It's easy for me, but that's because I'm not you. I'd choose the workout room, but then, I do use my home treadmill a lot, and I don't do crafts (I don't even wrap gifts).

I'd choose workout room too. I wish we had the space for a treadmill. As much as I love walking outdoors I hate it during the months of high humidity ... which means I don't do it then.

Couldn't you buy a pad for your library table for the times you want to craft?

I would love to have both, but opted for a workout room instead. I'm not the kind of person who can work out at a gym, so having my own room for a full rack and weights was important. We built it in a little bonus room on the garage level. I love my room :)

That said, SO's youngest just turned 18 and is in his last year of high school. I am counting down the days until I can turn that room into a sewing room! Right now, I end up spreading out on the dining room table for big projects. For smaller things, I set up a card table in the guest room to hold the machine. Neither way is very convenient.

Jen - I used to use our dining room table for crafts (nothing that involves pounding though) and it never suffered. I even reupholstered my dining room chair seats on it - twice! Buy a few yards of heavy fabric backed vinyl to cover your table. I believe the proper term might be marine vinyl but it's the kind of thing used to cover weight lifting benches - things that get heavy use. It is slightly padded and waterproof. I still have mine and it has years of paint, glue, glitter and who knows what else. For an infrequent project, i wouldn't dedicate a room when it's just as easy to cover your table and keep an eye on things in the kitchen or living room at the same time.

And I'm also a fair weather walker - too hot and I want to be in the AC, too cold or rainy and I'm indoors. You might use it more than you think when it's so convenient.

We had a little gym in our previous house, we thought we would use when we couldnt get to the gym because of the weather in winter. I actually never used it, DH did the odd time. We both need the stimulation and social aspect of going out and working out at the gym. So I would not have a workout room, I wouldnt have a craft room either since I dont do any crafts. What I did do, is turn one of the rooms downstairs into a video gaming room when my grandsons come to visit or sleep over we have a good time there.

Workout room

I should say that it's not only that I don't want to damage my dining table, but I'd like to have a space that I could close the door on. With the dining table, I'd have to clear things away after each use but having more of a dedicated room (or at least a dedicated table in a room with a door) would be so much nicer.

Just trying to think of how best to utilize that room, which feels like a blank canvas. As I said, DH will probably still think he wants a piece of cardio equipment - although he goes to the gym daily and I think he enjoys the social aspect of being out among people as well. We did have an elliptical in the spare bedroom of our previous home, but it was old and tired and broken down, so after awhile - even though it was still usable - we got to where we just hung laundry on it. ;-)

I would do the workout room, but I don't do any crafts, so it's an easy one for me. I do have a workout room with a number of pieces of equipment in it and I use it almost every day. I canceled my gym membership now that I am able to work out at home, and I find I am more consistent about my workouts when I don't have to travel to do them.

I would want a workout room. I hate gyms, and our summers are too hot to exercise outside. I'd want machines, a TV/stereo, and big mirrors to torture myself into working out harder. Oh, and a margarita machine, duh! :D

But.....it sounds like you really want a craft room, so why not! Maybe a cardio machine can be put in your husband's room? Guest room? Library? Come on, let's start decorating Jen's Craft Room. :D

Does the room have a closet?

I would turn turn that in to craft storage and then use folding tables. I have been seeing on one.

And it it would not stop you from having gym stuff too

I'm in the process of consolidating all my sewing and crafting stuff in my 9'x14' craft room, so that we can turn it into a second guest room. (Yes, it'll get used!) Where is it all going? Into the 9'x18' workout room! I use the workout room religiously, and DH uses it in fits and starts. It's going to be tight, but I think we can fit everything in, because both functions are important to us. Any chance you can work out an organization system and a floor plan so you can have it all?

Have both. You could do a wall mount TV, a collection of yoga, Pilates and lighter weight lifting & cardio dvd's. Then, you just need a roll up mat and a few hand weights. You don't need a lot of room and all supplies can go on one shelf. Next, a big ole craft table .

Mzzgg has a good suggestion. Why cant the cardio machine go into your DH bedroom? Than you can have the whole room as a craft room.

