4 Reasons Why I Don’t Use Pegboard
Learn why I don’t use pegboard! It can make a small space feel dark, cramped, and dirty. Instead, I’ll share how I store tools in my small workshop.
Why I Don’t Use Pegboard (and What I Use Instead)
I know this post is bound to spark some controversy. Pegboard is a popular way to store tools in workshops and garages. As a kid, I remember my grandfather organized his tools on a wall of pegboard in his workshop.
Let me start by saying that this post is not meant as a dig towards anyone who uses pegboard in their workspace.
I get it. It’s handy to have tools hanging on the wall. All we have to do is reach over and grab the tool we need. But hear me out. And if I can’t change your mind then we can politely agree to disagree about pegboard.
I don’t use pegboard in my workshop and I never will.
In my opinion, it’s a big mistake to install pegboard in a small workshop or garage. Today I’m sharing why I believe it makes a small space feel smaller than it actually is. I’m also sharing what I used instead to organize the tools in my workshop.
You may also enjoy 3 Reasons Why I Don’t Use a Woodworking Bench
This post contains affiliate links to supplies or tools I used to complete this project. Purchases made using these links help support the Saws on Skates website and allow me to share more DIY projects. and DIY tips with you. There is no cost to you for using these links. Click here to visit my site policies.
Before we get into why I don’t use pegboard, be sure to click the subscribe button at the bottom of this page to sign up for my FREE weekly newsletter loaded with helpful pocket hole tricks, space-saving workshop ideas, clever DIY tips and more!
Table of Contents
My Goal is to Make Your Small Workshop Feel Bigger
Before we look at why I don’t use pegboard I want to share something with you. At the top of the Start Here page, I wrote this paragraph:
Saws on Skates® specializes in space-saving workshop ideas, problem-solving tool tips and clever building plans for DIYers with limited workspace who want increase their DIY knowledge, improve their skills and make their small workshop a more enjoyable place to build.”
Just in that one paragraph, I talk about space-saving workshop ideas, limited workspace and making a small workshop a more enjoyable place to build.
One of my goals is to make your small workshop feel bigger. That’s why I’m sharing with you why I feel pegboard is not the best way to store tools in a small workshop.
Related: 9 Clever Ways to Make Your Small Workshop Feel Bigger
What is Pegboard?
Wikipedia defines pegboard or perforated hardboard as “tempered hardboard which is pre-drilled with evenly spaced holes. The holes are used to accept pegs or hooks to support various items, such as tools in a workshop.”
Reasons Why I Don’t Use Pegboard in My Small Workshop
I believe pegboard makes a small workshop feel smaller than it actually is. Pegboard is usually brown which can make a shop feel dark. Tools hanging on pegboard can look jumbled even when they’re neatly organized. This can make a small space feel cramped. Tools collect sawdust while they’re hanging on hooks which can make a shop feel dirtier than it actually is. Plus, we can’t store every kind tool of tool on pegboard.
1. Makes a Small Workshop Feel Dark
Pegboard usually comes in two colors. Brown and white. Many times I see brown installed in garages and workshops. I’m guessing that’s because the brown color is less expensive. The white is nearly double the cost of the brown at my local big box home improvement store.
Here’s the thing with the color brown. It’s dark. Dark colors make our small workshops feel darker. Dark colors also make our small workshops feel smaller.
Related: Why I Replaced My Fluorescent Workshop Lights with LED Shop Lights
White has the opposite effect. White or light colors make our small workshops feel brighter. Light colors also make our small workshops feel bigger.
If I can’t convince you not to install pegboard you may want to spend a little extra money and buy the white. Or if you have brown you may want to consider painting it white to make your space feel bigger and brighter.
Related: Paint Makes a Small Workshop Feel Bigger and Brighter
2. Makes a Small Workshop Feel Cramped
Let’s imagine we installed a sheet of pegboard on the wall. Then we installed a bunch of hooks to hang our tools. The tools are neatly organized, but they are all different shapes, sizes, and colors.
Photo Credit: Matt Cronin
What’s your first impression? My first impression is that it’s hard for my eyes to focus. There’s so much to see. All of those different shapes, sizes, and colors feel overwhelming to me.
How do you feel? For me, this wall of different shapes, sizes, and colors makes me feel cramped. Almost like the walls are closing in on me.
