Home Gym Ideas
Are you sick of smelly gyms that overcharge memberships? Does the thought of hundreds of other people touching the equipment you’re using trigger your gag reflex?
Well, if you’re serious about exercising yet you seriously don’t like gyms, it’s time to build your own, private gym in your home.
It can be just as lux and high-tech as the one in your local mall, so don’t worry and get to work.
Find the right location
If you don’t lack space in your home, you’re in luck because you’ll have plenty of space for your gym. Your best choice is definitely somewhere on the ground floor because gym equipment can be quite heavy and you’ll have to reinforce upper stories.
Another thing that puts the ground floor in front of the upper floor is sound insulation. Rowing machines and treadmills are very noisy, so unless you live alone, you’ll need some sound-proofing to keep the rest of your house livable.
If your options in the house are limited, garage conversions are always popular. No matter your location, you’ll need to provide every machine with at least 2m2 of space to allow easy operation.
Adapt your walls and ceilings
If you’re planning to do some boxing or love battle rope training, you’ll need to reinforce your walls and ceilings and secure heavy items.
You don’t want your ropes to come flying at you while you’re in the middle of a heated session!
Think of your flooring
Flooring in your home gym is very important. You want something that is slip-resistant and can withstand a lot of wear from weights, equipment and foot traffic.
While carpet provides good sound insulation, it’s hard to keep clean. Stone, ceramic and porcelain tiles are both slippery and susceptible to cracks if you drop weights.
Your safest choice is special shock-absorbent rubber flooring. This material is slip-resistant, durable and available in many colors.
Choose the right equipment
Now comes the fun part—the equipment. If you’re a beginner, it’s best to invest in essentials like a few dumbbells and resistance bands for strength exercises and a yoga mat for balance and stretching.
If you want additional equipment, think some kettlebells and medicine balls for resistance training and some foam rollers for recovery.
If you’re passionate about cardio, you can design a gym for runners and include a treadmill. This will allow you to run even when the weather is ugly or when it’s dark outside.
Strength training equipment is also necessary for serious runners because it improves your core strength and balance.
Add practical storage
If you keep all your mats, dumbbells and bands hidden in drawers, it’s very likely you’ll forget about them and never use them.
However, that doesn’t mean you can keep your gym cluttered. Racks and open shelves are perfect for everything from balls and jump ropes to dumbbells, mats and yoga blocks. This type of storage will keep everything neat yet at arm’s reach.
Put up some mirrors
Mirrors are very useful (and not only for gym selfies). Watching yourself exercise is crucial if you want to maintain good form and avoid injury, especially if you’re alone in the gym.
While it’s not as good as a personal trainer, your floor-to-ceiling mirror can help your exercises and even provide you with some motivation.
Invest in some finishing touches
Your gym should be practical, so make sure to stock it with plenty of towels and cool water. If you’re aiming for luxury, a mini-fridge filled with Gatorade and vitamin water is a perfect hydration solution.
You can also invest in a smart TV that will allow you to watch fitness videos or catch up with your favorite Netflix show as you run.
And don’t forget about relaxation and comfort! If you want to treat yourself to ultimate wellbeing, think about getting a massage chair or a home sauna for most effective cool-downs.
Who needs stuffy gyms when you can get a perfect workout at home? Equip your home gym with the right gear and add some lux elements and you’ll enjoy your workouts much more than in any overpriced boutique gym in town!
