another instance where you might want to line and insulate the building to keep heat in – allowing you to work away comfortably even in the winter. Overhead lighting will be important in a studio – LED spotlights can be hidden beneath lining if you do line and insulate the room, or if not, a ceiling-mounted LED batten light also works well.
Can I run my small business from a Workshop?
A workshop could be the ideal way to separate your small business from your home life. It gives you a dedicated place to work, keeps your house clutter-free and allows you to properly switch off at the end of the day.
If you make and sell crafts, clothes or candles, you could install a large workbench, add cabinets or drawers for supplies, and create a packaging station. Having everything organised in one space will make your process a lot more efficient and less stressful – so less time looking for what you need and more time actually creating.
You might also want a separate area for admin and sales with a comfy computer chair, laptop, monitor and business phone. Adding Wi-Fi to your setup means you could take orders, schedule deliveries and send out promotional emails without having to go back into the house.
Finish the space with rugs, lamps and your business’s branding on the walls, and you’ve got a professional workspace that supports your business without taking over your home or your whole life.
Can I record my podcast from a Workshop?
If you record a podcast or film content, a workshop can make an excellent recording space. In fact, this is exactly how we use our own Close Board & Strap Garage – it’s the home of the NattyShedLife Podcast and where our Marketing Department films reels and YouTube videos.
Lining and insulating part (or all) of the Workshop helps reduce echo, especially when paired with rubber flooring, and soft furnishings like rugs and curtains. This keeps audio quality high, while also making the room feel warm and comfortable.
Having a room dedicated to recording means you can leave your equipment permanently set up – chairs, microphones, lights and cameras can be left in place, so as soon as inspiration hits you’re ready to record. If you film a video for your podcast you can style the background with branding, plants or lighting – setting a more professional scene than if you’re recording at your dining room table.
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We’ve found that infrared heaters work well in recording spaces as they heat people and objects rather than the air, allowing you to warm up quickly. The only hiccup we’ve bumped into when filming in the garage is that sometimes when it’s been super cold in winter, the camera gets too cold and the lens fogs up – but apart from that it’s been smooth sailing.
You’ll definitely need electricity installed in this case and it’s worth considering getting extra sockets in your electrical package so you can power lights, cameras and heaters all at once.
How will you use your Workshop?
These are just a few ideas to get you started thinking about the potential of a Gillies & Mackay Workshop. If we’ve learned anything from making these buildings, it’s that there are endless ways to use them, style them and enjoy them. The watertight nature of our Workshops means they’re suitable for a wide range of purposes – whatever you can dream up for your space, they can be it.
If you’d like to discuss your plans for your Workshop in person, book a Consultation with our team – they’ll talk you through all the possibilities for your building.
