Last Updated on February 18, 2024 by lindseymahoney
When we began planning our unfinished basement makeover, it was important to create a designated area for a home gym. I was excited to have all of the exercise equipment away from the kids’ play area but also easily accessible.
Before the unfinished basement makeover, the space was dark, dirty, and not a place where we wanted to hang out. It definitely became the dumping ground for items we wanted out of site and a place for storage.
*Check out the complete unfinished basement makeover here!
Table of Contents
- Unfinished Basement Home Gym Before
- Unfinished Basement Home Gym Tips
- 1 | Create a Defined Area for All Gym Equipment
- 2 | Update Basement Lighting
- 3 | Paint Everything
- 4 | Accessorize the Home Gym
- 5 | Add Equipment to Your Home Gym
- Materials and Products Used in the Home Gym
- More Content You Will Love
Unfinished Basement Home Gym Before
Here are my top tips for creating a home gym in your basement without spending a fortune.
Unfinished Basement Home Gym Tips
[Affiliate links are included where I receive a small commission at no additional cost to the consumer. Thanks for supporting Building Bluebird!]
1 | Create a Defined Area for All Gym Equipment
Before the makeover, the Peloton was in the same area as the kids’ play area.
It was in the way and I was always concerned that they would break something!
I chose the back corner of our unfinished basement so that the kids did not have to walk through to get to their toys.
There is something about having all of the gym equipment set up in a specific area that makes it feel like a REAL gym!
I created 4 designated spaces in our unfinished basement, including a storage room that is hidden by two walls (we added) and a pocket door.
The new home gym area shares one of the new drywall walls which creates a nice pocket of the basement that is the perfect size.
2 | Update Basement Lighting
There is nothing more uninviting than pull-chain light bulbs in an unfinished basement!
We hired an electrician to add a few can lights throughout the basement that connects to a light switch. Overhead lighting is a huge factor in making a space feel livable.
While the electricians were at our home, we asked them to add a few outlets to the new walls for the storage room. With concrete walls, our unfinished basement did not have any wall outlets, so adding a few makes such a difference!
3 | Paint Everything
When I have a tight budget, paint is my best friend!
First, I sprayed the exposed basement ceiling black and it turned out incredible. I used Valspar 2000 flat black paint on the ceiling and only applied a single coat.
Next, I applied a fresh coat of white paint on the walls and the entire basement felt bright and clean.
Finally, I painted the concrete floors a light gray. One of my big issues with working out in the basement before the makeover was the fear of bugs crawling on me! With the fresh coat of paint on the floors I can easily see anything that might come my way. They look so clean, too!
4 | Accessorize the Home Gym
We used one of our old TVs and hung it on the new wall that enclosed the storage room. This TV is separate from the main television where the kids play video games and watch TV and it is perfect for Peloton workouts.
When our kitchen was renovated, I saved the large mirrors behind the old wet bar and reused them in our basement home gym. The two large mirrors are a great addition to the gym and it cost us zero dollars to reuse them!
Because the floors are concrete, we added padded floor mats to the home gym area. It is great to have that extra padding for floor workouts and to cushion the weights when they hit the ground.
5 | Add Equipment to Your Home Gym
Along with the standard equipment we set up in the basement home gym, we also hung a punching bag and climbing rope from the exposed ceiling.
The kids love to climb the rope and ring the bell, it is a fun addition to the space.
Materials and Products Used in the Home Gym
- Ceiling Paint
- Floor Paint
- Punching bag
- Peloton
- Floor mats
- Climbing rope
With a little bit of elbow grease and a lot of paint, you too can create a beautiful home gym in your unfinished basement without spending a fortune. I hope these simple tips inspire you to create a motivating workout area in your home!