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How to Set Up a Home Gym

Spoiler: You don’t need lots of time and money while creating a home gym.

Let’s be honest: gym memberships could be much more expensive than what they’re really worth. And nowadays, it’s way easier and cheaper than ever to work out at your cozy and lovely apartment/home with the rise of online workouts. So, if you truly want to cancel your monthly fitness membership and commit to a full fitness routine at home, you must learn how to set up a home gym that helps you achieve your goals.

Step 1: Get the Right Place

The first step you have to take while setting up a home gym is choosing where you want it, way before you start doing your kettlebells workout or begin performing burpees. You’ll need enough space for a yoga mat at least, as it’s just the space you need for stretching and performing core exercises. Depending on the rest of the workouts you plan to do, you’ll need more space. For instance, a HIIT workout needs enough room to jump on, while Pilates only needs a little more room than a yoga mat.For those who live in apartments bigger than a walk-in closet, it would be good to use a corner of your living room or bedroom for your workout sessions. If the weather and your living situation allow you to do it, using an outdoor space would be great. If you have an empty room or vacant garage, make sure it’s appropriate for a safe workout. For instance, check if the roof is the best to keep the room cool enough to work out without the risk of overheating.

Step 2: Stock Your Home Gym

You don’t need lots of equipment or bulky machines when building a home gym. Actually, some of the best equipment is small and cheap. You will want to ensure you properly take care of all pieces of equipment. Proper care can help with your equipment lifespan. Read the following tips to learn how to make a home gym with just the equipment you essentially need:

Cardio

If both your space and budget are tight, just get a jump rope for cardio, instead of that expensive and bulky treadmill you had in mind. To make it more challenging, try using weighted jump ropes, so your wrists and forearms work harder as this one is heavier to turn. Even so, treadmills shouldn’t be totally overlooked, as they could really help you out. If you have enough room, you can get an inexpensive treadmill to reach your fitness goal and stay on budget.

Strength

Forget about all the huge cable machines for a strength workout, just get a single kettlebell, a pair of adjustable dumbbells, a whole set of dumbbells, or a set of resistance bands. Also get balance discs instead of stability balls and BOSUs, as the benefits are the same while taking way less space. Also, keep in mind that the power of effective body-weight moves should never be underestimated.

Recovery

No matter what you prefer for your workout, recovery equipment is always necessary for a home gym setup. Consider getting recovery tools such as a hot and cold foot roller or a foam roller, as research shows that rolling out your muscles regularly can help speed up recovery, enhance muscular performance, and reduce muscle fatigue and soreness.Remember that there’s no need of buying all equipment at once. You can start with a couple of items and eventually get more, until making a home gym that meets your highest expectations.

Step 3: Create a Storage Plan

Storage is the key if you want to use lots of equipment in a small room. For the minimalist workout, you can use a storage container that fits under your bed or couch to storage your portable pieces. Don’t forget to get the best out of your walls! You can also get a hanging organizer and place it on one of these empty spaces. For your dumbbells, you’ll need a compact rack, but if you want something stronger, steel bars will be right for you.

Step 4: Design Your Setup

Part of learning how to set up a home gym is being aware of how important the actual set up of a workout space is, which you’ve probably realized if you’ve been to a gym that’s crowded with equipment and no room left. Make sure you have plenty of light and a mirrors to easily watch yourself while you work out. Not only can mirrors be a great tool for workout feedback, but they can also make the room seem larger than it actually is, which will make you feel less cramped in your home gym.If you’re turning a spare room into a home gym, gym flooring would be useful to give you a bit of cushion while you exercise, and will also protect your floor from getting slippery with sweat drips. Flooring gym installation is quite easy as it comes in squares that interlock like a puzzle.Most importantly, remove all distractions while making a home gym. Get your shoes inside your closet, and put the laptop back on your desk. If you’ll use it for an online workout, place your computer at the right level and distance to follow the routine correctly.

Step 5: Put It to Good Use

Now that you know how to set up a home gym, here comes the easy part: using your gym. You can ask your partner to rock a partner WOD next to you, invite your friend who’s been thrilled to sweat and lose those pounds with you, or just hit the treadmills and weights for a relaxing workout on your own.You’ll see all the benefits if you regularly visit it, just like a real gym.