The fold-down workbench is not a new idea. But the shop that applies fold-down thinking to every surface – not just the bench – is a design solution we’ve been seeing more of as urban and suburban builders work in progressively smaller spaces. The logic is compelling: if a surface folds away when not in use, it doesn’t consume floor space during the majority of the time when it isn’t being used. A garage that needs to hold two cars doesn’t have to choose between cars and a shop if the shop folds against the wall.
Kevin’s two-car garage in Seattle is used for two cars. It is also a full woodworking shop. This sounds impossible until you see the build. Three full walls of the garage are covered in fold-down surfaces at various heights. Primary workbench: a full 8-foot surface that folds flat against the wall, supported by two folding legs that deploy in 10 seconds. Secondary workbench/assembly surface: a 4-foot table that folds down from the side wall. Router table: a hinged cabinet that swings out from its wall position. Miter saw station: a fold-out support that deploys beside the main bench.
The machines (table saw, bandsaw, drill press) are on mobile bases and park against the back wall in dedicated positions when not in use. The entire shop can be deployed from “both cars in the garage” state to “full shop operational” in about 12 minutes. The reverse takes about 8 minutes. Kevin tracks this because he thought it was important to know before he committed to the design. It is: 12 minutes of setup is a real cost, but it’s acceptable for a shop that shares space with the function the garage was originally built for.
Total build time for the fold-down system: about three months of evenings. Total materials cost: about $1,200. He considers it the best shop investment he’s ever made. Are you sharing a garage? Tell us how you’ve made it work – the more creative the space-sharing solution, the more we want to hear about it.