Home Gym — Options For Closet Walls (Wallpaper, Stripes, or Solid Color?)

Lyra

I like the new feet! They look more intentional, whereas the old base (though nice) had more of a “dresser sitting on a table” look to it.

While my own vote is for the wallpaper accent wall, I think you should do the option you’ll regret the least and genuinely like the most, regardless of how much extra time or cost it will take 🙂 (So do not be fooled by the ease of the teal wall if you are already finding it to be a blah option.)

Alyssa

Could you paint it white and put up floral accents—like your attempt at the hand-drawn butterflies and birds you did a while back? I agree that the wallpaper lightens things up, but I also see your point about covering up that much money spent. Or a two-tone paint texture pattern instead?

Love the colors!!

Gina R

Another idea could be to do the stripes in the closet and leave an opening for a large stripe, just like you did for the ladder thingy, but this could be the stripe for the wall mural?? That way much of the stripes could cover the uncovered parts of the wall and the large stripe could anchor that dresser and art. Just a thought… And I don’t get paid to think… LOL

Bobbi

I would continue the stripes, especially since so much of the wall will be covered with mirrors, dresser and TV.

Joan Hornung

Not a fan of the wallpaper…takes away from the stripes and too busy – especially since so much of it will be covered I think you will lose the look of it anyway. I like the idea of a simple finish in that closet since it will have mirrors, a desk and a cool sign that will get a bit lost with the paper – is there a TV or monitor as well for the games? I think it is best to make it one color, but since there is no green on that wall around the closet, I like a pale yellow, or the very pale green and then hang all the pieces and have it just kind of blend in, and feature all the other things. (I might be too conservative for you though!? 😂

Ruth Josey

I agree that whatever you choose is going to be covered so much by TV and mirrors you may not want to spend too much time or money on it. The wallpaper is gorgeous but I do agree that the Insta picture makes it difficult to focus on the signage (though theirs is much darker a print than yours). I’m not in love with the blue in the picture as the wall color. Maybe a lighter version of it. Love the dressed-up dresser!

Krikit

Personally, until I had everything in hand that is intended for that closet niche, I wouldn’t spend any time and money to change the wall, as very little of it may show, and then not be bothersome anymore.

If, after seeing how much wall does show after all the other elements are accounted for, and I still was bothered, I’d decide then how much time and/or money I wanted to invest on very little wall showing.

I like your new feet on the srorage dresser. I like the black part of the previous foot base. I think the new feet on the previous black base would be a perfect union, and look much more balanced on the bottom.

Sandra Binion

If you do the stripes, make sure they line up with the wall above the closet. A lighter green from your stripes would suit me better as a solid color. And lastly, the wallpaper is lovely! But as you say, you will be covering most of it with items on the wall. Personally, I would go with one of the solid colors of the stripes. But you know what you like and that is the most important. You amaze me with your energy!
I prefer the walnut feet. I have some of the same on a coffee table and the curved shape of the table is the same as the feet, as I added them to give height to the table. But yours, to me, do not seem to fit.

Kim May

Here is my two cents. I like your legs way better because I think the walnut base really classes up the dresser. I like seeing the walnut going all the way across the front of the dresser.
The floral wallpaper is beautiful! However, I don’t think it belongs in a gym. If it were me, not because I want to hurry up and get it done, but because you are going to have two big mirrors and a TV plus the dresser, I would paint the closet a solid color. The work to appeal ratio on the stripes just doesn’t seem worth it. One last thought- how about wide stripes going vertically in the closet or maybe paint large flowers in the colors of the stripes. Looking forward to your decision!

Sue2

No to the wallpaper and yes to a solid color. You plan to put enough things on that wall and the wallpaper would create way more of a distraction from what will be on the television. Same goes with more stripes. As one of the other commentators mentioned, don’t make it too complicated.

cyd

My two cents. I loved your original legs. The new are cool but my eye wants to line them up with the walnut drawers (inset a little from where they are).
I think the issue with the coral closet is the depth of the color. It looks heavy with the dresser and I think the dark teal would do the same. Maybe a lighter version?
Or I’d plan the placement of everything in the closet and then do custom stripes as you did for some of the equipment. It would look intentional and not as busy.
I’m a wallpaper fan but the floral isn’t doing it for me. I could see something light and geometric. But you could paint that also.
Lots to consider!

