Want to create a workout space in your house to create a home gym or fitness room? In this post, I am Sharing how I transformed an unused bedroom into a bright and spacious fitness room or home gym.
If you are reading about the room for the first time, I transformed one of my grown daughters’ unused bedrooms into a fitness room/home gym. After working out in my basement for years, I yearned for a bright and airy place where I could work out daily. The unused bedroom was the perfect place. With lots of paint and DIY effort, the room turned out just as I planned and within a very small budget of $300.
I started by creating a vision of a bright and uncluttered space…
Post: Dream Vision of a Fitness Room
…and stayed pretty true to sticking with the plan.
Here is how the room looked: BEFORE
This photo is from a house tour post I wrote when I first started blogging. I didn’t include my daughters’ rooms in the tour since they were just museums of their childhood. I tried to make fun of the fact that they were “slightly cluttered”.
Once we removed the contents of the room, I did a check to see what condition the subfloor was in. It was solid, so I knew I could simply paint it instead of laying new flooring over it. This kept the makeover very budget friendly. The paint for the floor cost $60 versus hundreds if I used hardwood or vinyl.
Post: Priming and Painting the Walls and Trim
I had to use color blocking primer to hide the neon green walls, but once that was on, the power of paint made for an amazing transformation.
Wall and Trim Color: Easy Care in the color: Stability. Eggshell on the walls and semi-gloss on the trim and doors.
Next up was removing the carpet and thousands of staples.
Post: Removing Carpet
Pulling the rug up was not hard. I used a sharp knife to cut it into smaller sizes that I could roll up to take to the trash. I pulled the staples out with pliers.
Post: How to Paint Subfloor
Once the staples were history and I vacuumed up the dust, I primed the floor with a multi- purpose primer.
and then painted it with Gloss Enamel Porch & Patio Floor. Paint color: Pools of Blue. I needed two coats which amounted to one gallon of paint.
The room was starting to look like my “Dream Vision” board.
Post: How to Mount Wheels on a Basket
With the painting done, I added the decorative items. The first was this basket to hold towels and my yoga mat.
I found the basket at the thrift store. The pink yoga mat is from Target.
Post: Fitness Room Artwork
For wall art, I created 5 canvases, each with a word from a quote to keep me motivated.
There are free printables of each word in the post I wrote about them. Tiny Prints sponsored the post and sent me the canvases so that helped me save on my budget. To save money since these can be a little costly, the word images can be simply printed at home framed to save money.
I chose the colors for each word from the stripes on the ceiling fan. My original plan was to paint the blades white, but after the floor color was on, I liked how the colorful stripes looked. You can read about how to stripe a ceiling fan, here.
I wanted something for the windows that was affordable and that would not block the light.
I found these outdoor PVC roll up shades at True Value for under $15. You can find them in my post: Very Affordable Window Treatments
Post: Fitness Room Mirrors
Adding mirrors along the wall opposite the windows really made the room come together. Suddenly, it felt like a real gym for which I would pay a monthly membership. The mirrors were under $5 each at Walmart. I hung them with large Command Brand picture hanging strips.
Post: How to hide cords on a wall mounted TV
So I could work out with fitness tapes from time to time, we added a wall mounted TV. I posted on how we hid the cords.
The table under the TV used to be in my family room. I made it over with DIY chalk paint and added wheels to it. It holds the DVD player, fitness DVD’s, arm weights, and an essential oil diffuser.
A few weeks ago I found the large diamond block black mat to place under my Pilates Reformer at Walmart. I bought the Pilates Reformer 15 years ago on QVC. One of the best purchases I ever made.
I am so happy that I decided to create the room instead of keeping the room as an unused bedroom. The best way to decorate a house is to make it customized to the way you live. I can check this project off my list now and reap the rewards of my efforts.
Janet chacon says
Hi,
Love what you have done. I am hoping to get back to my exercising after recovering breast cancer god willing. Could you tell me how you hid the cords when you wall mounted the television. I would love to do this.
Diane Henkler says
Hi Janet – I hope your recovery is going well. It sounds like you have a positive attitude which is the best thing to have when dealing with cancer. :-) I wrote a post on how I hid the cords on the wall-mounted TV. You can find it, here: https://inmyownstyle.com/2015/02/hide-cords-wall-mounted-tv.html
Sharon says
What brand & model of Pilates Reformer do you use? I’m looking to purchase one. Thank you!