DH's "snore room" isn't big enough to house a piece of equipment, unfortunately. He has a queen bed and plans to add furniture for storage. I might think more about how to consolidate crafting and working out into the one spare room though, as has been suggested. The room does have a fairly sizeable walk-in closet which is where a lot of supplies could be stored so that they're out of the way. While it's nice to have the twin bed just in case my brother comes in from out of town, or a niece/nephew wants to spend the night, in reality that's something that would happen so infrequently that it's probably not worth even thinking about keeping it.

Hmmmm. I'll discuss with DH and perhaps we can come up with a plan that will suit us both.

Huh? I thought Mzzgg's suggestion was a margarita machine in the work out room? Once I saw that, everything else was just blah blah blah :D

My vote is for a workout room. I love mine, but than I don't craft and anything that uses my dining table is a plus. Workout room has gym quality elliptical, bike, and weight bench. Plus various free weights and a wall mounted TV that is connected to cable, dvr, and netflix.

I do lots of crafting, sewing and crochet, so I'd go for the craft room, but is the room big enough to have it serve both functions? If you have a good-sized walk in closet you could put some shelving units in it and have plenty of storage space for all your crafting, knitting and sewing suppiles and really only need space in the main room for a decent-sized table for your sewing machine and projects (and maybe a small cabinet for things you'd like to be within reach of the table).

Definitely a project room. I don't craft per se, but I always have one project or another going. I have a 19x22 bedroom/office/library/sewing/storage room on the 2nd floor that allows me to keep my in-progress projects going while entertaining on the ground floor. Plus, there are plenty of outlets for the margarita machine. I like going out to my gym as I could not replicate at home all the equipment I use there.

I totally vote for the workout room. Our basement serves triple duty as my office- I work from home fulltime, there is a gaming corner for my DS's and there is workout gear: free weights, treadmill, resistance trainer, bike on training flywheel. On my longer term project list is redoing the basement, but first there is the roof, then our master bath, and you all know how that goes...

Even though the space now is cramped it gets a lot of use, and a heavy bag and speedbag will soon join the equipment line up.

Tell your husband you will get him the P90 package with 10 workouts that include cardio. He wouldn't have to have a machine. Doing the same ole on the same machine is boring and why they often end up not used. With Dvd's if you start getting bored you just get some different workouts. You can find deals on used ones on eBay. This way if he doesn't feel like going to the gym he can still get a good workout. (Just helping with the sales pitch).

I too think you could do both. Maybe put shelves in the closet for craft storage and have a folding table that can be used when needed. I like a multi purpose room. There are just hubby and me. We have a 3 bedroom home. The 2 bedroom is a guest bedroom. The 3rd bedroom is an office/sitting room. The sitting room part is when we need to get away from each other for a while:).

I have a combination craft/storage room and I love keeping my messes contained in there. But I probably should have a workout room instead :-)

We have a workout room and both use it daily. It has wall-size mirrors, a tv and all the weight/cardio equipment. Suddenly, I feel inadequate since it lacks a margarita machine.... :)

(We would never use a craft room.)

Workout room.

We'd put a craft room in (although, like Jlc712, I probably should choose workout room.) If the closet is sizable, I'd be tempted to put the cardio machine in there! Then I could line all the walls with storage and put a giant craft island in the middle of the room. Oh, and a sewing spot in front of a window, and I'd leave the iron and the ironing board up all. the. time. I could get lost for hours looking at craft rooms and fabric storage ideas on pinterest. But, those would be happy hours, no margaritas necessary. ; )

We have always had a craft room and it sure gets a lot of use ... but that is mostly for school projects, kids fun, Halloween costumes,and, for my part, gift wrapping. We do also use it for games sometimes. And of course adult coloring books are "in"! (no joking)

So, in your case, I wonder how much use it would get.

OTOH, used exercise eqp is the ONE item almost no Goodwill. etc. will take; it is so ubiquitous since so many people buy it and don't use it. If you do make a home gym, it has to be a really attractive space with eqp you will want to use, mirrors, the right floors, good light and/or views, and entertainment.

Both! I have a 10x11 room that contains a twin bed, folding treadmill, free weights, large desk thats used for projects and plenty of craft storage. It might not be pretty but it all fits.

