Home Gym Progress — Window Shades & Foam Flooring (And My Rookie Flooring Mistake)
Our home gym is coming together, and I have to tell you, I’m loving it! Maybe I’ll actually enjoy exercising once I get the room finished! Or maybe that’s asking way too much of a room. 😀 But I’ll at least enjoy being in the room.
Yesterday, I got about half of the foam flooring installed. I’m using these Forest Floor interlocking foam tiles in the color Carbon.
My WaterRower probably won’t stay in that spot permanently, but I put it there because it helps to make sense of my I chose a black floor and rustic walnut window shades. As you can see, those are the colors of my WaterRower (this is the one I have), so I’m trying to stick with those two colors for everything that is brought into the room. That’s not too difficult to do since most exercise equipment comes in black.
I absolutely love these shades, and I’ve used them since we lived in the condo. I used to buy these shades at Home Depot. They carried them in stock, and it was so convenient to be able to run to the store, grab a shade, have them cut it for me, and install the shade all on the same day.
Then they stopped carrying them, and I found a nice replacement at Blindsgalore, but they were much pricier. That’s what I used in the rest of the house, and they’re lined with blackout lining, and have the top down/bottom up function.
I came across these on Amazon when I was doing the bathroom remodel, and was thrilled to find them again! These are just like the Home Depot version, and while the price is higher these days, they’re the same great quality. They’re not lined, but I’m okay with that. And I don’t really use the top down/bottom up feature except in the bedroom, so I was okay with not having that function in the home gym.
The flooring went in very easily, as you can probably imagine. They’re just like big puzzle pieces that fit together.
I did make a terrible rookie mistake, though. What’s the rule when installing flooring (or doing any other project where you’re using multiple packages of a product)? Unpackage all of them and mix them up.
Well, I got ahead of myself and forgot to do that. I just grabbed the top package of six, opened it up, and installed them. Then I opened the next package and did the same. I kept going on like that, and then on about the fifth package, I noticed that the color was slightly different. This package had an oh-so-slight blue undertone. I probably wouldn’t have even noticed had they not been right up against the previous tiles that don’t have that undertone. Can you see it?
These three right here are slightly different…
But I’m not redoing it. This is one of those circumstances where I have to put my perfectionism on the back burner and just press forward. “It’s just a home gym foam floor,” I keep telling myself.
I did decide to tape the tiles together. I probably wouldn’t have bothered if I were the only one who was going to use the home gym. But I just imagined Matt’s wheelchair rolling on these tiles, and possibly separating a little bit as he turned his wheels on this flooring.
So I grabbed some duct tape, and with each new tile, I put a piece of tape right in the corner, with the sticky side facing up…
And then I put two strips of take on each side…
And then I pressed the new tile into place. So the foam floor is still a floating floor. Nothing is attached to the hardwood floor underneath. But the tiles are attached to each other. I’m hoping that this will help them hold up better and stay connected under Matt’s wheels as they turn on this floor.
So things are moving right along! I’m so pleased with the progress, and I’m loving how it’s turning out!
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
you know what, Kristi? I admire you for learning to accept things which aren’t perfectly perfect! I’m much of a perfectionist myself and know how this is a learning process.
The whole room is eye candy and I love the floor with the bright walls. Had you not pointed the tiles out I would never have seen them in the picture. But it is admirable that you just leave it be right now in order to enjoy the finished room sooner (and I bet you will enjoy it!!).
I wanna share a quote from an artist, Nam June Paik, who said (in exactly this mixture of English and German): “When too perfect, lieber Gott böse.” (the 2nd part reads as: “dear God cross”) And I try to remember that when I’m too finicky!
Wow that floor is so nice! I love the look. I remember you did a lot of research on that WaterRower – would I still be able to read about that? I also need to save the shades you picked. I love them, and I always love to top down/bottom up shades for the flexibility. Thanks for the link for them as well. This room is so much fun, and actually the nicest gym ever…I know you will enjoy the time you spend in there, as will Matt. Will be ready soon!
PS) will you have music or a TV in there to help pass the time?
I’ll be putting a large TV in the closet area above the chest of drawers that will go in there. That way, we can access music or watch a show as we exercise. Or Matt can play a game, since I’ll be setting up at least one, but maybe two, of his video gaming systems in there.
It’s looking so good! I love the vibrant colors you have chosen for the walls!
‘Looking good! I can’t wait to see which light fixture you choose for the “entry” area of the room.
This looks great! It will be interesting to see how everything comes together and how the puzzle piece flooring stays in place. We use similar flooring for stable and trailer mats and it does tend to “walk,” but those have livestock on them that are much heavier and I don’t think anybody bothers to tape the backs together on those, which might help.
Wow, looking fantastic!! Great job.
This looks fantastic!
I am not sure I remember seeing a solution to your rotten board problem. Did you ever figure anything out for that?
I removed that board and filled that space with really dense spray foam. That’ll work for now as long as we’re using the foam flooring.
Love the colors of this room. They speak happy energy to me!!
I’d have never noticed if you hadn’t pointed it out. I just thought the angle of the picture with the lighting was all it was. Looks fantastic!
I haven’t kept up. Is this the room that was the garage? I thought it was going to be your work room.
No, this room is on the opposite end of the house from my studio.
I just love this room! I still wouldn’t like exercising but I would be happier in this environment!
Its hard to see in a photo. I’ve had click vinyl flooring sun fade. (I’m in Queensland, Australia – we have a lot of sun.) You could open the rest of the boxes to see what your dealing with colour wise. If you take just the blue ones up, you can re-lay them where the light is different in the little hall.
Love the floor!
The gym is looking great. I would love to see your review of the WaterRower after you get an opportunity to use it.
Hi! My name is Rachel. I just wanted to pop in and say you have a beautiful blog. I am currently doing research for a Social Media class that I’m taking and I found your wonderful blog to use as an example. Keep up the good work and in regards to this room, holy cow! Its stunning! Keep up the good work and thank you for producing an amazing blog 🙂