10 Essential Tips for Setting Up Your Woodworking Shop (Free Guide Included!)
If you’ve been following my YouTube channel, you might have noticed a big change: I finally moved out of my cramped single-car garage and into a much larger workshop. It wasn’t a planned move, and honestly, it threw me for a loop. As a bit of a perfectionist, I struggled to start projects until everything was set up “just right.”
That experience taught me a lot about designing a functional, efficient workshop layout, and I want to save you from the same headaches I had. In this post, I’ll share some of the most important lessons I learned while setting up my shop, and at the end, you can download my free 10-Step Workshop Planning Guide for a more detailed step-by-step process.
Why Workshop Layout Matters
Many people think setting up a shop just means putting tools wherever they fit. But your workflow matters more than you think. Every extra step you take between tools adds up over the life of a project. That’s why I recommend starting by writing down the workflows you use most often (like milling lumber, making templates, or sanding).
For example, my process for milling boards goes:
Grab wood from storage
Cut it to size at the miter saw
Joint one edge/face
Plane it to thickness
Square it at the table saw
By designing my shop around this sequence, I saved time, energy, and avoided frustration.
Smart Tool Placement & Space Hacks
Here are a few practical tips from my shop:
Stack tools when you can: My bandsaw and router table share space because the router table is shorter, meaning I can still use both without conflict.
Use doors and walls: Placing my planer and table saw near the garage door lets me cut long boards or sheet goods by simply opening the door.
Think about dust collection early: Grouping “dusty” tools like the planer, jointer, and table saw near the same spot will save you money on dust collection piping.
Put tools on wheels: Casters are expensive, but they make small and large shops alike more flexible.
Keep storage close to where it’s needed: Router bits at the router table, clamps near the finishing area, and finishes stored in a climate-safe spot.
The Truth: There’s No Perfect Shop
Even with more space, I’ve rearranged my shop layout four times already. New tools, new projects, and real-world use will always force changes. Instead of chasing perfection, I’ve learned to treat the shop as a living, evolving space.
Free Download:
My 10-Step Workshop Planning Guide
To make this easier for you, I created a free downloadable PDF that walks you through designing your shop step-by-step.
It includes:
9 Example workflows to get you started
Space planning tips for infeed and outfeed
Checklists to keep you organized
Extra insights that didn’t make it into the video
Final Thoughts
Your workshop is your creative space, so don’t be afraid to make it personal. Hang up the things that inspire you, tweak layouts as you go, and build storage solutions that fit your tools.
The best shop isn’t the most perfect, it’s the one that lets you create.
