Working out is one of the most beneficial habits for your health, so hitting the gym is a must. However, gyms can not only get expensive but also be stuffy, noisy, crowded and uncomfortable for many people. If you feel the same about public gyms, why not create a personal gym in your home? With only a few design moves and equipment pieces, you can work out like a boss every day!
Carve space for your home gym
This should always be your starting point before you go ordering a bunch of things online for your future home gym. Some people have enough space for an entire room dedicated to their gym, some have a corner in their bedroom for working out and some simply work out in their living room. Depending on your space, you will start buying equipment and gear. The best solution is to keep your home gym located somewhere away from distractions (upstairs or in the basement). This way, you won’t disturb others with noise and you won’t be distracted by your family. Just don’t wait for the ideal space for a home gym to appear—you’ll never get fit then.
Consider flooring and walls
Before any equipment gets in your space, make sure to tackle the floors and walls. Gym flooring should be well-insulated for noise (especially if your gym is upstairs) and be soft enough to add a bit of cushioning for your exercises. There are special gym flooring squares you can grab for areas that get the most traffic. When it comes to the walls, mirrors are a must. Mirrors in the gym are not there for vanity (even though they provide you with a great selfie and flexing space) but they allow you to keep an eye on your form, thus preventing injuries. And of course, you don’t have to cover all the walls with mirrors, but at least one or two deserve this treatment.
Gym fitout
When the skeleton of your home gym is complete, you can start the fun part—putting equipment inside. If you want to let professionals handle your home gym gear, you can consult with gym fitout experts and hire them to provide you with everything from cardio machines to strength-training equipment. For the best home gym, it’s necessary to provide yourself with a balanced workout plan that involves both cardio and resistance training. And don’t think you need all the machines to get fit! Some free weights, some cable machines, one cardio machine and a few accessories will be able to provide you with hundreds of different exercise and workout programs.
Storage and organizing
Leaving equipment all over the floor of your home gym is not recommended for many reasons. Trip hazards on the floor can cause serious injuries that can stop you from working out forever. Plus, it simply doesn’t look motivating to work out in a messy space. Luckily, with a few storage solutions, you can have all your equipment in its designated space. Cabinets are perfect for smaller equipment and workout accessories, hooks are great for ropes and cables while racks are perfect for free weights.
Entertainment
For many, working out is the ultimate form of entertainment, but if you enjoy longer cardio sessions or need extra motivation to hit your PRs, you will need music and visuals. A TV is a great idea for a home gym, because it will allow you to watch your favorite TV shows and movies while you sweat it out on the treadmill or bike. Also, music is a great motivator so a proper sound system is necessary for all sessions.
Feel free to personalize the space as you wish and add various forms of motivation for those extra hard sessions. That’s it—you’ve just created your home gym ready to get you fit and healthy.
