Creating the best home workout gym can be tough, especially if you don’t know how to get started. Without an effective home gym, you could miss out on getting the most out of your exercise. When it comes to putting together the best home gym, here are six tips to help you make the best at home workout gym possible.
1. Choose a Space
When creating the best at home workout gym, you’ll first need to choose a space. Depending on the layout of your home, your gym could be set up in a spare room, your basement, or even your garage. If you don’t have enough room in your home, you could consider investing in a detached amish built garage, which can allow you to create your gym in an easily accessible location that doesn’t require losing space in your home.
When deciding on the space for the best at home workout gym, you’ll want to ensure that it has enough room for you to exercise without being hazardous or cramped. Proper ventilation and lighting will also be important, as will having your gym away from the general foot traffic in your home. Detached garages and basements can be great for this, although a spare room can always work too if it is available and away from distractions.
Ultimately, the place you decide to locate your gym will depend on the layout of your home, how much equipment you have or want, and if you’re willing to invest in either constructing a place or fixing one.
2. Make It Comfortable
Once you have chosen a place to set up the best at home workout gym, it’s time to start thinking about making it as comfortable as possible. If your home gym isn’t comfortable, you’re going to be less likely to want to use it, which defeats the purpose of having a gym in the first place. This makes comfort a priority that you shouldn’t put on the back burner.
During the summer, having adequate air conditioning will be important for ensuring that you aren’t at risk of overheating. If your home isn’t currently air conditioned, or if your current AC unit isn’t working well, you may consider investing in a new AC unit that can give you more control over your in-home comfort. Professional air conditioning services can also help diagnose problems with your existing unit and repair them, or they can tell you if there are any ventilation problems that may make your in-home gym less comfortable.
If you’re planning on placing your gym in a detached garage, you may consider adding a portable AC unit so that the space can stay cool while in use. Some of these AC units also double as an electric heater, which can ensure that you’re able to keep using your space, even during the cold winter months. If you live in a temperate climate that doesn’t experience very cold winters and your space has windows, you may only need an AC window unit to keep your gym cool.
3. Mix It Up and Fix It Up
When creating the best at home workout gym, you may not want to limit yourself to only one area. While your main gym can be indoors, you may also want to take advantage of the nice weather and have an outdoor area where you can exercise in the sun.
If you have a fenced-in backyard, you might consider designating a portion of it for your exercise routine. Some equipment is designed to be installed outdoors, and is created to be weather-proof so that it won’t be at risk of breaking down. Outdoor power towers are one great inclusion, and they can be used for chin-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, push-ups, triceps dips, and vertical knee raises. This can provide you with versatility, without the need to invest in a lot of outdoor equipment. It also allows you to take advantage of the nice weather, and get some fresh air and sunshine while exercising.
Additionally, you may consider adding artificial turf to your outdoor exercise space, as it can provide a couple of great benefits. For one, it can provide additional cushioning for exercise, and you won’t have to worry about tearing it up or wearing it out. It can also help keep bugs out of your exercise space, and make it easier to comfortably workout without worrying about any irritating bug bites.
If running is more your style, asphalt paving a path around your home may be something to consider, and it can give you a clean jogging path without needing to leave your yard. Sometimes, people can feel self-conscious jogging on the public sidewalk, and by having your own path to use, you can help remove any anxiety.
By providing yourself with an option to exercise indoors and out, you can help break up the monotony and make exercising more fun and varied. This can also increase your likelihood of keeping your routine, instead of making excuses to stop exercising.
4. Think About Storage
When putting together the best at home workout gym, storage is something that you should also consider and it can help keep your space tidy and uncluttered. Resistance band and jump rope hangers can help keep these items off the ground, untangled, and easily accessible when you need them. Dumbell trees are likewise important for those who are investing in lifting exercises, and they can help keep your dumbbells organized and out of the way, so that you don’t trip over them or stub your toe on them when walking around your gym.
A general storage bench could be a worthy inclusion, and you can use this as a storage space for your shoes, mats, music players, and other pieces of loose gear that would otherwise be left out. Along with this, you may also want to add a laundry hamper to your home gym so that you can toss towels or sweaty pieces of athleisure without mixing them up with your other laundry.