Both. How much workout equipment can there possibly be if he does most of it at the gym? One machine with weights, mats, and what else? Can't be too much to get in the way of a desk, table, and some shelves. Both :)

Thanks, everyone! The consensus seems to be workout room, oh you fit people, you! :-)

Although I must say that I think the best suggestion that's been made in this forum in a long time is the addition of a margarita machine! I don't even drink anymore, but I am still thinking that's an idea I could get behind! LOL!

I'm with those who've suggested creating a dual-purpose room. It sounds like you would use the crafting/project space, so why not set up half the room (or at least a corner) with a work space for yourself, and find some (gently used) fitness equipment your husband wants? Then you could see how you end up using the room before devoting more space than necessary to one purpose or the other.

When I'm ready for another area to have to clean and maintain (which won't be for at least a couple of years), we'll finish our basement. We have the floor plan roughly worked out, and one room will be a combined fitness and project room. Right now the fitness stuff is set up in a corner of the unfinished basement and only sees use on the coldest mornings of the year, or occasionally when the kids are playing down there and it's too hot to run outside. I'm not sure it will get much more use even when finished as I'd much rather be outside moving around, but it's nice to have during periods of extreme weather.

My sewing machine is now in a corner of our bedroom that's not ideal, but better than having it shut up somewhere. Projects end up all over the house, spread out in the living room or dining room. There's a kids craft table spackled and ready to be sanded sitting in the middle of the living room as I type. I know I would use a project space if I had a designated one, but the thought of having to clean (and decorate!) the basement when I'm still working on the main floors is too much for me at the moment.

What does DH say? He may like the gym for certain big equipment and want something smaller that can share for home. And the encouragement of working out with others might make a home gym less fun

The way I craft is more like a lunatic for a week and then it might be a month or two before I have time again. I think there is a way for a good compromise

You could combine. We have a home office and we have an eliptical in the room. I'm not a big crafter, only do a little sewing from time to time so I really don't want that stuff out all the time. My sewing machine is easy to get out/put up, so it's no bother. If I'm working on a craft type project, I just the dining room table. I prefer to be there than in the office because it is very bright (light) and looks out to the sunroom/backyard. I've even painted on my dining room table, simply covered it.

LOL, Kippy! The way you craft (like a lunatic for a week then not so much) is the way I craft and work out!

I haven't had a chance to discuss yet with DH, but do think that if we can make everything fit, he'll be fine with a combined workout/craft space. I think the relatively large closet (while not big enough to actually put a piece of exercise equipment in) will really help in keeping the amount of clutter that's sitting out in the room to a minimum.

Honestly, I started watching "Escape to the Country" episodes last night and totally blanked on everything else that's been on my mind. ;-)

Since most of my crafting(on again/off again)is done in one side of my 2 car garage, it's working, and I would consider a room a waste~how would I spray paint? As for a work out room, my free weights(2/8lb)are under the armoire in my bedroom, and other excersizes I do are resistence 'variety', so don't use weights. If the set-up were right, I would LOVE a dressing room, aka, over-size closet. That's my dream!

Oh, now - closet/dressing room! That's something else that is appealing to me. I've got a nice walk-in master closet that houses only my things (DH took a closet upstairs for his), and I really wanted to make it "mine". It's nice and neat, but still looks like a closet! I'd like it to be prettier, and may work at that later on - adding some decorative storage boxes, etc. I'd like for it to look more feminine, which is a strange thing to say about a woman's closet that is full of a woman's clothes, isn't it?

I love a 'girlie' closet! With DH freeing up space for you, it's a golden opportunity. In my last home, I wallpapered, added a French style sofa table(narrower)w/drawers to use as a vanity, added wall lamps on each side, hung a fancy mirror, added shelves for shoes, and went so far as to sheer fabric on rods(top/bottom)to hide stored items on above shelves. I even removed the ugly globe fixture and had my son hang a small 'chandy'. Had pictures on the dang old phone I never uploaded to the pc. Have the wallpaper to do the same thing in this house, but after 7 years still haven't started the 'project.'

Love the sound of that! I do need a full-length mirror in my closet, and would also like a little bench or chair to sit on while removing or putting on shoes. You're inspiring me!