Jannelle

I love how you take us through your process! I would paint the closet the same color as the Swedish Ladder space. For me that gives a continuity of the “big” spaces in the room. I believe once it is filled with the gaming systems, etc… it will take away some of the visual space so it won’t be so overwhelming.
And while I love the new legs, somehow they don’t feel right. To me they look the same as someone shrugging their shoulders. Maybe if they were put on after that bottom walnut piece was attached?
I hope you find the solution that makes you happy.

Melissa Kramer

Love that wallpaper. My only concern would be will it be distracting to the eye when you are looking at TV?

The leg options are both good so very hard to decide on those. I feel like the bulkier legs “fit” a gym setting more than the streamlined legs…..maybe 🙂

Sian

I know it’s not what you asked but I just see a rally classy black wall, dressed with your tv, mirrors and neon sign and it looks amazing

Allison Simpson

I think it would look great an (almost) black color with that beautiful neon sign over it!

Charity

Would it bother you that the stripes in the closet are different colors that the stripes around the closet?

If I were you I’d paint it a solid color (1 day and some paint) and see how you like it. If you don’t like it we all know you’ll have no problem changing it. I love the wallpaper however if it’s going to be mostly covered is it worth the expense if you can live with the solid color.

JillM

It appears to me that the stripe pattern in the closet won’t align with the stripe pattern above the cased opening. Will that drive you crazy? What about painting that wall dark charcoal/black and letting the items on shelves be the colorful pop? Sorry, I’m not much help here.

Peg

Love the new legs!!! And love love love the wallpaper!! Go for it, this is you.

Wendy

My immediate thought, before seeing your options, was continue the stripes – it would keep the same theme of the room too. I love the stripes! Plus, if you are going to cover most of it up with TV, etc, i feel like the stripes would blend right in. Makes the closet feel less separated from the rest of the space.

I know it would be super time consuming, but you could always cover it with the wallpaper if the stripes didn’t work out.

Becky M

Easiest and cheapest solution is: Leave it alone for now. Put in the TV, mirrors, neon sign and everything else that goes in the closet, stand back and look at it, then decide what to do.

Erin

What about switching to really wide and less gradient stripes in the closet? I wide center teal stripe, a wide creamy tannish stripe on either side, and a wide coral stripe at the outer edges? Still keeps the stripe theme, cuts down time dramatically, and provides the teal focus that you love.

Mary Ellen

The new feet look great and give the dresser a Regency/vintage look! I don’t like the wallpaper at all or with your stripes.

Mollie

The beautiful floral wallpaper breaks up the severity of the stripes, so I’d go with a floral. Love the dresser makeover! The gym looks amazing! Kudos to you for all your planning and hard work!!

Anne

What if you did a wide stripe to go behind the dresser – like the place where you are going to hang the Swedish ladder – and then regular stripes for the rest of it? That cuts down on the effort a little bit, and it matches a motif you’ve already used elsewhere in the room.

Laura H.

I think the wallpaper is very pretty, but I think it would make the room too busy once you get everything else put in. I can’t see a neon sign with that particular wallpaper. This is for TV and gaming, right? I just feel like that would be too much. Even though it takes longer, I would just continue the stripes in the closet. I think that looks great. I do love that dark teal color but painting the closet with it feels like what it is – a last minute change – because the stripes above the closet don’t make sense using it. I also think the walnut legs with the base look better. You barely see the gold legs but, to me, they seem too insubstantial for that piece of furniture. Maybe they look different in person than they do on a computer monitor. This is just my two cents, for whatever it’s worth. Whatever you do will come out beautifully, as always.

Lori

Since you asked….I love the wall paper, but not for a gym. I’d paint only the back wall the teal and leave the stripes on the side for a contrast. As for the feet, can you get a vacuum cleaner under either of them? That’s why I vote for no feet. Just put the base molding against the carpet and call it good. Extra housework not required!

Erin

Kristi, you’re so good at creating the mock-ups- please do one with the tv and art and stuff.
Visually, I prefer the first legs that you made. I do understand the second leg choice though.
Visually, I prefer the stripes, coral, blue and flowers in that order. I get motion sick easily and migraines triggered by vertical lines/light though, and personally I would choose a solid color behind the TV so I don’t get sick. However, I probably would change my mind again once I see all of the other stuff included in a mock up. Just my 2 cents and I’m just along for the ride! 😂

Valerie Maddocks

Get the painters’ tape !!
Sorry, but I think that while the floral paper is very pretty and goes with your walls perfectly, for me, it dilutes the “motivation to exercise”.

The solid colour may be better in one of the “minty” greens …. not as dull – so this would be my second choice.