Storing tools on pegboard can make a small workshop feel cramped. The wall can look cluttered even when those tools are neatly organized. This can make a small space feel even smaller.
For me, pegboard covered with tools of different shapes, sizes, and colors isn’t the best way to store tools in a small workshop.
3. Makes a Small Workshop Feel Dirty
If you’re like me you use saws in your workshop. And we all know saws create sawdust. Lots of sawdust!
That sawdust ends up everywhere. On the floor, on our workbenches, and on tools if they’re hanging on a pegboard.
I routinely use a ShopVac to clean the sawdust off of my miter saw, table saw, workbench and the floor. But have you ever tried to use a ShopVac to clean the sawdust off of every tool hanging on your pegboard? It’s maddening and time-consuming.
Sure you can leave the sawdust on the tools, but all of that sawdust can make our shop feel dirtier than it actually is.
4. Can’t Store Every Tool on Pegboard
Popular accessories for pegboard include hooks, bins, and shelves. We can store many tools on these organizers, but we can’t store every type of tool. This means we’ll still need another type of organizer to store tools like our Kreg Jig, biscuit joiner, and router.
What I Use Instead of Pegboard
I believe pegboard makes a small workshop feel smaller than it actually is. Pegboard is usually brown which can make a shop feel dark. Tools hanging on pegboard can look jumbled even when they’re neatly organized. This can make a small space feel cramped. Tools collect sawdust while they’re hanging on hooks which can make a shop feel dirtier than it actually is. Plus, we can’t store every kind tool of tool on pegboard.
So what do I use instead? I built these DIY workshop cabinets for my small workshop. They make my shop feel bright, open, clean and I can store nearly every tool I need inside.
1. Storage Cabinets are Light and Bright
I painted my DIY workshop cabinets with high gloss white paint. The high gloss paint gives the cabinets a durable glass-like finish. The finish makes the cabinets easy to clean. Just a few swipes with a ShopVac and all of the sawdust is gone.
The shiny finish also helps reflect light from the overhead LED lights back into the room. Reflecting the light helps my small shop feel light, bright and bigger than it actually is.
2. Cabinets Make a Small Workshop Feel Bigger
Remember that wall of pegboard? There were so many tools that it was hard for our eyes to focus on one thing. That’s not the case with these DIY workshop cabinets.
The cabinets are painted the same color as the wall. This makes them practically blend into the wall.
The workshop cabinets look continuous. In other words, there’s nothing to stop your eye which makes the wall look longer. It’s just another visual trick I use to make my small workshop look bigger.
3. Tools are Easy to Reach
These DIY workshop cabinets feature sliding doors. I chose sliding doors for a reason. Hinged doors need space to swing open. This takes up valuable floor space. Plus, hinged doors can be a hazard. It’s easy to forget the door is open and hit your head or shoulder on the corner of the door.
The sliding doors do not take up valuable floor space in the open position. It’s virtually impossible to hit your head or shoulder on sliding doors. Plus, the tools are easy to reach. Slide the door open and grab what you need.
4. Adjustable Shelves
The DIY workshop cabinets have adjustable shelves. This makes it easy to organize and store tools of different shapes and sizes.
Related: How to Make Adjustable Shelves with a Shelf Pin Jig
Where to Buy Workshop Cabinets
Store-bought workshop cabinets are available if you don’t have the tools or time to make your own. Below are a few options you can buy online and have sent to your workshop. Craigslist and the Habitat for Humanity Restore are also great places to look for cabinets that can be used in a workshop or garage.
How to Organize Tools in Workshop Cabinets
OK, our workshop cabinets are hung on the wall. Now what? Now it’s time to get our tools organized!
I’m sharing 5 simple steps to get your tools organized. We’ll look at ways to store hand and power tools and how to keep them organized once and for all.
Skate over to How to Organize Tools in a Small Workshop or watch this quick video to see how I organized my tools!
Back to Table of Contents
Final Thoughts
My goal is to make your small workshop feel bigger. In my opinion, it’s a big mistake to install pegboard in a small workshop or garage. I believe it makes a small work space feel smaller than it actually is.
My recommendation is to install DIY workshop cabinets or store-bought cabinets to make a small workshop feel bigger than it actually is.
More Like This:
