How Much Space Do You Really Need? 7 Things to Consider When Choosing a Storage, Garage, or Workshop Space

The need for additional space often develops gradually. First, garage tires, tools, and seasonal items accumulate. Then a hobby project takes up a larger part of the floor, or growing business inventory moves to the office and home. At some point, one extra shelf no longer solves the problem.

When choosing suitable storage, garage, or work space, you shouldn't look only at the number of square meters and the price. It is equally important to assess the shape of the space, ceiling height, access, electrical capacity, security, and whether the space will still be suitable in a few years.

1. Start with use, not square meters

The first question shouldn't be "how large a box can I get?", but rather "what will I actually do in this space?".

A small storage box can work well for storing tires, bicycles, tools, seasonal items, or business inventory. If the space is also needed for working, you need to account for shelving, walkways, work surfaces, and equipment.

When storing a car or motorcycle, in addition to the vehicle's dimensions, you need to leave room for opening doors, maintenance work, and placing items. For an e-shop or business warehouse, it's important to consider whether goods arrive in boxes, pallets, or by van, and how often they are moved.

Manniva Warehouses have storage spaces starting from 7 m² and going up to 300 m². Office spaces range from 21–232 m². This selection allows you to compare very different solutions, from a simple storage closet to a workshop or business warehouse. 

2. Account for movement space within the room

A room measured down to the exact amount of space fills up quickly during use. Shelves take up floor space, you need to access boxes, and larger items need to be moved around.

It's practical to mentally divide the space into three parts:

• storage area;

• work or assembly area;

• free movement space.

If the space is used as a workshop, you also need to account for the work bench, equipment, and safe movement. In a business warehouse, you may need space for receiving goods, packing, and dispatch.

It's worth thinking at least a couple of years ahead. If the amount of inventory or equipment is likely to grow, space selected based on today's exact needs can quickly become too small.

3. Ceiling height can be more important than additional square meters

Two rooms with the same floor area can be very different in terms of usage possibilities. A higher room allows for larger shelving and more vertical storage.

For example, when storing tires, boxes, or business inventory, tall shelving can free up a significant portion of the floor. In a workshop or technical room, height may be needed for equipment, lifts, or ventilation solutions.

At Manniva, the ceiling height depends on the space size:

• in boxes up to 19 m² — 2.9–3.4 meters;

• in spaces of 20–50 m² — approximately 3.2 meters;

• in boxes over 50 m² — up to 6.1 meters.

Therefore, it's not enough to just look at square meters when planning. You should also check the room's height, door dimensions, and how much of the space can actually be used for storage.

4. Check access to both the building and your box

A good room is of little use if you can't comfortably reach the door with a van or equipment. Before making a choice, it's worth checking:

• whether there's enough maneuvering space in front of the building;

• how close you can get to the door;

• whether a van or larger vehicle can turn;

• how access works outside business hours;

• whether you can give separate access to another user.

24/7 access is important, for example, for a business, a courier, or someone working on a hobby project in the evenings and on weekends.

Manniva Warehouses are designed with 24-hour access. A programmable system allows you to manage user rights and open doors remotely through an intercom system when needed.

5. Electrical connection and ventilation must match your activities

The electrical needs of a typical storage closet are small. For a workshop, small-scale manufacturing, or a warehouse with equipment, the situation can be different.

Before deciding, you should calculate the needs of at least the main equipment:

• tools and machines;

• lighting;

• chargers;

• computers and office equipment;

• possible additional heating or cooling.

You should also check how ventilation works. In an enclosed space, humidity, dust, and temperature changes can damage goods, tools, and equipment.

Manniva warehouse spaces are designed with heat recovery ventilation. Each box has its own electrical panel and meter. Spaces up to 20 m² have a 10 A connection, while larger spaces have 16 A electrical connection. The heating solution is based on a combination of gas heating and an air-water heat pump.

Comparing plans and technical specifications helps avoid a situation where a space is the right size, but the existing electrical or heating solution doesn't meet your activity's needs. 

6. Security doesn't mean just a locked door

A storage or garage space may contain expensive tools, vehicles, equipment, and business goods. Therefore, it's worth investigating the entire building's security solution, not just your box's lock.

Important questions are:

• whether the space has an alarm system;

• whether cameras monitor the area around the building;

• whether user access is distinguishable;

• whether the territory is lit;

• how the owner can manage access.

Manniva warehouse and office spaces are equipped with an alarm system. The storage boxes have internal cameras, and security cameras monitor the parking lot and territory.

7. Think through location and daily trips

Proximity to the city center isn't the main advantage for every warehouse, garage, or workshop. What might be more important is good access to major roads, less traffic, and the ability to easily reach the building with a vehicle.

When assessing location, it's worth calculating how often you need to visit the space and where employees, customers, couriers, or goods come from. A five-minute longer drive may not be a problem if parking and access are that much easier.

Manniva Warehouses are located at Lauda tee 6, Manniva village, Jõelähtme municipality. The Väo viaduct is approximately 12 minutes, Jüri roundabout 22 minutes, and Viimsi 30 minutes by car.

The building has 36 parking spaces, charging facilities for electric vehicles, and a shared wash area for vehicles, equipment, and tools.

When should you combine warehouse and office?

For a business, maintaining a separate warehouse and office can mean double trips, slower goods movement, and complicated work organization. However, not everyone needs a large combined space right from the start.

A flexible solution is to choose adjacent or interconnected spaces. This way you can keep inventory, work tools, and your team in one place and expand operations as space needs grow.

Manniva's building has mainly storage spaces on the first floor and offices on the second floor. Third-floor spaces can be used for offices, small-scale manufacturing, hobby groups, or other leisure activities. Some warehouse and office spaces can be connected to each other.

Check these seven things before choosing a space

When comparing suitable spaces, it's worth noting:

1. what the space will be used for;

2. how much storage, work, and movement space you need;

3. what the ceiling height and door dimensions must be;

4. how to access the building with vehicles and equipment;

5. what electrical, heating, and ventilation solution your activity requires;

6. how access and security are arranged;

7. whether the space can be expanded in the future or connected with adjacent rooms.

Manniva Warehouses' building is completed in October 2026. From the available spaces in the project, you can compare warehouse, garage, and office solutions according to your current needs and possible future plans.