Sheila Felix

I love the dresser! I love the wall paper! Just not in this room. This is a workout room both physically and mentally for Matt. Floral just does not seem to fit in this room. I also thin continuing the stripes is a bit much as most will be covered with TV and shelves. A possible solution is to repeat the Swedish Ladder wall. Put the large teal stripe in the middle. Almost as frame around the dresser and TV. Then create your stripes out from there. It is not as busy as the striped walls and draws the eye in and tells the brain. This is the gaming area. As always I am sure you will find a solution and I will drool over this room!
Sheila F.

Carol

Well, since you asked…LOL! I like the walnut base and legs best…it looks like the dresser is floating in air with the new legs (if you keep the new legs, will you match the color to the pulls?).

For the walls, would you make the stripes inside the closet match the order of the ones above the opening? The mismatch is a little jarring. The wallpaper is so pretty, but seems a little too “boudoire” for the gym…could you do something like the feature wall in the guest room? Maybe something to tone down all the coral but not too “petty”? I don’t envy you: I see the issues you’re dealing with and really have no clue how best to remedy them. I do know it will look lovely when you’re done, no matter what you decide to do! (I love that you share this kind of thing–it is very educational!)

Patrice

I prefer the newer legs on the dresser because the gentle curves repeat the curves in the pulls – adding all those small curves to such a straight, rectilinearly styled dresser, balances the design in total so well…
The previous base and legs appeared rather ‘DIY add on’ to me and did not fit your usually elegant style choices in your designs.

Carol Willis-Holden

I prefer the continuation of the stripes.

Dotdot

Get the painters tape! And I like the original feet you made.

Katie

Wall paper. It is PERFECT

Kerstin

Here’s a crazy idea – why don’t you try your personal wallpaper in that space, the one that you have in your studio?

MarySue

This room is turning out so great!
For the wall inside the closet, I think the wallpaper is actually the best option. The solid teal just doesn’t look right to me, considering the colors of the stripes above the cased opening. The striped closet wall works, but if most of the middle will be covered by the dresser and TV, then the coral is what you will still mostly see. The wallpaper is a perfect complement to the rest of the room and is cheerful and bright. And I think it will be worth the time and the cost to do what you’re most excited about.

Designer Lauren

I’d call it a day with the walmart dresser. Keep the new legs and awesome greek key style pulls and put them on a solid wood vintage dresser from FB Marketplace that feels like quality when you open/fill the drawers. It always takes me a few tries to get it right. NBD.

Then hang the neon sign and art in the room and go from there on the wall decision.

Mrs. Susan Markarian

Love love love the wallpaper

Angela

What about doing vertical boards painted white? Like a verticle shiplap? It would continue the look of stripes but then make the dresser and neon light the focal point of that part

Angie

Kristi this is such a fun room! I love the wallpaper but not for the closet…it seems it would be too covered up with your furniture, sign, TV, mirrors, etc. Maybe another room like your studio bathroom which you’d mentioned in an earlier post would undergo some changes? I know this isn’t your usual since you love color but I think a chalkboard look for the closet would be nice. Your fun neon sign, the TV and graphics in Matt’s game wouldn’t be competing with color and it would really showcase your stripes. That would also solve your electrical box dilemma since you could paint it also. No matter what you do it will be gorgeous as usual!

Mrs. Kelley Dibble

Continue your gorgeous stripes, my dear!

Debbie

No to wallpaper. Solid paint like the last yellow color strip outside the closet. I like the original legs.

Catherine

Go with the wallpaper.

Linda

I love the new dresser with walnut veneer and hardware! I like both legs, but prefer the walnut legs, solid and less trendy. Some gold trim at the bottom of the walnut legs might be nice. And I love the walnut frame at the bottom of dresser.
I would wait until you have installed tv, mirrors, etc. before committing to a time consuming and/or expensive option. Frustrating to wait and see, then possibly start over later, but this is the best way to get a better perspective. The wallpaper is beautiful, love the white and airy background. My vote if you were to go with a solid colour for the wall would be one of the lighter options. I also love the stripes, such a hard decision. Love what you do Kristi and your sharing spirit!!
About the closet stripes matching with the stripes above the closet door. The depth of field will no doubt make the width of the stripes look skewed in any case, but the same colour placement would minimize it. Such a great job! You are a true inspiration x

Sally

definitely the wall paper, it will look fabulous, more stripes is too much I think and the green paint will really not be much different than the coral paint.