How To Revamp a Backyard Shed as a Workout Space

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

You’ve got a shed sitting in the backyard, half-full of rakes you haven’t touched in two years and maybe a broken lawnmower. Meanwhile, you’re paying for a gym membership or squeezing workouts into your living room. It doesn’t have to be that way. Revamping a backyard shed as a workout space is more doable than you’d think, and the result is a dedicated spot that’s always available, zero commute required.

Clear It Out and Clean It Up

Get everything out. Donate what you don’t use, toss what’s broken, and store what you actually need somewhere else. Once the shed is empty, do a deep clean to eliminate mold and dust, which are the last things you want in an enclosed space where you’ll be breathing extra hard. Just like a clean outdoor space is motivating, a clean indoor shed sets a good tone for your workouts and will encourage you to maintain the space going forward.

Do a Structural Check

Before you move a single dumbbell into the space, make sure it’s ready to handle becoming a gym. If the foundation is cracked or unstable, that’s your first repair. The strongest types of foundations for your shed vary by material and load, so understand what yours needs before you start stacking equipment on it. You should also verify that the walls and roof aren’t cracked or otherwise in disrepair.

Upgrade the Flooring

The original shed floor probably wasn’t built for lateral jumps or deadlifts. To protect the subfloor, reduce noise, and give your feet and joints a more forgiving surface, install rubber flooring. This type of flooring typically comes as interlocking tiles that are easy to install yourself, and they’re removable if you ever need to access the floor underneath.

Handle Ventilation and Temperature

Sheds trap heat in summer and get cold enough to crack rubber in winter. The effects depend on where you live, but wherever that is, you need a simple window fan or wall-mounted exhaust fan. If you plan to use the space year-round, consider a small electric space heater for cold months and a portable AC unit or mini-split for heat.

Choose Equipment That Fits the Space

As you can imagine, maximizing limited space in your gym setup is the biggest challenge. Be realistic, because you’re not going to be able to enjoy an expansive selection of equipment in a shed. That said, you have many smart, compact options to choose from.

For example, buy one adjustable dumbbell instead of an entire rack. The bench you get can fold up against the wall when not in use. You can mount a pull-up bar to the doorframe if the structure supports it. And lastly, you can make use of versatile equipment with a small footprint, such as resistance bands or TRX straps.

Make Your Shed Your Gym

You don’t need a massive budget or construction experience to revamp your backyard shed as a workout space. A structural check, good flooring, airflow, and the right compact equipment get you most of the way there. The rest is just personalizing it so it works for how you train. Start with one step at a time, and you’ll have a fully functional setup before you know it.