Diane Henkler says
Hi Sharon – My Pilates reformer is made by Stamina. It is called the Pilated Premier. Model# 55-5510. It is no longer made. It was one of the first models made and has a wider base then the models that are sold now. Mine has maroon leather. Here is a similar model to it. The arm cords are different, but better on this model: http://amzn.to/2lfVHPN I am not sure how wide it is, but mine is 21″ wide. My sister bought an Aero Pilates once that was much narrower and was not as well made as mine was, but that was over 15 years ago. I like the stability mine has.
Noraleen says
Hi! I’ve been looking at tutorials for painting subfloors and yours is the most simple and helpful I have found! I love how they turned out. I was wondering about cleanliness, and if dirt and dust seem to stick to the floor. I read that someone had that issue with exterior porch paint on their living room, and they used an extra sealant on their floors to prevent it. If you did painted floors like this in a higher traffic area would you use an extra sealant?
Thanks!
Diane Henkler says
I didn’t seal my floor, but if it was going to get heavy traffic I would have. I would use Zinsser Ultimate Polyurethane. It is water-based and super durable, plus it won’t yellow your paint color. Apply a few light coats to add a protective finish. Let each coat dry before applying the next. It will be enough to add to protect your paint.
Krista @ the happy housie says
I totally agree with what you’re saying about customizing a home to your use! I moved my boys into a bedroom together so that we could create a craft room/office, that stores my craft stuff but also all sorts of family related stuff… Most people would think it’s more important to keep the kids bedroom separate, but our boys love sharing a room and it frees up a whole Lotta space for our family to function better! I’m in love with the blue-and-white and the fresh, crisp, and cheery color scheme of the space, Diane. Awesome job!
Diane Henkler says
Thanks Krista – I bet your boys are thrilled to be able to have a space where they can create and hang out with you. When my daughters were growing up, they loved hanging out and making their own creations while I was working in the office. It was a creative playground for them, too. I didn’t leave a comment the other day on your blog, but I love your new faucet….and of course your fabulous view out your kitchen window. XO
Patricia Wilson says
Diane, what an inspiration!
Stephanie @ Casa Watkins says
Looks amazing Diane. The colors look great.
[email protected] says
Love it. I so need a room like this
Sheryll & Critters. says
Everything about your new room is fabulous. But the blue floor makes it for m, I just love that blue you chose (I am a blue type of gal myself and could live on that blue floor and never tire of it). I dare not ever wonder what else you could possibly do to make your house any more perfect and here you go. I know better now.
WTG!
Gloria says
“The best way to decorate a house is to make it customized to the way you live”
This is so true. I like crafting, but i don’t have a dedicated space. I use the kitchen table, and it is a constant lay out/clean up routine. Your words really resonated with me, because I have to get my own space for my crafts.
Diane Henkler says
Hi Gloria – For years I used my dining room table and then used the closet in an extra bedroom to stash and create in. If you don’t have an extra room, I have seen an old TV armoire/entertainment center refitted with a fold out table to use as a crafting station. When it is closed up – all is nice and neat in the room when you are not working on projects. If you look around your house you may come up with a place to set yourself up. It could even be a rolling cart with a pull out or fold down table attached. It could be moved all over your house so you could work where needed.
Gloria says
These are excellent ideas. Thank you so much for your input!!
cathy says
Fabulous job! Love the painted floors. And way back when I used to watch QVC (20 years ago when I was pregnant!!) I used to wonder about that machine!! Glad it works for you. I should have bought it!!
tracy mccormack says
Great Job!!! Don’t you find having a nice place to workout makes getting in there a lot easier? Beautiful room!
Susanne says
Wow! Even I would be inspired to work out in such a bright and cheerful room! Wonderful!!
Pamela says
I love that you’re not afraid to do the work. A lot of the things you do simply require work…elbow grease, and you dig in! Way to go!
Christina says
The best way to live in your home IS to customize it to your lifestyle. It makes you so much more happy when you can find everything you need easily and you are surrounded by the things you love and love to do. I’ve been thinking and writing about that myself lately adding it into design planning. I love the way your fitness room turned out. The blue on the floor is beautiful! It looks like such a happy room even if you have to be exercising in it. lol
Karen Robinson says
Wonderful….so jealous!! lol.