Transform Your Garage Into a Stylish Home Gym

With the increased demands of parenting and newly expanded work obligations, Jenny struggled to find time to focus on her health and wellness. In an effort to make life a little easier, she created a convenient and motivational fitness studio right in her own garage.

Like so many people's garages, Jenny's was a catchall space for everything from kids' toys to seldom-used decorations.

Talk about magazine worthy! This garage now serves as a fully functioning fitness studio that's loaded with stylish design, creative storage and top-of-the-line equipment.

"The main priority in designing a multi-purpose space was to create a divider that separated the gym area from the multitude of bikes, go-carts and yard equipment that remained in the other half of the garage," Jenny says. Inexpensive fabric, curtain clip rings and an expandable rod allow the space to be easily shut off from the other side.

Another important facet of the garage remodel was to cover the cracked cement flooring. Peel-and-stick polyester fiber floor tiles from Haven Floors transformed the garage into a polished space that now has a cozy, room-like feel. Although epoxy flooring is an alternative, Jenny felt the mildew-resistant, tire-safe and non-slip tiles were a better option for all of the activity and little feet in the space.

Extending the user-friendly nature of peel-and-stick, the biggest visual impact in the studio is the addition of peel-and-stick wallpaper that features a sleek, contemporary pattern. Whether the traditional paste variety or DIY adhesive, wallpaper is a simple way to take a space from cold and lifeless to playful and stylish. If wallpaper seems like a daunting task, a fresh coat of paint will also do the trick.

To paint the cinder block base of the garage bays, Jenny used a black one-coat acrylic paint that's made for high-moisture, high-traffic rooms. The one-coat coverage makes the painting process quick, easy and budget-friendly.

Since garage ceilings often take a beating with moisture, dirt and cobwebs, Jenny knew she didn't want to spend a fortune on high-end light fixtures. Instead, she found these modern sputnik fixtures that give the space the statement she wanted without breaking the bank.

A white four-cubby unit with black fabric bins serves as storage for smaller workout equipment such as resistance bands, gliders and smaller weights.

With scorching hot Tennessee summers and below-freezing temperatures in the winter, creating a comfortable workout environment was essential. "In preparation for warmer summers, we took a cue from professional sports teams and replaced our box fan with an industrial fan that has 11 speeds. For a more comprehensive system, we also installed an indoor ductless unit that both heats and cools," Jenny says.

A heavy-duty overhead ceiling rack houses holiday decor and other bulky items to free up the ground below while also providing extra storage.

As an alternative to the traditional unframed gym wall mirror, three vertical floor-length mirrors were hung along the sidewall for a more refined, modern look.

For the final touches of design, Jenny styled her space with faux plants, white-washed baskets and other accessories throughout. "Although the purpose of the space is to sweat, I felt it important to create an area that was not only functional but beautiful as well," she says.

For days when she exercises with her children, Jenny created a little workout area that includes a kids' gymnastics bar and a safety mat. This small area has proven to be very helpful on busy days but more importantly, teaches her children the importance of health and wellness as they can "exercise" alongside her and her husband.