Studies show that physical activity among adults lowers the risk of heart diseases, stroke, depression, anxiety, and other conditions. Jogging or walking is a great way to start…but so is having a home gym! You can build your home gym in your garage, backyard, basem*nt, attic, or spare bedroom if you have one. But (if you're like most people), these spaces are probably already in use. This article is for those of you who have no space left and are wondering, "how do I turn my room into a gym?"
Here’s an easy step-by-step guide on how to turn your room into a gym:
Be realistic
What equipment do you need?
Measure your space
Consider other things in the room
Remove things
Buy equipment in stages
Mind your floors
Check wall construction
Leave space for heaters and fans
Don’t forget the decor
Fortunately, you can build a gym in your room, even if you have an area as small as 100 square feet. What are you waiting for…keep reading and let the room transformation begin!
1. Be Realistic: Do You Have Enough Space?
It's essential to know how much space you have to work with because often, the rooms in your house are multifunctional.
For example, if you want your garage to be your workout space, you still need to park your car in the same location.
Note that small spaces will require you to be more creative in your arrangements than large ones.
Sometimes turning your room into a gym simply isn’t possible.
2. What Do You Need?
What is your go-to workout routine, and what type of equipment do you need?
Will the equipment fit in the space you have?
Fortunately, most companies put the size and weight of gym equipment beside each item. For example:
If you do a lot of cardio workouts, a standard treadmill is about 30 square feet with about 3-5 feet of extra space in the back and on the sides.
If you are working with a small space, a spin bike will be the best decision for cardio workouts with a size of 7-10 square feet.
Always check the size of the equipment to guide you in choosing what will work for your space and meet your fitness needs. Note that equipment sizes might differ depending on the manufacturer.
3. Measure Your Space Carefully
Whether working with a small room or a large one, getting the measurements right is crucial. You don't want to end up with a squeezed space or equipment too large for your room.
From steps one and step two above, you already know the size of your area and the size of your equipment. You can tape around the spaces where you envision your equipment staying to see if it works or not.
4. Consider Other Things You Have in the Room
If your room will be used exclusively for workouts, you have nothing to worry about. If not, you have to be mindful of your other belongings like furniture and other tools.
Experienced home gym designers recommend leaving at least 28 inches between the outermost position of your gym equipment and the nearest wall or solid object.
The 28 inches is inclusive of your position while using the equipment too. You might also need to rearrange or remove some furniture in the room to avoid damage by rolling barbells and other equipment.
5. Free Up Some Space with Space-Saving Solutions
This step is crucial, especially if working in a small room. Some space-saving solutions include:
Buying adjustable dumbbells instead of several different ones.
A collapsible squat rack or a squat stand instead of weights that need power cages that eat up space.
Wall-mounted storage shelves for storage instead of putting stuff on the floor and much more.
The most important thing is to have a comfortable workout space even though it's small.
6. Consider Buying Your Equipment in Stages
Your fitness needs and goals might change with time. For example, your strength might not be where it is now in a few months. So, right now, buy weights depending on your strength and change them over time.
You can also purchase other equipment like plates and dumbbells in phases. This strategy will help you stay within budget and appreciate your progress in the long run.
7. Mind Your Floors
Most gym equipment is heavy and can seriously damage your floors, so your "gym floors" must support all the ongoing activities for a long time. The best way to ensure this is by installing floors that can absorb shock, reduce noise and be non-slippery.
Lifting platforms are a great option, especially if you live with your family, because they come with rubber tiles which are great for noise reduction. Another great option is crash pads, which are great shock absorbers, portable, and minimize noise.
If you do a lot of floor workouts, investing in an exercise mat, horse stall mats, or rubber tiles will provide you with a soft surface to exercise on. Mats will help protect your back, ankles, knees, and calves if you do a lot of yoga or high-intensity interval training (HIIT).
8. Check the Construction of Your Walls
If you are going to mount some equipment on your walls, you should consult an expert to ensure that your walls can handle the weight. Examples of gym equipment that you can mount on a wall include squat racks and pull-up bars.
Mounting this equipment on your plain walls might not be as secure. That's why many manufacturers recommend you use stringers for extra stability.
9. Leave Space for Heaters and Fans
Air circulation is vital in making your home gym a comfortable workout space. Besides that, some rooms in the house, like the attic, garage, and basem*nt, don't have proper insulation.
Therefore, you will need a heater and a fan to help keep your home gym cool in the summer and warm in the winter. These gadgets don't take up a lot of space and are relatively easy to install.
10. Don’t Forget the Décor!
Working out at home needs more motivation because you are alone, and you can get distracted easily by daily life. Colors affect your mood, so you must choose a suitable color scheme for your home gym.
Some colors to consider are:
Blue to enhance calmness and relaxation
Orange to bring excitement
Green to improve concentration
Light colors can also make your room look a lot bigger. Add some mirrors to improve lighting and help you see and improve your posture while working out.
You can add some wall art in the form of inspirational quotes and nice nature art to distract you once in a while.
Following the above, the steps should leave you with a functional, self-contained, and welcoming the home gym. If your home gym looks and feels good, you will spend more time in it.
