If getting your home in shape and creating a home gym is on your list of new year resolutions, we’ve got some ideas that should help. In-home gyms can be daunting, because of the financial investment in equipment, and not knowing where to look for resources. We’ve got 9 tips for you, to set yourself up for success and make sure that you not only have a great new recreational space – but one that you will actually use!
First, make it somewhere you WANT to be!
One of the top things I’ve noticed about home gyms is that they often don’t get used! While interior design is about form and function and making your life easier, I can’t help you develop the habits to keep using your home gym. What I can do is advise on how to make the space somewhere you actually want to be in so you hopefully can start a new routine.
Make it bright and beautiful
No one wants to workout in a dark gray corner under fluorescent lighting. Keep the space light and fun. Maybe paint the walls a light color or consider adding a fun wallpaper (vinyl is your best bet for this type of application) If you’re in a gym or space with low ceilings, put in recessed fixtures with LED light – I recommend 3000K for a bright light that still has some warmth. Modern industrial pendants can be fun, but make sure you have high ceilings and have lots of clearance, you don’t want to be smacking them with a jump rope or a medicine ball.
Bright recessed lights, a smartly painted focal wall and concrete walls are bright, active and industrial. A minimalist calendar to mark off the days of the week you’ve exercised with chalk is a great way to keep yourself motivated.
Adding mirrors is not just useful for checking your form for strength training but can help brighten the space. Adding a simple molding to frame the space can make it feel more homey. If you’re looking to go more industrial and contemporary, sheet mirror a large area of wall space and consider adding a fun element to other walls, like wallpaper, wood paneling or even a brick veneer.
There’s a lot of options for gym flooring. I highly recommend getting samples before purchasing and testing them out. If you are doing high impact exercise or using heavy weights you want a nice cushy surface. Rubber gym flooring can be sold in interlocking tiles, or in large rolls. They carry different thicknesses, so make sure you’re investing in something thick and high quality if you’re going for high impact. For lighter impact spaces like a yoga space, barre workouts or to put some cardio equipment in, there are some wood-look materials that still make the space feel like home.
This space is cozy and meditative. Drapes and frames around the mirrors add that extra touch, but the exercise barre still adds function.
This space has more of a serious “gym” and industrial look. The garage door to open the space up to the outdoors is a great addition to keep from feelings of claustrophobia around lots of equipment and adds some ventilation. The wood paneled walls add a contemporary edge and finish the space.
Here are some great resources for flooring and other materials
Stikwood – Quickly add some flair with wood paneling on an accent wall. A wide range of finishes from contemporary to rustic – just peel and stick!
Swisstrax – Wood look flooring systems – lots of finishes in an interlocking system – great for low impact spaces that want to look inviting
Rubber Flooring – A wide variety of flooring types, from interlocking, rolls, rubber and foam. They even have wood look foam tiles for areas that are higher impact.
Royal Thin Brick – For that brick “look” without the thickness of full brick. Add some flair to your space with that old school gym look. I don’t recommend using this for an application where you would be throwing medicine balls at the wall, it has less strength with reduced thickness and could be subject to cracking!
Measure TWICE, Order Once!
The old saying “Measure twice, cut once” certainly applies here. When space planning for equipment you need to think about more than just “will my equipment fit in the floor plan?”
Lots of basement gyms have low ceilings and soffits. That stair master or elliptical might be a great idea and fit in your plan, until you take a step up and your head bangs into the ceiling! Gym equipment isn’t static, make sure you have enough clearance to use all of your machinery, that means leaving space to walk around it, extend any parts that pull out, and that added height you may be from standing on it!
For lower clearance spaces, consider a bike, erg, or a space to roll out a mat for stretching or ab work. Really think about how much space you’ll need to maneuver in, out and around your equipment before purchasing. Be judicious, especially if you’re limited on space.
Set Yourself Up For Success
If you’ve never lifted free weights in your life, don’t buy a huge rack of free weights. If you hate running or the idea of being stuck inside, don’t spend a ton of money on a treadmill. See where I’m going? If you’re already active and know what you love to do, then get equipment that will help you with that. Don’t invest in something unless you’ve tried it, or KNOW you’re going to use it.
Sometimes the monotony, or the feeling you’re locked up in isolation can make working out at home unappealing. There is a growing market of interactive exercise equipment that can give you that group fitness class feel, without having to leave the home.
Interactive gyms
Peloton has been growing in popularity among clients. It has a very small footprint, on demand classes, live classes make this a great investment. Consider their 30 day in home trial, or taking a few spin classes at a local studio if you’ve never done spin before. It is a very rigorous workout! They even have a treadmill machine with similar features for all you runners out there!
Mirror is a newer trend on the market. Say goodbye to the TV, tired fitness DVDs and repetitive routines that can leave you in a rut. From dance, to kettlebells, prenatal to kickboxing, this mirror has it all. Similar to the peloton it has on demand and live classes to keep your workout feeling revitalized, and with a super small footprint, it’s a great option for a lot of people.
Use Your Space Effectively
Maximize the space that you have with equipment that can do multiple exercises. Multigyms are a great option for people focused on strength training. They have multiple configurations for your favorite exercises. Again, just make sure you’re leaving enough clearance around the unit to actually use the equipment and maneuver around it. If it’s tucked in a corner and you feel cramped, you’re never going to use it.
Promaxima has lots of options you can configure to fit your needs!
In-Home Climbing
I’ve noticed an increased interest in climbing or bouldering, and have even dabbled in it myself! It’s a great full body workout (hello abs and grip strength!) and can also be challenging to the mind and meditative. I saw some really cool equipment at a recent conference so I thought I’d share! In-home climbing walls are great for spaces with higher ceilings, but still take up very little footprint!
The treadwall is a really cool product! It allows you to climb on a relatively small space, but slowly, like a treadmill rotates the wall space as you move with your body weight for ENDLESS climbing! It’s not motorized and works with your body weight, so it will never be too fast. It comes in 4’ or 6’ widths and requires 10’-11’ of height. This is something to get excited about!
If you have a lot of space, this rock wall from Everlast Climbing can be angled at a variety of heights for a true bouldering experience. If you’re looking for something more simple, there are modular systems where you can change up the grips on a wall mounted panel system.
Take Your Time!
As I always say, don’t feel rushed to get it all done. Plan out your space, but don’t feel pressured to buy all the equipment at once. If you’re starting a new workout habit, start small, make it consistent and sustainable and then build on from there. There’s nothing worse than buyer’s remorse on the giant exercise contraption in the basement! Happy exercising!
Katie Canfield is the founder and principal designer at Studio KC. Studio KC got its humble start in 2015 when Katie was just 23 years old. While she was freelancing with other interior designers in the NY and CT area she also became a go-to designer for local contractors and trades that needed a designer’s help for their clients whether it be for custom cabinetry drawings or plans for a gut renovation on an entire home.
Katie Canfield’s design aesthetic is eclectic and flexible. She delights in the marriage between old and new- keeping spaces approachable but still matching each client’s unique aesthetic and family narrative. Her passion for design keeps her motivated and constantly on the hunt for new trends and materials. Her broad experience includes an art history background, study at the Accademia Italiana in Florence, a stint with the renowned Manhattan firm Amanda Nisbet Design, as well as collaborations with builders and designers across the tri-state area. She’s seen it all: from gutting prewar Manhattan apartments to new construction in the ‘burbs.
