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The best home gym ideas

Make your workout space work for you.

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One of the hardest things about exercising is staying motivated. Especially if the weather’s bad or you’ve had a long day at work. But home gyms make it a lot easier for you to find the time to work up a sweat. And we’re here to help you get the most out of yours.

You might only need to spruce up that spare room and pop in some basic sports and fitness equipment. So, here are some of our top home gym ideas that’ll get your heart pumping.

1. Get the best home gym equipment for you

If you're just starting out, there are a few things worth thinking about. Measure the space you’re going to use first. It’ll be a bit awkward if that weight bench you end up buying doesn’t fit in the corner. And set yourself a budget too. You might be surprised by how good some of the more affordable gym machines actually are.

Check to see if the equipment is easy to use and comfortable too. After all, you’re going to be spending hours on it. Oh, and don’t forget about the noise. Treadmills and rowing machines can make a bit of a racket. But ellipticals and exercise bikes are pretty quiet, so if you’re in a flat with upstairs and downstairs neighbours — those are going to be a better option.

A lot of home gym equipment is black with red highlights too. So, how about adding a splash of colour in your workout space with some red shelves, towels, and ornaments? Or maybe even a rug that’ll really tie the room together.

2. Power up with some music

Music can be one of the best ways to get into gear. And sure, you can use headphones or wireless earbuds to stream songs straight from your phone to your ears. But a big sound system will give your at-home gym more of a shared gym vibe. Plus, if you’ve got a workout buddy or dance partner — you can both enjoy the same tunes. Just don’t argue over the playlist!

Hi-fi systems are great at filling a room with quality audio. Especially if you mount the speakers in the corners of your ceiling. But if you really want to boost the bass, try some megasound party speakers instead. Don’t have much space? Bluetooth and multi-room speakers sound big and bold, even for their small size.

3. Tune up with a telly

Who said television is unhealthy? TVs can help make those long cardio sessions on your treadmill or exercise bike fly by. Then you’ll be able to catch up on the latest boxset and burn some calories at the same time. It’s a win-win!

Kitting out your home gym with a TV makes a lot of sense, but just make sure to position your fitness gear facing it so you’ll get a good view. Check out our Best TVs to buy guide for our top telly recommendations — from budget televisions to big, crystal-clear 8K flat screens.

4. Make it a place for mindfulness

You’ll probably want your home gym room to double up as a relaxation pad. After all, recovery's just as important as the actual exercise. Plus, a serene space will make meditation and yoga feel even more special.

Think about popping some plants in the corners of your gym at home for a spa-like look. Or even squeeze in a small sofa and some cushions if you can. Also try painting your walls with lighter, soothing tones that’ll help you feel calm and focused. We’re talking neutrals like cream and beige, or even pastel greens and blues. And mirrors can do wonders for your small home gym too — reflecting light to brighten up your space and make it feel bigger.

5. Bring the outdoors inside

The beauty of a home gym setup is that you can work out anytime. Which is especially good when it’s chucking it down outside. But when it’s a warm sunny day, some fresh air and a bit of natural light can really give you a boost.

Now, we’re not telling you to move all your weights or machines outside. Although, partially covered patio gyms are very cool! But if your workout room has French doors or windows, open them up and let the outdoors in. And if not, think about having some put in if your budget stretches that far.

Where is the best place to put a gym in your house?

You can convert pretty much any room in your house into a home gym. Although your bathroom and kitchen probably aren’t the best options! It all really depends on the layout and the amount of space you have. But here are some gym ideas that might help you to figure it out…

Bedroom gym

Got a spare bedroom that you’d like to make your personal gym? Or maybe, you’re tight on space and want to use your own bedroom instead? Whatever the reason, turning one into a home gym can work out.

A small or medium-sized bedroom gym won’t give you much space to do any super intense training like kickboxing. But you could probably fit an elliptical or exercise bike in there. And what’s great about both of these is that they’re pretty quiet too. Meaning you won’t have to worry about making too much noise if your family’s downstairs watching the telly.

Speaking of TVs, they’ll really help make those long workouts feel like five minutes. So, if you’ve got a flat screen on a bedroom wall, try to place your exercise equipment facing it.

Tech tip: Not got much room to work with? Some treadmills, rowing machines and exercise bikes have clever folding designs. You can just make them smaller when you’re done with your workout!

Basement gym

If you’ve got a big basement with lots of space, then you’ve struck gold for your home gym layout. And even if you don’t have that much room to play with, you can still probably fit a couple of machines and a set of weights in.

Because it’s underneath your house, a basement gym is pretty well soundproofed. So, you can sprint to your heart’s content on a treadmill without worrying about the noise you’re making. Plus, basements don’t usually get as hot as other rooms. Helping you keep your cool during those really intense workouts.

Basements have strong concrete foundations too, so you don’t need to fret about the weight of your exercise machines or equipment. The only drawback with basement gyms is their lack of natural light. So, just make sure to brighten up your space with lots of cool lighting!

Living room gym

There’s nothing wrong with putting exercise equipment in your lounge — especially if you don’t have a spare room. It’s probably the biggest space in your house after all. So, you should be able to squeeze at least one bit in there.

With a living room gym you’ll be able to watch the telly at the same time too! That’s one way to take your mind off those lengthy cardio sessions. And if you still need a nudge over the finish line? Just hook your phone up to your speaker system or Bluetooth soundbar and blast out “Eye of the Tiger” for some extra motivation.

A living room gym makes it easy to get in a quick workout too. Long ad break between your favourite shows? Just hop on the exercise bike for a speedy 5-minute spin session.

FAQs

How do I design my home gym?

Think carefully about the size and layout. Whether it's a spare room or a garage, you'll need to make sure you've got enough space to fit all your exercise equipment in.

You'll also need to ask yourself what your fitness goals are. Then you can make sure you’re buying the right machines and weights to help you to improve. That goes for whether you’re boosting your cardio or building up your strength. Check out our sports and fitness buying guide for more advice on picking out some great exercise equipment.

Once you've decided on a space, selected your gym equipment, and planned your layout — it’s time to give your home gym room a nice personal touch. Adding a few houseplants or mirrors can really help put your own unique stamp on it. While some people even goes as far as painting their gym an inspirational colour. It’s really up to you.

Any more questions?

Hopefully our guide has given you plenty of home gym design ideas. If you want to keep track of your fitness progress, make sure to read our piece on the best fitness trackers to keep you active. And if you’re rocking an Apple wearable, here’s how to track your activity on an Apple Watch.

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