If you’ve been following along, you might remember my earlier posts about our small home gym makeover—starting with the original renovation plans and more recently, the inspiration board that kicked off the mood.
But—plot twist—I’m deviating a little from that initial inspiration. What started as a “fun and playful” vibe has grown up a bit. The keywords now? Grown-up, inspiring, colourful, practical. Still uplifting, still interesting—but with more edge and intention. Less “let’s make workouts feel fun!” and more “this space is part of the house and it deserves to look good.”
Here’s what’s actually happening:
Lighting & electrics
This one’s easy: no change. I had big dreams of adding a wooden ceiling fan—something beautiful and sculptural that would’ve made the ceiling more of a feature. But Mr M vetoed it (fair enough, he’s the one sweating in there), pointing out the air con works perfectly well and he’s never too hot. Plus, adding the fan would’ve meant getting an electrician in to redo the entire ceiling configuration.
So, fan dreams: shelved. Budget: preserved.
Flooring
Time to say goodbye to the soft, uninspiring fitted carpet. It’s not remotely suitable for a gym space and the colour does nothing for the room. In its place? Hard-wearing carpet tiles in a deep, moody blue with flecks of green throughout. Practical, stylish and a major upgrade.
Ceiling
This is where the fun comes back in—because we’re wallpapering it! Pattern on the ceiling might sound a bit out there, but in a smaller space like this, it’s the perfect way to bring in personality without overwhelming the room. It’ll give the whole space a more finished, design-led feel.
Walls
We’re going bold. I’m still narrowing down the perfect muddy green—a hue somewhere between olive, khaki and that avocado you probably should’ve eaten yesterday. It’s murky, earthy and exactly what this space needs to anchor everything else.
I’m also planning to add modern panelling to bring in some texture and subtle structure. It’s all about layering.
Woodwork
No more white trims and doors, thanks. They feel too “default” in a room that’s becoming anything but. The woodwork will be painted in a rich, deep tone to ground the room and make it feel more cohesive.
Window dressings
The long white curtains that came with the house have never worked in here—too floaty, too fussy and constantly in the way. Not having any window dressings is not an option as they will add much-needed softness to an otherwise quite hard-edged space. Roller blinds would be a more affordable choice, but I’m opting for roman blinds in a beautiful fabric as it will add more texture and layers to the room.
Furniture & equipment
No new pieces needed! Everything we use in the space is already here. This small home gym makeover is about upgrading the shell—not changing the function. It’s all about creating a space that supports what’s already working, while making it a whole lot nicer to be in.
I’m currently juggling quotes, finalising orders and staring at far too many paint swatches—but the plan is in motion. And yes, it will be done before the end of the year. Hold me to it.
Follow along with the room transformation journey here.
More interior styling inspiration for you to discover:
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