Roller shades are an easy addition to windows near a workbench

No matter how few household repairs they make themselves, homeowners need a workspace that gathers together their tools and gives them a surface on which to putter.

A potting bench, a pegboard and plywood shelving with brackets may be all that's needed to create a functional work area on a back wall of a garage or in a corner of the basement.

"One of the biggest advantages of building your own workbench is being able to customize it to your specific needs," according to HowStuffWorks.com. "Your workbench is going to have to fit into whatever space you have set aside for it, so know the dimensions of that space."

Niches in the bench can be used to store jars of screws, nails and other small items. Hooks can be added for hanging tools and a ruler can be screwed along one side of the bench top for quick measuring.

Installing roller shades on nearby windows allows natural light into the space during work time, but provides security for tools and other belongings when the workbench is in a garage or other area that's visible to the outside.