5 Top Tips: How to Create the Perfect Home Gym 

A home gym can make it so much easier to work out. It gives you the ability to fit exercise around your schedule. You can work out whenever you want at any time of the day. Coming out lockdown, there’s an even bigger emphasis on exercise and movement. Staying in shape not only helps your physical health but can boost your mental health and leave you feeling more productive.

 

When you bring the gym to you, you cut out your commute to the gym. This gives you more time to spend with the family and focus on personal interests. In the long-term, a home gym can save you money with no expensive membership fees to pay. Create a comfortable atmosphere and add a splash of personality to your fitness space.

 

So, where do you start?

 

Let’s take a look at where to put your home gym and what you need to know to start building the perfect home gym.  

 

In this article: 

 

 

  • The Basics: Home Gym 101
  • Where to Build Your Home Gym 
  • What Should You Buy 
  • 5 Top Tips for Creating the Perfect Home Gym 

The Basics: Home Gym 101 

 

A home gym can help you achieve your fitness goals without shelling out on the cost of expensive yearly gym membership fees. For obvious reasons, working out from home has become even more popular in the last few months. You don’t need to break the bank to create a home gym. Depending on your space and budget, you can find a fitness setup that works for you and your home. 

 

Your goals, needs, and budget will help form your requirements for your home gym. When first starting to plan your home fitness studio there are a few things you should consider like:

 

 

  • Space and location you have available 
  • A rough idea of the equipment you need 
  • Budget 
  • Fitness goals 
  • Health and safety risks 
  • The type of exercise you do 

Where to Build Your Home Gym 

 

The next big question is where to build your home gym. You can create a home gym by extending your house, or more easily by using your garage, or another room in the house you don’t use that much. Maybe you have a spare bedroom or office you can turn into a gym. 

 

Garage conversions are a popular option for home gyms or adding an outbuilding in the garden. Unused garages are suitable for home gyms as the floor can already take the weight of a car so that it will be ideal for heavy exercise machines. Large garage doors make for accessible entry spots for large pieces of equipment. If space is an issue, think carefully about the type of exercise you want to do and your needs.  

 

When choosing the location for your home gym, think about the following points:

 

 

  • Access points - it will be easier to install heavy gym equipment in a ground floor room.  

 

 

  • Noise - machines such as rowing machines or treadmills will be noisy for the room underneath. Consider sound-proofing the gym if you’re not on the ground floor. 

 

 

  • Children and pets - think about how you will block access to young family members and pets for health and safety purposes. 

 

 

  • Weight restrictions - if you are installing large machines and racks on the walls, check the limits on weight-bearing walls. Exercise machines can be cumbersome, and you don’t want to worry about reinforcing any flooring. 

 

 

  • Temperature control - you will get hot during a workout. Think about windows, cooling, and heating. 

What Equipment Should You Buy 

 

The next step is to think about your equipment needs. This is entirely dependent on your goals. When it comes to exercise equipment, you have a few options depending on your budget. You can either buy used or brand-new equipment. 

 

Whether it’s for strength training, powerlifting, or sport, a home gym is perfect for someone who loves exercise and wants complete freedom in their fitness routine. With some dedication, a small cash investment, and the right space, you can create a home gym that will help you hit your goals. 

 

Once you establish your home gym location, you should know the amount of space you have available. There’s no rush to building your gym, and you can acquire equipment overtime. If you’re not sure where to start, here are some gym essentials to consider: 

 

 

  • Dumbbells, barbells, and free weights  
  • Resistance bands and foam rollers 
  • Adjustable bench 
  • Power rack 
  • Machines: exercise bike, treadmill, or rowing machine 

5 Top Tips for Creating the Perfect Home Gym 

1. Start Small 

Setting up a home gym is a great way to stay fit. It’s a good idea to start small. Although it’s easy to get ahead of yourself, you don’t want to overspend on expensive machines that you end up not using. Focus on your essentials. A lot of people think that if they buy expensive gym equipment, they will work out and hit their fitness goals. Often, this isn’t the case. Start with items like dumbbells and free weights and then expand your collection as you go. 

2. Make a Plan

 

    Before you start buying equipment, choose the space. Try to visualise and measure where all your equipment will live. Think about your goals and how each piece of equipment in the room will help you get there. The planning stage is just as important as the building process. 

    3. Get the Right Flooring

    The right home gym flooring can make a massive difference in your gym. The gym floor is often an afterthought. You focus on the equipment and forget what you’re putting it on. The best gym mats for home gyms come in different colours and sizes to suit your style. Flooring will help protect you from injury as well as protect your floor, so it’s worth the investment. Choose flooring that is non-slip and can withstand heavy machines and weights. Non-slip rubber gym flooring is always a good option as it offers shock absorption and protection. 

     

    If you’re weight lifting, gym flooring will protect your floor from damage by absorbing the impact. The floor will also absorb a lot of the noise that comes with placing heavy weights and equipment on the floor. 

    4. Check Your Form with a Mirror 

    Wall mirrors make the room feel bigger and allow you to check your form. Mirrors are a great addition to a home gym and help to bring more light into the room. It’s important to check your form, especially with weight lifting and floor work.

    5. Effective Equipment for Small Spaces 

    The majority of people turn a garage or spare room into a home gym. This means you don’t have much control over the initial size of the room. If you’re working with a smaller space, find multipurpose equipment. You want to make the most out of the space you have. You could either buy smaller pieces of equipment or using something like a power rack which is suitable for different exercises. Whatever you decide, buy equipment that fits the space. You want enough room to workout comfortably and use your studio effectively. 

     

    Building a home gym is a big job, but the benefits can be priceless. The main thing is to create a gym environment that works for you and your needs. Home gyms offer an unbeatable level of convenience and flexibility. They allow you to work out around your schedule, save on costly memberships, and reach your goals. 

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