The Texas Basement: Our Above‑Garage DIY Transformation
If you’re from Texas, you already know the deal: basements aren’t really a thing here. But what is a thing? That bonus space above the garage…often unfinished, underused, or stuck as a dated media room. Around here, we lovingly call it the Texas basement, and today I’m walking you through how we transformed ours into a fully functional, family‑friendly gym and hangout space.
This above‑garage room is easily one of the coolest features of our new home, and while it already had good bones (hello, outlets and surround sound), it needed a serious refresh to make it work for our family. So welcome to our next DIY project – from carpet tear‑out to batting cage dreams.
You know the drill – most, if not anything, we talk about can be found in my Amazon Storefront, and if not there, I’ll link ya to it! Let’s go!
Step 1: Out Goes the Carpet
The carpet was the first thing to go. We knew immediately that we weren’t keeping carpet anywhere in this space — especially if this room was going to double as a gym and activity zone. Out it went.
Pro tip: Cut the carpet into large sections before rolling it up. It makes hauling it out so much easier and saves your back in the process.
Step 2: Remove the Nail Strips
Once the carpet was gone, the nail strips had to follow. This step officially gave us a blank slate, and honestly, it was pretty satisfying. A crowbar quickly became my best friend here, making it easier to pry up the strips and pull out all those stubborn nails.
Pro Tip: Wear gloves if you value your knuckle skin 😉
Step 3: Paint It Black
If you know me, you knew this was coming. We painted the entire room black…specifically Iron Ore by Sherwin‑Williams. It’s the exact same color we used on our garage ceilings, and it creates such a bold, modern vibe. With the carpet gone, I felt confident breaking out the paint sprayer. Had we ever used one before? Absolutely not. Did I want to roll an entire room by hand? Also absolutely not. The sprayer made this step faster and gave us a smooth, professional finish.
Step 4: Flooring (Upper & Lower)
This is where things started getting really fun…and where y’all probably started guessing what this room was becoming. You can see it just to the left there (and more in pics to come) – we rolled out a strip of turf down the center of the room and finished the surrounding areas with black rubber gym flooring (yes, the same kind we had in our old home gym). Instantly, the space started feeling purposeful and exciting.
And I finished the elevated surface with peel‑and‑stick floor tile. These marble‑patterned, checkered tiles come in multiple colors and are surprisingly easy to install. All I used was a carpenter square and a razor blade. Score the tile, snap it apart, and it fits perfectly around edges and corners. We’ve used this flooring before, so I know it lasts…and it’s absolutely gorgeous.
Step 5: Upgrade the Lighting
An all‑black room is a vibe…but only if you have great lighting. The original six can lights just weren’t cutting it, so we added LED rectangle lights similar to the hexagon lights we use in the garage. Once those went up, the difference was night and day. By the way… these lights are such a beginner‑friendly DIY! All you really need is a drill and a laser level. If you’re looking for a high‑impact upgrade, lighting is it. Let there be light in the Texas basement!
Step 7: Gym Equipment + Batting Cage Setup
The final step brought everything together. We installed our workout rig (with my favorite laser level making an appearance, of course), dumbbell weight rack, dumbbells, and added a retractable net system that rolls down on cables, creating a fully enclosed batting cage for the kids. And don’t worry — baseballs are notgetting through that net.
When the kids aren’t hitting balls, this space becomes the perfect home gym. With surround sound, upgraded lighting, an open layout, Peloton, and weight racks, it checks every box for functionality and fun. Shop gym equipment HERE and HERE!
Final Thoughts: A Texas Basement Done Right
This above‑garage space has gone from an outdated media room to one of the most‑used rooms in our home. It’s functional, flexible, and designed for real life, including workouts, baseball practice, and everything in between. If you’ve got a Texas basement sitting unused or underwhelming, consider this your sign. With a little vision (and a few solid DIY weekends), it can become a space your whole family actually wants to spend time in.
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Love y’all bigger than Texas!
XO, Katie
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