Additionally, some types of athletic clothing may be better for certain types of activities, and you may consider adding a clothing locker or small dresser to your exercise space so that you always have the right type of clothing available. For instance, you may want loose-fitting clothing for some less strenuous workouts. However, for running and Pilates, body contouring, stretchy, sweat-wicking clothing is a better choice.
Keeping your workout clothing in your home gym can help keep it from getting mixed up with other clothing, especially if you have multiple people in your household, and it can help ensure that you can easily slip into the clothes that you need without having to dig through your closet.
5. Add Some Additional Accessories
If you want to create the best at home workout gym, adding things like a television, music system, and a snack area can help give you entertainment while exercising and a place to hydrate and fuel up before and after a workout.
Bluetooth speakers can be a good inclusion, and they can allow you to put on any music that you like, right from your smartphone. A TV in front of a treadmill can also give you some great entertainment while getting in your miles.
For hydration and fuel, a small fridge can be a great place to keep a stock of water bottles, fruit, and protein drinks. Keeping these things in your home gym can make it easier to remember to stay hydrated and energized throughout your exercise. This can also ensure that no one else in your house is able to steal your workout snacks.
6. Stock Up On Equipment
The best home workout gym will be stocked with all the equipment you need, otherwise you may not get much use out of it.
For a gym focused around cardio, a treadmill can be beneficial. However, even something as simple as a jump rope can be beneficial if you don’t want to invest in a treadmill right off the bat. Weighted jump ropes can even ensure that you get a better arm workout while boosting your cardio. If this isn’t your style, an elliptical can be something to consider, and most are quite affordable and easy to put together on your own.
If strength training is more your style, or if you want to include strength options alongside cardio, you can’t go wrong with a couple sets of dumbbells or kettlebells. Resistance bands can also be worth including, along with a power rack or a rowing machine. Depending on the size of your home gym, you can mix and match these options to ensure that you have the equipment you need, without cluttering your space too much.
Along with the equipment you need for exercising, you will also need recovery equipment. Just as warming up is important to avoid injury, so too is recovering properly after a workout. Without proper recovery, you could end up needing a visit to an orthopedic specialist, which could put your exercise on hold. Foam rollers are one inclusion that you should consider, and they can help you knead your muscles and reduce soreness. They can also be used for core strengthening exercises or as a prop for some yoga poses. Muscle rolling can also not only reduce post-exercise soreness, but can speed up recovery, enhance performance, and reduce fatigue. A hot and cold foot roller can also be included to help relieve sore feet after a long run in the treadmill.
Where to Get Equipment
When putting together the best at home workout gym, gathering all of the necessities can be one of the hardest parts. However, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to stock your gym fully before getting started. Even a couple of dumbbells and a resistance band can give you something to start with, giving you time to build your gym further as you go forward.
If you are looking for equipment, you have many options. Online marketplaces can offer a wide variety and they give you the ability to shop and compare without having to leave your home. You may also be able to find equipment locally at garage sales and sports stores. If you’re not opposed to used equipment, some thriftstores may have smaller pieces of equipment and Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist can also often have workout equipment for sale near you.
However, when buying pre-owned equipment, it is always a good idea to see the item and inspect it before buying it. It’s easy to fake online ads, and you don’t want to risk putting down a lot of money on a piece of equipment that is worn out or close to breaking.
When buying new equipment online, you should also keep in mind that many pieces will come needing assembly. If you aren’t comfortable assembling these pieces yourself, you may be able to find professional equipment assembly technicians to come and do it for you. By having a professional assemble your exercise equipment, you can ensure that it is done correctly and without excessive stress that trying to follow confusing instructions can cause.
Creating the Best At Home Workout Gym
When creating the best gym in your home, there are a lot of things to consider. While these are only six ideas, you can mix and match them depending on your space and your needs. Not every gym will be the same, and the most important thing is that your gym works best for you.
If you are trying to create the best at home workout gym, keep these six things in mind so that you can have an easier time putting together a gym that you will actually look forward to using.
