Now that the holidays are over, I am putting some time into completing Part 2 of the Spare Bedroom Makeover Series.  This room is used for several purposes – Library, Exercise and Sewing.  If you missed Part 1 – the Library, you can find it HERE.  

Since we’ve moved into the house, this room’s primarily purpose was a space for me to exercise.  My goal was to create a space that not only reminded me to exercise (one reason the weight rack is left out in the open), but allowed me to play a streamed or DVD workout, and have my equipment handy but mostly unseen.  

Again I found pieces around the house and purchased second-hand that when given new paint and hardware brought them to life.  When choosing pieces, the storage the pieces could provide was key.

The first step was to remove a solid oak entertainment center we had brought with us when we moved.  It was too large for the room and would later be donated to a thrift store.  We tried to sell it, give it away but there were no takers.  Sometimes you just need it gone so you can move on.

I purchased this piece for $50.00 from a young mom who was trying her hand at repainting furniture.  When I got it home, I went to clean it and the Windex took the paint completely off since a sealer hadn’t been applied.  My blue piece now had a gaping black circle. There was a moment when I thought “Well, that wasn’t the best purchase I’ve ever made.”  But soon Plan B was formed and I was heading to the store to choose a color of chalk paint.  I find this the hardest part – what color????  I chose a color that looked like a favorite pair of soft denim jeans.

I also pulled a wobbly metal file cabinet we have had for over 20 years out of the den (hmm! would the chalk paint adhere to metal?) 

Yeah!  The paint adhered beautifully.  New hardware was added.  To add a little height and stabilize the cabinet from rocking, I picked up some wooden toy wheels and painted them.  Jeff was able to screw them to the bottom.  I added foam pads to protect our hardwood floors.

Here are the pieces painted with new hardware.  I found a light that happened to have unfinished wood and a shade that had a similar blue.  The picture was a $10 find from Offer Up.  There is still room for my laptop and having the enlarged monitor is nice when I’m utilizing a streamed or DVD workout.

I was able to store my workout DVD’s and my step risers inside.  The file cabinet has binders that hold written workouts and also sewing information (I will talk more about that in Part 3)

I also bought a few small bottles of chalk paint in other colors for accent pieces.  What a difference painting the wood on the lamp brown made.  All of sudden it blends in with the picture frame as well as other elements in the room.

I was able to place my stability bench in the closet as well as the bottom part of my step bench.

An exercise tubing with handles is attached to my door along with towel holder.

Two bottom shelves of the library bookcase are used to house assorted plastic containers to hold miscellaneous exercise equipment.  I used some of the blue paint to paint the containers so they matched the furniture.  

I have an inexpensive dorm rug in this room which gives a little extra cushion to my exercise mat.  When the mat is not in use, it is rolled up and tied with a piece of ribbon and stored behind the file cabinet along with my foam roller.

My workout clothes and shoes, headband, hair ties are stored in a cloth bin so all I need to do is pull it down and get dressed.   I also have a bag packed with gym card, iPod, headphones, toiletries, flip flops, and makeup that is stored behind the gray library chair.  Having this packed and ready to go helps me eliminate excuses for early morning workouts when I want to head to the gym, shower and then head straight to work.

My workout clothes storage bin is stored on top of the library bookshelf.

I am pleased as punch with the exercise area of this room.  It is well equipped, functional and best of all except for my weight rack, the room doesn’t feel like a workout room unless it is in use.

Estimated Cost of the Exercise Portion – $200.00 

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