Home gym ideas to help you hit your fitness goals
Whether it’s hectic at work or your kids are keeping you busy, getting out to the gym multiple times a week can feel impossible. Any free time you do get, you want to chill out, not go out to the gym!
By creating a home gym, you can give yourself a better chance of keeping fit. The flexibility of working out whenever you want is useful for you. Plus, you won’t have to fork out for an expensive gym membership every month.
These inspiring home gym ideas will get you working up a sweat and releasing those endorphins without ever leaving the four walls of your home.
No matter how big or small your home is – or how much of a gym nut you are (or aren’t!) – there are sure to be some ideas for you here.
Home gym ideas for everyone
Exercise is proven to reduce stress, help you sleep and improve your mood. So, creating a space at home dedicated to helping you reap these benefits should be a priority!
Here are some home gym ideas to get you there.
1. Convert your garage or basement into a home gym
If you’re lucky enough to have an underutilised space, like a garage or a basement, why not make it into a dedicated home gym? Not only will it give you a space to work out around your busy life, but if you’re investing in a full garage conversion or cellar conversion, you could even add value to your home!
The garage home gym set up here is ideal, with plenty of variety. A static bike and some dumbbells might be all you need for a quick burn, while floor mats and an abdominal bench are great add-ons for exercises that require more floor work.
We also love the aesthetic of matching grey wall and floor tiles with orange and black equipment to keep the space looking fresh and contemporary.
2. Create a multipurpose home gym space
If you don’t have the room for a dedicated home gym, don’t panic! There are plenty of ways that you can still make room for a home workout, without having to sacrifice valuable living space.
One popular option is to create a multi-functional space – for instance, you could have a room that functions as both a home gym and a spare bedroom. This could be a wiser move than converting a bedroom into a home gym, as removing a bedroom could devalue your house by as much as 15%!
The key here is investing in the right furniture and storage options. A sofa bed will allow you to expand your home gym’s footprint while you’re not using it as a bedroom, while storage for floor mats, dumbbells and skipping ropes will ensure that you have everything you need when workout time arrives.
You should also consider how you can adapt your workouts to suit a room that doesn’t have as much open space. Floor workouts with the right YouTube tutorial are great for those who don’t have much running room. However, if you’re looking for a decent cardio hit, skipping on the spot is one of the best ways to burn some extra calories.
3. Keep the costs down with DIY home gym equipment
Gym equipment can quickly cause your home gym costs to climb. A set of dumbbells and plates cost on average £650, while an adjustable bench costs around £240. Meanwhile, a classic treadmill can cost around £1,800!
To keep the costs down, consider making some DIY home gym equipment. Whether you’re making your own kettlebells or fashioning some sandbags, there’s a myriad of tutorials online that teach you how to build your own equipment and save you time, money and stress.
You could even work up a sweat by simply using items around your house. For example, fill up large water bottles and squat or lunge with one in each hand, or makeshift a water ball for a cheap and handy (pardon the pun) training tool.
Don’t forget, some exercises can be done without any equipment at all – you can use your own body weight by doing planks, yoga or sitting against a wall for a few minutes.
4. Take it outdoors
We know we said that we were going to give you home gym ideas that would avoid you having to leave the four walls of your home. But we’re going to cheat a little. After all, you might as well make use of your garden if you have one, especially if you don’t have much room for a home gym indoors. Plus, there’s nothing like the feeling of exercising in nature.
Your garden gym can be as complex or as simple as you choose. Consider installing a canopy so that you can use it in all weathers, and some rubber fitness tiles so that you’re not damaging your body by working out on hard surfaces like a patio.
If you’re going to be investing in gym equipment, you should ensure that it’s made from durable materials that won’t get damaged – for instance, look for equipment that is anti-rust, resistant to chips and corrosion, has a powder-coated steel finish and offers UV protection.
For a more DIY approach, you could consider making battle ropes from old hose pipes to help you let off some steam. In lieu of a tractor tyre, you can even consider fashioning a Bulgarian training bag and throwing it around your garden for a deep muscle-strengthening exercise.
5. Start small with your home gym
If creating a full home gym feels a little daunting right now, don’t worry. There’s no need to create a huge home gym space from scratch. Instead, you can start small and build it up.
To begin with, why not create an exercise nook for some basic gym equipment like an all-in-one machine, or jump on the boxercise trend and buy a freestanding punchbag, which is great for homes or exercise rooms with less floor space.
You don’t need to buy huge amounts of equipment to get the benefits of a home gym. Instead, a few basic items you can store away can be the difference between a sedentary lifestyle and an active one.
Gym decorating ideas
Don’t let anyone tell you that your home gym decor isn’t important! If you make your gym look nice, you’ll want to spend more time in it, and this in turn will help you to reap the benefits of an active lifestyle.
Check out these gym decorating ideas for some crucial inspiration.
1. Decorate your gym with cool tones
Studies show that clean, bright and fresh spaces are naturally more desirable. For a home gym, we particularly love cool tones which can help to refresh our aching bodies when we’re hot and sweaty from working out.
In the image below, the homeowner has combined the colour of natural wood with light grey, creating a relaxing environment ideal for your workout sessions. They’ve also added pops of teal in the gym equipment and accessories. Not only does this add a fresh and bright contemporary feel, but it also helps to evoke the sea – ideal when you want nothing more than to cool down with a thirst-quenching gulp of water or a dip in the ocean!
2. Declutter your home gym
Clutter can make us feel stressed and can even damage our physical and mental health. By decluttering, you can make your home gym into a calm and mindful place to be, which is crucial when you’re digging deep to find the mental and physical stamina to get to the end of your workout!
This home gym is just about as tidy as you can get. Even the weights have been neatly arranged on a mat. Combined with its clean, crisp lines and the fact it’s been painted white, the overall effect is one of complete tranquility and order.
3. Light your home gym to perfection
When you’re considering gym decorating ideas, it can be easy to forget about the lighting. But getting the lighting right is crucial. Not only will it ensure you can see what you’re doing, but a bright room will feel bigger than it really is.
Here, the homeowner has added downlights to make sure that there are no dark and gloomy corners. The white walls also help to maximise the natural light coming in from the left. This is important because natural light is proven to improve mood and help with sleep patterns too!
4. Add mirrors to your gym decor
Mirrors are an excellent gym decorating idea that serve many different purposes. They let you see yourself when you’re exercising, they make a space look bigger and they also maximise light. What more could you ask for?!
The homeowner here has strategically placed mirrors along the one wall of their home gym that doesn’t have any windows. In this way, they perfectly reflect the natural light and leafy views. In fact, you could easily mistake them for windows at first glance!
5. Inject some personality
Finally, remember that your home gym needs to be a place that you enjoy spending time in. So, make it feel like yours!
Here, the bright turquoise walls combined with the hot yellow gym equipment creates a fun, upbeat environment ideal for letting off some steam. We also love how the gorgeous wooden floors are echoed by the natural wood wall bars. When it comes to combining practicality and style, this gym has got both in spades!
Home gym ideas key takeaways
- A home gym could make it easier for you to find the time to exercise.
- Consider converting an underutilised space into a home gym, such as a basement or garage.
- If you’re short on space, create a multipurpose room or simply start with an exercise nook or corner.
- Investing in home gym decorating ideas is key to ensuring your space is one you want to spend time in.
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