My happy space.
Since the moment we moved into our home, I always knew I wanted to create a home gym space where I could put a Peloton. It was truly a dream of mine! I didn’t own one at the time, and after saving up, I purchased the bike one year later! At the time our bike got delivered, we had it set up in our bedroom. This was mostly because our basement was still a work in progress and it’s future room just wasn’t ready for it yet! Between old carpeting and yellow walls, we knew it needed a refresh! Here’s a peek at what it looked like before we made some changes to it:
The renovations.
Our first change was the flooring. We chose to add tile to the space for a few reasons. First, we had some water damage in our basement, and the carpet was molding. Though the exterior leak problem was solved, I still didn’t want to risk putting a rubber mat down. Second, we heard from a few people that rubber flooring smelled really bad and that smell could last a while. Since ventilation could be a problem, we opted for tile. It’s been amazing! I can easily mop it, it has a cooling effect that I was hoping for and it’s a brighter look than dark flooring! Having a lighter tone gives the space are larger look and feel.
We painted the walls with Snowbound by Sherwin Williams and kept the existing fan. That’s the one change I hope to make in the coming months, but for now it does the job! I added some Peloton signage to the room to make it have a personal feel. I chose a heavy, metal mirror from Kirkland’s instead of a full wall of mirrors because it was cost effective and less permanent. I really like having a mirror in the center of the wall to break up the room a bit!
I opted for this ballet barre from Amazon. I have been enjoying Peloton barre classes, so I love this addition to the space! I still go back and forth about adding the Peloton Tread treadmill, but I am still waiting to see if the Tread + comes back on the market (it’s better treadmill than the one currently for sale). It’s REALLY expensive, and being that I am not a runner, I’m not sure it would make financial sense. But, never say never!
We purchased this Bowflex SelectTech dumbbell set which is great for a small gym. The weights are adjustable, so two dumbbells can adjust from 5lbs to 50lbs. I also love to hang my Peloton shoes on the wall, so I purchased a shelving unit from Target which has been great for hiding other little gadgets that collect in here, such as phone chargers and heart rate monitors! My favorite one is this one by Scosche.
We decided to add a television to the gym because not only does it provide entertainment while I workout, but it’s great for streaming Peloton classes! I cast it via Airplay, and it plays from my iPhone! I have been known to watch an occasional Hallmark movie while I ride as well! Lastly, I decided to hang my yoga mats on the wall in order to reduce space. After researching a bunch, I decided on these hooks! I loved them so much, we decided to use them in our garage and storage room as well! My kids love to do yoga with me, so we hung their little dollar spot mats as well! I added this exercise ball which I also love! Lastly, I recently added some greenery and Health magazines to make my gym have a cozy feel!
Creating your happy.
Finding a space within your home dedicated to something you enjoy can have such a positive impact on your everyday life. That’s definitely been the case with me! During the Covid lockdowns, it was great to have a spot to “go to” to recharge a bit. Your happy space can be anything – a crafting station, a reading nook, home office or an area in the kitchen that houses your baking supplies. Whatever that spot might be, I think it’s wonderful to be able to spend time in a happy environment that makes you feel encouraged to do what you love. It could be big or small, fancy or simple, bright tones or soft ones. Make it yours and enjoy the time spent in it. You will not regret it.
