A personal gym is one of the wisest investments you can make in your life. You will focus more on your fitness goals by curating a specific space dedicated to improving your health. However, before you purchase free weights, a yoga mat, and a treadmill, think about what types of workouts you want to undertake. Then determine how much room and equipment you will require to complete them. In this article, we will give some pointers on what to include in your home gym and how to make it work for you!
1. Decide on Your Budget
The first step in setting up your own home gym is to decide on a budget. Selecting a budget range you’re willing to spend on is crucial to prevent you from spending your money unnecessarily. It also lets you plan on what equipment you want to get before purchasing them. This will allow you to meet your goals while sticking within your budget.
Here is a general picture of how much a regular individual would spend buying gym equipment. For example, used weights purchased at a nearby garage sale would often cost around $500, and new plates or used bench presses would cost up to $600. However, if you plan on getting new weight bars, dumbbells, and squat racks, they are priced around $800. Other equipment, such as mats or foam blocks to protect the floors when performing heavy lifting exercises like squats or deadlifts, might cost up to $1500 or more for your home gym.
2. Pick an Ideal Spot
The second step is to choose a room in your home that can be transformed into a gym. Home gym builders would often advise that to get the most out of your gym; you need to create a comfortable and calming environment. One way to achieve this is by getting an air purifier for your home gym. Air purifiers paired with essential oils improve air quality and make your room smell fresh and clean.
Additionally, you would want to choose a distraction-free location. Trust us; you do not want your focus distracted by traffic noise or other interruptions while you’re working out. If you live in a two-storey house, we suggest you choose a place on the upper-level side of the house to set up your home gym.
On top of that, the location you choose should also have lots of natural light during the daytime. Many options are available for picking the perfect place for your home gym. However, remember to always go ahead with what works best for you!
3. Buying the Required Equipment
Now that you have established a budget and decided on a spot, it is time to buy the necessary equipment. You might think you would need every piece of equipment available on the market, but that’s not the case. You need first to plan out the type of fitness routine you want to follow through, and from there, you can purchase the equipment you need to meet your fitness goals.
Standard pieces of equipment include a bench, barbells, and dumbbells. A treadmill or an elliptical machine are excellent choices if you prefer doing cardio workouts. You may also consider purchasing free weights such as kettlebells and medicine balls for weight training. If you have enough room outside your house, you can build a small space with various outdoor equipment! When designing your gym, the sky is the limit.
4. Make Sure Your Equipment is Organized
Organizing your gym equipment is necessary to keep your home gym neat and well-ordered. You can arrange the equipment by placing it on shelves or in boxes. Hence, you always know where everything is and can locate what you need when exercising.
If you have limited space, be creative with storage options like hanging weights from bars or putting your bench over a beam. You can also consider storing your gym equipment outside, such as on the deck, which frees up space inside your house!
5. A Yoga Mat is Essential
When working out on a hard surface, your joints should always be protected to prevent injuries. A good-quality yoga mat is one of the most effective ways to safeguard your joints without breaking the budget. There are several variations of yoga mats in the market. But we suggest you purchase one that is earth friendly and is made from natural/recycled rubber or jute.
6. Install a Music System
Music and exercise go with one another. Therefore, consider investing in a pair of Bluetooth speakers so that you can listen to inspiring and upbeat music throughout your workout. This will keep you motivated while still having fun during your workout sessions!
Music with lyrics can be distracting to some. Hence, we would suggest for you try listening to instrumental music. Additionally, you can alternate between high-intensity and slower-paced music
on different days of the week.
If you require an extra energy boost during exercises, include lively tempo songs in your workout playlist. There are even apps available in the market that allow you to incorporate certain pieces from different artists or genres into a playlist based on the mood/workout objective you want to attain that day!
On top of that, getting a laptop specifically for your home gym will be beneficial in the long run. This is because you can watch workout routines and exercise tips on the laptop. This way, you do not even need to hire a personal trainer. So, make sure to purchase the best laptop for your home gym as a long-term investment.
7. Safety as Top Priority
Your safety should be your priority. Keep an eye out for equipment that might cause harm or any type of accident. Do not forget to protect yourself by wearing protective gear while working out, such as wrist straps and a weightlifting belt.
Finally, ensure adequate space for the equipment you intend to use in your home gym. We do not want you to accidentally hit and hurt yourself against equipment due to the lack of space to move around.
8. Put Some Unique Touches
Giving your home gym a personal touch will make you enjoy spending time there. For example, you can hang up photos and posters you like and leave some clean towels out after you are done to be ready for the next training session. Burning a candle also helps make you feel more at ease during training sessions.
Additionally, experiment with decorating with colours that exude energy or happiness. You can check out Pinterest, which has valuable information on how colour impacts moods and emotions. On top of that, putting up motivational words or images might help you get pumped for your workouts.
Setting up a home gym is an excellent way to remain on track with your daily fitness routine. We hope these recommendations will assist you in building your gym. So, take the time to evaluate what will work best for you.
