Organise your workshop 2026
As the year comes to an end, most of us start looking for our next big project, the new year’s resolutions or what you want to change in 2026. But, before you should think about any of that, your workshop needs to be in the ideal shape for what you
want to go into the new year like. A cluttered bench, half broken tools, and random wires tangled at the workstation are more than just minor problems. They will slow your work down, clog your head up due to the clutter and make the start of 2026
feel more like a chore, than exciting.
A well-organised workshop should reflect the mindset you have going into the new year and align with your vision. With a few practical pointers and some time now, you can walk into your workshop in January 2026 with a fresh start and a state of
mind to take on the new year!
Start with a Check of all Your Tools
Before you start tidying, chucking rubbish out and organising things, it is worth taking a step back and analysing all of your tools and the condition they are in. If anything is obviously on it’s last legs, it may be a good time to replace
them before the end of the year to help make that fresh start feels even better and to prevent any delays.
Once done, start giving everything a clean. Wipe away any dust, grease or build-up that has gathered over the past while. When your tools are dirty, it is harder to detect signs of damage which can lead to unexpected breakages or even
injury if something breaks halfway through use. Once you have cleaned those, check for any worn blades, stiff mechanics or loose joints/fastenings. If you aren’t sure about anything, it’s better to sort it out now rather than leaving
it next year and it fails out of nowhere.
Replacing old, worn accessories, lubrication and topping up on maintenance sprays help keep on top of things and ensure your tools are looked after properly.
Clear the Space
The number one mistake people make when reorganising practically anything from a bedroom to a workshop is that they start shifting things from one corner to the other. It never actually works, because you don’t look any further
into why it’s cluttered and the root cause.
If you have the ability too, you should clear the surfaces and floor area entirely. Remove boxes, cords, material and anything else you have that could have been put to the side earlier in the year. A blank space helps you visualise
what is needed vs what is just taking up space for the sake of it.
Once you have cleared the room completely, the best method is to group your possessions by type. This might mean keeping all hand tools together, power tools together, PPE together etc. You can then go through one by one and see
what you need and what you don’t. Once this is dealt with, try and keep the groups together where possible and start allocating space. The goal should be maintaining a system that reflects the way you work rather than random stuff
in random places.
If you need more storage like wall-mounted racks or a better toolbox, December is one of the best times to invest in one. This will save you many hours across the course of a year and make your life much easier.
Tidy Up Before The End of 2025
You can’t beat the feeling of when you walk into your workshop at the start of a new year, and it's actually clean and tidy.
Before 2026, make sure you sweep the floors, wipe down your benches and clear away anything you don’t need. The amount of rubbish you have shoved in a corner (without realising) is probably mind-blowing – clearing it all out creates
space for materials and tools that are much more important.
As you clear out, look for opportunities to speed up your workflow. Do you feel you always need to walk across the room for just a tape measure? Yes? Then there is more space for improvement. It isn’t all about the tidy look – it is
about the convenience it brings when you take a step back and organise.
Why Starting the Year Messy Sets a Bad Tone
A messy workshop makes it easier to slip into bad patterns and feel just like your workshop, cluttered. Whereas, walking into a well-designed, clean workshop allows you to focus on the important work – not the minor inconveniences like a lost tape measure or screwdriver.
Plan for Workshop Efficiency Throughout 2026
Once you have organised everything for the new year, put a few habits in place to keep the space working for you. Make sure to take 5 minutes to tidy the workshop at the end of each day by putting rubbish away, tools in the right spot
and material back in storage.
If you are aiming to improve efficiency in 2026, consider upgrading storage, lighting and tools as 2026 goes on.
Need some replacement kit? No problem. Visit HIS in store or at hisltd.co.uk