How To Build A Pool Changing Room
Pool Changing Room with Repurposed Materials
Pool sheds come in all sizes from basic to ultra-elaborate. I have a pool, but not enough property to build a pool house on. I mean how frustrating, I’m a skilled carpenter and I can’t build a pool shed for my own pool.
Re-Purposing Construction Materials
After building a cupola on a barn in town, I has extra tongued and groove, primed, cedar boards left over. It was special ordered and not returnable so I started thinking of ways to use it. The wood was expensive but no longer wanted or needed by the client, and he wanted it gone. Being a lover of wood, I took it. My goal was to keep it out of a landfill, and find it a new home.
The pool changing room idea came to me as I was replacing my dryer in my home. My dryer worked fine but the washer was broken beyond repair. The new washer was not compatible as a stackable unit with the dryer, so it had to go too, then the idea came…
I would convert some of the space in my tool storage shed into a small pool changing room and re-purpose the dryer for wet pool towels. My plan also involved re-purposing some of the left over materials from past projects.
Planning the Changing Room Space
For the project I had a few ideas for the repurposed items I wanted to use. My design and proportions all depended on the sizes and qualities of the materials I had left over; so I had to plan and measure carefully.

My remnant materials were:
- I had a 29” x 24” remnant of black honed granite that was headed for the dumpster. It would make a perfect counter top for a towel storage cabinet, next to the towel dryer.
- I had a flat-panel, cabinet door with hinges left over from a built-in retrofit that I just couldn’t toss out.
- I had a 10-year old dryer that I was replacing.
- I had enough tongue and groove cedar boards left over to trim the inside and outside of a 43 x 48 small dressing room. [yup I did the math]
- I had some 1×4’ mahogany boards and deck oil left over from a deck project and some scrap plywood from a cabinet job.
- Extra exterior, wall-mount lantern
Making the Dryer Safe
A fried of mine is an appliance repairman. He went thru the dryer and made sure everything was safe, replacing a few items for some beer!
My electrician added an outlet for the dryer for $90.
Towel Storage Cabinet
I used some scrap birch and AC plywood left in my shop and built a cabinet 28” x 23.” This allowed me to use my remnant granite and have the granite overhang the sides ½” and the front edge 1.”
The granite remnant was the cooktop cutout in a recent kitchen remodel. The client didn’t want it.
Once the cabinet was built I closed in the front so I could re-use the built in cabinet and hinges. I use a left over hook hasp lock to keep the door sealed from mice. Once complete this cabinet can hold 30 full sized pool towels.
I then cleared some space on one side of my shed and installed the cabinet into a corner and the dryer next to it. The dryer has a 10” vent pipe and vents straight out of the shed
Building the Changing Room
I bought some 2×4 studs and framed my room so the cedar would just fit. Luckily for me there was enough boards to make the room a decent size for someone to change in.
On the opposite side of the shed from the dryer and cabinet I built my changing room. The shed has a cathedral ceiling in this area so I used the full length 2×4 studs for the walls, no scrap.
I framed a doorway on one side of the front wall, and a bench seat on the other side of the wall. Later I would hang a shower curtain for privacy.
i relocated the lighting wires for the shed and added a switch and wire for a wall mounted lantern on the inside wall.
The cedar boards were installed with a pneumatic nailer. I ripped a few f the cedar boards down to make a door jamb and some trim which covers both sides of the open doorway.
The Bench Seat
I topped off the bench frame with my left over mahogany 1×4 deck boards and sanded them silky smooth, before coating them with a protective coat of Penifin oil, also left over from a deck project..
The front edge of the bench 2×4 was covered with a ripped down cedar board.
The Finishing Touches
I used the extra mahogany boards to make a raised 1×4 wood mat to stand on. I then bought a shower curtain and rod, cut it down and mounted it for privacy.
All said and done this project cost me $165. I paid $45 in framing lumber, $90 for electrical work and $30 for the shower rod and curtain. The rest was left over material laying around the shed and my workshop.