Home gym project
How We Turned Part of a Shed Into a Home Gym
When we decided to create a home gym, we didn't build a new room or extension. We used part of an existing shed. That gave us a good starting point because the structure and concrete slab were already there. But we also knew that simply putting exercise equipment into a shed wasn't going to create somewhere we would particularly want to exercise. The aim was to turn one section into a comfortable, finished room while keeping the rest of the shed for storage.
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Before
AfterStarting with the shed we already had
One of the advantages of this project was that we weren't starting from scratch.
The shed already had a good concrete slab and enough space for us to divide its uses.
We converted one section into the gym and kept the larger section as a working storage area for bikes, boards, tools and all the other things that tend to accumulate in a shed.
It meant we could create a dedicated exercise room without sacrificing the practical reason we had a shed in the first place.
Making it feel like a proper room
This was probably the most important part of the conversion.
The gym section was framed, insulated, plastered and painted, and electrical work was added.
Insulation was particularly important. We wanted the room to be comfortable enough to actually use throughout the year rather than feeling like an uninsulated shed with some gym equipment sitting in it.
Once everything was finished, you really wouldn't know from inside that the room forms part of the shed.
Adding a bigger window
One of the best decisions we made was installing a larger custom window.
It brought much more natural light into the room and gave us a view outside while exercising.
That made an enormous difference to how the space feels.
Rather than being a dark enclosed room, it feels connected to the bush outside and is somewhere we actually enjoy spending time.
The window was one of the more expensive individual parts of the conversion, but it is something we would definitely do again.
For the full cost breakdown, read How Much It Cost Us to Turn Part of a Shed Into a Home Gym.
Using mirrors instead of custom gym mirrors
We wanted plenty of mirrors but didn't have custom gym mirrors made.
Instead, we used several individual mirrors that cost roughly $30 to $100 each depending on their size.
Apart from being useful when exercising, they reflect the natural light and make the relatively compact room feel larger.
It was one of the cheaper parts of the project but made a surprisingly big visual difference.
Working with the existing concrete floor
The concrete slab was already there and in good condition, so we didn't need to install a completely new floor.
For the main exercise area we added our Miramat Mega (paid link).
It gives us a large dedicated surface for floor exercises and works well with the dumbbells and other equipment we use.
Keeping the existing concrete visible around it also suited the space. We weren't trying to disguise every element of the original shed.
Keeping the equipment relatively simple
We didn't try to recreate a commercial gym at home. We chose a NordicTrack treadmill, a versatile SPOR workout bench, PROIRON dumbbells (paid link) and a few smaller pieces based on what we would actually use.
My husband mainly uses the darker adjustable dumbbell and heavier 8 kg pair (paid link), while I use the lighter neoprene dumbbell pairs (paid link). We store them on a Bongkim dumbbell rack (paid link).
We also use a Manduka PRO Yoga Mat (paid link), Manduka foam yoga blocks (paid link) and an Everfit vibration plate (paid link). Keeping the equipment simple left enough open floor space for the room to work well. The full equipment list and prices are included in How Much It Cost Us to Turn Part of a Shed Into a Home Gym.
What made the biggest difference?
Looking back, the things that made this work weren't necessarily the gym equipment.
They were the decisions that made the shed feel like a room.
The insulation made it comfortable.
The larger window brought in natural light and a view.
The mirrors made the room feel bigger.
The plastered and painted walls made it feel finished.
And having a good concrete slab already there gave us a solid starting point.
Those things made more difference to the finished space than filling it with expensive exercise equipment would have.
Why having a home gym works for us
The biggest benefit is convenience.
We have a young family and live some distance from the closest gym. By the time we drove there, exercised and drove home, going to the gym would take a fairly substantial chunk out of the day.
Having it at home removes that barrier.
We don't need an enormous gym or every possible piece of equipment.
We need a comfortable room with enough equipment to exercise properly and, most importantly, somewhere that is easy to use.
That's what this conversion gave us.
It is one of the practical projects that forms part of our move from renovating our first home to building a new life on the Great Ocean Road.
How much did the conversion cost?
Rather than repeat the figures here, we've broken down the building work, custom window, flooring, mirrors and equipment separately in How Much It Cost Us to Turn Part of a Shed Into a Home Gym.
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