I would not try to disguise it.
It is what it is.

A screen sounds like it will turn into the excuse to NOT use the treadmill...

I have a Nordic Track treadmill in my basement laundry room, so no need to disguise it, but I am wondering about yours. Since mine is commercial quality, it is not that easy to raise it up and down in storage mode. It can be done, but not something I would want to do every day.
If yours is light enough to lower and raise then I think a folding screen would be a nice solution. You can start a thread to recommendations for light and easy to move folding screens.
You can also go easy on yourself. Have a folding screen when you know you are going to entertain.
I do understand how you feel. I struggle with a husband who likes to display his gym clothes, winter coats etc.in our living room because it is easy to drop everything there. I am so used to seeing it there that when we had friends come over on New Years Eve, after they left, I realized I didn't remove the articles like I planned to!

If you do indeed intend to hide it then a folding screen is about as hassle free as possible- you pick it up and set it back down over to the side.
How is that too hard?

My treadmill is right out there in plain sight in my family room but it sees at least an hour and a half of use every day. I would be far more ashamed of a treadmill hidden and disguised and obviously unused than one that clearly is used daily.

Could you post a photo of the room so we get an idea of the size of the area?

If the room is small, a folding screen large enough to hide the treadmill is going to dominate the room.

Before we moved to a bigger place, my bulky recumbent bike was in the corner of the living room, undisguised. I agree with those who say these things are what they are. It's even more cumbersome to try to hide them.

I would consider a ceiling mounted track for hanging a drape, like what they use in hospital rooms....easy to move out of the way and add softness to a room. Our treadmill is in the exercise room so we have no need to hide it, but if it were in another room, I'd really hate looking at it all the time.

Here is a link that might be useful: drapery track systems

Eyeglasses and fake nose, lol. Joking.

I would also say a Japanese type shoji screen. It is much easier to fold the screen than to try to move or fold a treadmill.

This post was edited by gsciencechick on Wed, Jan 2, 13 at 11:31

Is the 2nd bedroom being used? Just wondering why it can't go there.
Otherwise, embrace it and be proud that you're doing something healthy for yourself. I'd live with it for a few months before spending money on drapes, hardware,or screens.
As mentioned above, if exercise equipment isn't easily accessible it'll never be used.

I really appreciate the feedback from everyone, and your concern that my treadmill be used. Yayagal, your comment was hilarious. What a sense of humor! Apparently the fold up screen is not a big deal. I will wait several months as several have suggested to see how this plays out. If putting it into position becomes too difficult, I'll move it into the garage and exercise out there. There is no way I'm going to have a treadmill sitting in a nicely furnished room -- that's just me. The other bedroom has a bed taking up almost the entire room, which is where I sleep. If it stays inside, I'll post photos for feedback.

Why would you have to move the folding screen? Couldn't it be set up so that you walk around the screen to where the treadmill is, use the treadmill and then walk back out to the rest of the room?

Or am I missing something here?

What if the screen only went up as high as the top of the treadmill? Then, moving it would not be necessary. I am assuming you would move the screen so it would not be in front of your face and/or to watch TV.

i guess my post went with the duplicate!!