Home gyms are definitely having a moment. Although many local gyms have reopened since the lockdowns with COVID-19 protocol in place, millions of people who got used to working out on in privacy on their own exercise equipment are content to sweat at home. Millions more have seen the light, and the potential cost savings, and home workout equipment continues to fly off the shelves.
Whether you’re looking to build a total home gym for the first time, or just making sure you’ve already got the best home gym setup possible, keep reading for the info and advice necessary to take your WOFH (workout from home) to the next level.
Planning Your Home Gym
The first order of business is to plan out your home gym. It sounds simple but it’s extremely important to consider what type of exercise you want to do, what exercise equipment you will need to do it with, and where in your home you can devote to the activity.
Before buying anything, take measurements of the intended home gym area and look up measurements of the workout equipment you want to purchase. You can use masking tape to box out spaces on the floor to understand how different pieces will work together. When doing this, be sure to consider how much range of motion you’ll need when exercising. The last thing you want to do is bump your head into the ceiling while you’re on your new stair-stepper.
Maximizing Your Space
Once you’re finished planning out your total home gym, you might realize that you had a lot less space than you originally thought. Workout equipment can be bulky! If you’re struggling to make everything fit, you need to reassess and start making room in your home where you can pursue your fitness goals. Of course, the easiest way to create space is to pack and store items you don’t need immediate access to in a secure self-storage facility. Otherwise, start donating and throwing things away.
Find Storage Near You!
After you’ve got the area cleared away, focus on purchasing exercise equipment and accessories that can be easily stored when you tire of them or want to switch up the routine. Many treadmills can now be folded up and pushed under a bed or couch, for instance. Storage racks are also great to get your mat, hand weights and stability balls off of the floor and organized along the wall. Racks come in a huge array of sizes and load-bearing capacities so be sure to shop around.
Considering Your In-home Gym Aesthetic
Just because it’s an in-home gym doesn’t mean you have to skimp on style. Approach the area as you would anywhere in your home – with care, consideration and awareness of the effect it will have on everyone who shares the space (including pets!). Determine which colors motivate and inspire you and choose the paint, fabrics and floor mat hues that bring out your best.
Adding a TV, fans, wall mirrors, and speakers will also help determine the overall ambiance of the space, so choose wisely. Be sure to balance these more utilitarian items with personal touches that make you smile or remember why you’re prioritizing fitness. A picture of a sports hero, a motivational quote, or a landscape of a beloved vacation destination can all help keep you focused on the task at hand. Plants are also great for adding oxygen and a little personality.
Above all, have fun. A home gym is meant to be somewhere you want to visit. It’s also meant to be a reflection of you and your goals. If it’s uncomfortable or unwelcoming in any way, you’ll probably put off using it as much as you planned to. So take that leap. Throw that Harry Styles poster on the wall and get power lifting.
Buying Your Workout Equipment
Workout equipment is, of course, key to creating a total home gym. When it comes to choosing the right pieces for you, your fitness goals, and your available space, there are quite a few things to consider.
- Is it multi-functional? Make sure whatever you’re buying can be used for a number of different exercises.
- Is it easily serviced? This is especially important for big dollar items. Definitely buy well-established brands that are strong and durable instead of cheap exercise equipment. You’ll feel the difference each time you use it, and have a much simpler time getting it serviced if something goes wrong.
- Is it easily cleaned? Cleaning your workout equipment after each use is normally recommended by manufacturers. Make sure whatever you’re buying isn’t going to drive you batty with an overly complicated cleaning regime.
- Can it be downsized? Buy small whenever possible. Go for a doorway pull-up bar rather than a dip machine, for instance. Buy a jump rope instead of a treadmill. Buy resistance bands rather than a whole weight set. These choices will save you both space and money.
- Is it portable? One of the greatest things about working out from home is the flexibility it offers. For a change of scenery, choose gym equipment that can go with you into other rooms (like a mini-trampoline) or even on the road (like water-filled dumbbell sets).
If you already own workout equipment that you want to hang on to while you plan your new gym, or until you have a larger space, place it in self storage for later use.
Find Storage Near You!
Prioritizing Your Safety
The best home gym setup is the safest home gym setup. The first priority should be to keep young children and pets away from your workout equipment. Ensure that you turn off your machine, if possible, between each use to reduce the chance of accidents and injury from other members of your household.
Finding an exercise buddy to workout with can help prevent catastrophe in more ways than one. If a spouse, older child or friend can’t be convinced to join in, at least make sure that someone else is in your house or apartment to lend a hand if something goes wrong.
You should commit to wearing proper clothes and shoes during your workout. It can be easy to forego this step in the comfort of your own home, but take it from anyone who has ever dropped a weight on a bare foot – lace up your shoes!
While in-home gyms are usually less germy than public gyms, it’s still a good safety practice to clean and disinfect your equipment, as mentioned previously. Also make a point to pick up and put away all of the loose equipment and accessories at the end of your workout to prevent injuries from tripping or falling.
In today’s hectic world, a home gym can be a haven. Rather than waiting around for your turn on a machine or fervently hoping that the person who used the workout equipment before you actually cleaned it off properly, you can be at ease in the comfort of your own home – and with your own exercise equipment.
The one home gym caveat is, as with anything, it’s easy to get bored of a routine. Try to switch up your workouts to get the most out of your setup – and yourself. And check out our recent blog post on Top 10 Tips for Creating (and Using!) a Gym at Home for more advice and inspiration. Happy exercising!
