We all need an area to work from, be it in the home or the office and what better than to use work tables. Work tables allow you to lay out your items that you need to use so that you can have regular, easy access to your belongings.

Your older children can use work tables to complete their homework, younger children could use them to play games or paint and if you have a hobby that involves arts and crafts you can also use a work table.

In the home, having work benches mean that you do not have to use the dining room table and have to clear the table every time you have to eat dinner. Having to clear you items away means that they can become disorganised and it can be time consuming to pack and unpack the items.

In your office there are work tables that can be designed especially to suit your requirements; there are shelves at various levels to store items, or there are drawers that have locks on to secure expensive or confidential items.

There are work tables that come in a selection of different sizes and they come in a wide range of prices to accommodate a wide range of budgets.

Some workbenches are designed with reinforced shelves, so that they are heavy duty and they are capable of holding a greater weight than standard desks. These are just what you need to use in your garage or shed for all of your DIY needs.

Workbenches that can be folded and stored away when not in use have become an essential resident in the garage or garden shed of many amateur DIY enthusiasts. This is especially true if floor space is limited or their users only tend to want to make use of them on the odd occasion.

The portable work bench will, typically, be sturdily built, usually with a load bearing capacity of up to 450 pounds, but easy to lift and carry when folded so that it can be stored out of the way. It will usually have features such as being adjustable to two heights so that it can be used either as a workbench, a sawhorse, a bench tool stand or a vice. The top may be constructed of particle board so it would be best to ensure it is cleaned and dried after use.

There are several different types of portable workbenches. For instance there is one that is not only a clamping work bench but also doubles as a hand cart. This is really useful since it will help you transport heavy items around the garden, garden shed or garage areas.

As the workbenches become more sophisticated, this will be reflected in their price.  However, there are other heavy duty work stands of a more basic design that, nevertheless, might well be suitable for the potential project. Some have more storage space than others.
Typically, it will have steel tubing construction and be ideal for working on car doors, bumpers or bonnets because of its foam padded top.

Sometimes more portable workbenches are desirable in workshops. The advantage of having a mobile workbench is that it can be quickly and easily  moved out of the way if a project is about to be undertaken using an unusually large section of wood.

Typically, a mobile or portable workbench will be constructed with a double wall steel design for extra durability. It will usually have between six and eight drawers. Since steel is being used to build this unit, it could be prone to the ultimate bad guy of the DIY community – rust. To keep rust at bay, the unit is coated with rust-resistant paint. It will have a heavy duty worktop and one or two lockable cupboards. Mounted on ball-bearing runners facilitates ease of movement without causing back strain injuries.

Other steel workbenches are also available. These benches are self-assembly but easy to assemble and there are a range of sizes from which one can choose, for instance, 108 cm or 240 cm widths. The shelves may have up to 100 kg load capacity.

For versatility, the add-on chest drawers are a hard act to follow. They are, typically, made with steel inner walls for extra durability. As their name suggests they can be added to where the necessity arises. Their heavy duty ball bearing drawer runners ensure better performance and the ability to carry heavier loads. They have a full height rear locking mechanism which locks their full length drawers in multiple locations. For extra security, they are fitted with tumbler locks.

The garage, as well as being a secure place to leave your car, has the potential to be used for storage as well.

Garage storage can be optimised by the use of several items. For example, an overhead storage hook will create more storage space. The hook will mount to ceiling beams or rafters. Normally, it is recommended that a storage hook is fixed into solid wood using a screw which is at least one inch in length. The versatility of the overhead storage hook is easily appreciated since it can also be used in the shed or the cellar.

A storage system that makes use of the wall space above, for instance, a work table or work benches would also be beneficial. A support structure for the storage bins or drawers is needed. Ideally, the support structure should be simple to attach by bolting it to the work table and fixing to the wall for complete safety. Storage units may then be attached to or hung on to the frame. A typical support frame may have the approximate dimensions, 165w x 4d x 235h cm. However, this type of durable steel frame will probably cost around £80 or more.

An inexpensive way of storing tools would be to purchase a tool racking kit. The storage rack kit would typically have a peg wall panel, which would be secured to the wall. Once this is done, tool hooks would be attached to the panel wherever they make best use of the space.  So storage solutions for your garage are out there for you to access as required.

A greenhouse needs to be carefully organised to make maximum use of its space. Permanent shelving to hold plant pots, seedling trays and a work surface area can be achieved with the use of a work bench or a work table.

Occasionally temporary shelving space is needed and this has to be light, sturdily built but easily assembled and stored away again when not in use. A speed shelf would meet these requirements. This type of shelf can be attached to the metal struts on the side of the greenhouse and when no longer needed for the time being, is simple to detach from its wire supports and will lay flat at the greenhouse’s side.

A typical shelf of this kind is usually available in two or more depths. For instance, a shelf measuring four feet wide and 11 inches deep will usually cost in the region of £20.

If work tables are becoming cluttered, especially during the spring when a lot of seedlings are being planted, one solution might be a seed tray frame. Easily and quickly assembled the frame may hold two or more trays and once the seedlings have been hardened and planted out in the garden, the frame can be speedily disassembled and stored away.

Another way of giving the gardener more floor space in his greenhouse is to use hanging shelves. These shelves also provide extra storage areas. A typical hanging shelf would be purpose built to attach to a greenhouse’s roof glazing channel.

A 6 x 4 foot garden shed can be bought from the internet for around £120, and the householder may prefer the supplier to both deliver and assemble the shed.  The supplier will probably charge extra for the assembly and it would be advisable to establish how much this will cost before making a decision. Most reputable DIY companies have websites and it may be advisable to use them.

No matter what size the shed, it can always be utilised to maximise its potential as a storage area with a few simple adjustments, such as storage racks. The inside of the door, for instance, would be ideal as a hanging area for the storing of garden tools with the use of hooks firmly secured to the door.

Larger sheds may be divided into areas in which to use work benches or work tables. Work benches with integrated drawers and cupboard space are a good idea to store away a tool box, cans of paint, paint brushes and bottles of turpentine. The drawers will be handy to contain spare fuses, candles and other miscellaneous items.

Above the work bench, shelf racks could be fixed to the wall. The racks are versatile as the metal shelves attached to them may be adjusted to suit the needs of the owner.

The areas of the shed not occupied by a work bench will be ideal for storing heavier gardening equipment such as lawn-mowers or wheel-barrows. Fold away garden furniture might be hanged on the far wall of the shed.