Exercising is often considered a luxury because of how expensive gym memberships can be. Over the last couple of years, more and more people have opted to create a more sustainable alternative by carving out their home gyms.
Fitness looks different for everyone because their goals can vary depending on their health and physical wellness. Making your home gym instead of solely relying on the standard gym’s amenities enables you to curate the necessary equipment to suit your priorities. Not only will you be able to customise the space to your liking, but you’ll also be able to do workouts you know you’ll enjoy.
Start hitting your fitness goals in no time with these home gym ideas.
1. Floating shelves
Want a sophisticated way to organise your smaller gym essentials like towels, fitness bands, and yoga blocks? Floating shelves are a great addition to the space.
2. Mirror installation
While it might seem like mirrors are just for vanity, this is a key component of any exercise space. When you install mirrors, you can monitor and correct your form throughout your workouts. This is especially helpful if you’re working out by yourself.
3. Equipment shelf
If you work with many dumbbells, kettlebells, and barbells, it’s worth investing in a sturdy equipment shelf to withstand all the weight of your essentials.
4. Movement space
When creating your home gym, carving out space is key. Allow it to become a safe place to breathe and unwind so you can also utilise it for meditation when practising slower exercises like yoga.
5. Rubber flooring
Love going hard on your workouts? Use rubber flooring to avoid slipping accidents and protect your body from high-impact jumps and movements. It also avoids unwanted damage from weights accidentally falling.
6. Extra rubber mats
For a more affordable layer of protection for your floor, add rubber mats in key locations. Focus on areas where weights are more likely to fall or where you know you’ll often lie down for workouts.
7. Wood floors
Wood floors can easily elevate the look of your home gym. When selecting the type of wood, it should be durable enough to withstand pressure and impact from movement. Some great wood options are oak, ash, and bamboo.
8. Multifunctional exercise bench
The exercise bench is a versatile piece to add to your home gym. Whether it’s for upper or lower body weight training or even balance support, you’ll be able to make use of this.
9. Comfortable seating
While gyms are primarily for exercise, having comfortable seating allows you room to breathe after a tiring session. It also gives your home gym buddy a space to relax if you take turns using the equipment.
10. Out on the deck
Prefer to be out in nature? Set up shop on your deck with your preferred gym equipment. The change of scenery brings a breath of fresh air when you need a break from being indoors.
11. Discreet equipment
Don’t be discouraged by limited space. You can still have a home gym if you select equipment that’s easy to stow away when not in use. Some great examples are walking pads, small handheld weights, and fitness bands.
12. Hanging equipment
Another alternative to incorporating a gym in limited space is hanging equipment that doesn’t take up floor space. Some great examples are punching bags, pull-up bars, and TRX loops.
13. Storage cabinet
Want to hide away the clutter of all the gym equipment? A storage cabinet for all the unsightly essentials will do the trick.
14. Strip lights
Strip lights are a great way to add ambience to the space. If you enjoy spinning from the comforts of your home, you can even opt for colour-changing LED strip lights.
15. Room for unwinding
Consider your home gym as the space you can unwind. Don’t be afraid to merge a relaxation room with your exercise area. This helps bring in the mindset of clearing your head when you sweat, so you can come motivated to bring yourself closer to your fitness goals.
16. Effective lighting
Not only should a gym be neat, organised, and well-equipped, but it should also have effective lighting. It becomes doubly important if you’re into late-night gym sessions.
17. Indoor plants
Instantly freshen up the place with indoor plants. Greens in your space are known to reduce stress, help you focus, and, most notably, can improve air circulation.
18. Natural lighting
Lighting is everything in interior design, as it can set the tone of a space. When it comes to working out, ensuring you have enough natural light filtering through will help keep the space bright, lighter, and more inviting — even on lazy days.
19. Portable ballet barre
Even if you don’t dance or do ballet, investing in a ballet barre can help you stabilise yourself while stretching and balancing. This essentially can work as a handrail for warming up and can double as support when you have elderly guests working out in your home gym.
20. Chalkboard sign
In true gym community fashion, you can also bring in a chalkboard. You can install one on the wall or keep it simple by just adding a small, portable board into the space. You can use this to keep track of the day’s routine or write a motivational line to keep you going.
Hopefully, you’ve found inspiration in these home gym ideas whether you’re rethinking you’re gym membership or want another alternative exercise space that’s more accessible. You don’t need to bring in a ton of fancy equipment; sometimes, you only need the basics to kickstart your fitness goals.
