We’ve learned over the last few years that there are both advantages and drawbacks to spending more of your time at home. We’ve also learned that making your home multi-functional and comfortable is always going to bring benefits, whether that means improving your outdoor space, designing an office, upgrading your kitchen, or any other myriad enhancements.
Today, we’re going to talk about designing your own home gym! What kind of benefits will that bring? What will you need? And what type of flooring will support it? We’ll explore all of that right here!
Benefits of Having a Home Gym
Designing your home gym might seem like a lot of time and money upfront, but it is going to save both in the long run!
Save money-
- No gym fees
- No gas mileage
- No impulse expenditures like snacks, smoothies, clothes, towels, etc.
Save time-
- No commute
- No lines
- Cut time by hopping right in the shower or grabbing snacks and water from the kitchen
- Spend more time with family, you can even workout together!
One last benefit can’t necessarily be quantified and that’s the comfort and control factor. With a home gym, you get to create the exact environment that you like and that will inspire you personally. You get to choose the lighting, the music, the mood, and feel. You never have to fight over a remote or a machine. It’s all yours! A haven of health and wellness.
What Kind of Gym Suits You?
Everyone is unique in their workout styles and goals. Don’t just start buying the equipment you think you need to have a “home gym.” Create a space that caters to you. How do you work out? Do you need higher ceilings for jumps in your CrossFit routine? Sturdy floors for weightlifting? Someplace serene for yoga? Or do you need a space that allows for anything? Perhaps considering your goals and routine can help you start to envision what you’ll need to create your space.
Where To Put Your Home Gym
Depending on what kind of exercise you’ll be doing you’ll need anywhere from 20–200 square feet for your gym. How much space do you have? And how much do you want? Always remember to make some space for floor exercises and stretching. If you overcrowd your gym, you’re going to feel uncomfortable and are less likely to use it!
Some common areas to put your home gym are-
Garage
Concrete flooring is hard to damage, and you’re out of the way. However, it could get hot or cold depending on the time of year. You can’t park your car in your gym! And do you have other storage options?
Basement
Concrete flooring is hard to damage, and you’re out of the way. You won’t be interrupted. You don’t have to worry as much about damaging your surroundings. However, it could get hot or cold depending on the time of year. And do you have other storage options?
Spare Room
In the spare room you should have access to temperature control. The space will be more pleasant than your typical garage or unfinished basement. However, you are taking up space in the living areas and you might damage the flooring.
Outside
You’ll have fresh air and you’re not going to damage any flooring. However, you could damage your equipment and your workout is dependent on the weather.
What Do You Need To Get Started?
What you need to start putting your gym together will vary depending on your objective. What kind of workouts are you doing? Do you need a multi-gym? Are you doing a lot of indoor cardio? Are you more of a HIIT partaker? Is weights your thing? Or yoga?
Remember, quality is more important than quantity as you are building your home gym. Quality might cost a fraction more when purchasing, but you are less likely to have to replace the equipment later. And don’t buy anything you aren’t sure you’re going to use. It may take time to piece together your ideal gym—that’s okay. Wouldn’t you rather utilize all the elements than stare at things taking up space and attracting dust while you workout?
Suggestions for a weightlifter’s home gym:
Barbell
Bench
Weight plates/weights
Squat bench with pull-up bar
Suggestions for a CrossFit or HIIT home gym:
Kettlebells
Medicine balls
Plyo box
Pull-up bar
Gymnastics rings
Jump rope
Suggestions for a yoga home gym:
Yoga mats
Bolsters
Blocks
Straps
Blankets
Suggestions for the eclectic home gym:
Bench
Dumbbells
Yoga mats
Stability ball
Resistance bands
If you prefer a machine to free weights, that’s fine! In fact, it will minimize damage to the floors and is safer if you’re pushing yourself to failure. However, the choice has more to do with your personal preference, your fitness goals, and your budget!
And don’t forget your cardio equipment. Will you be doing most of that outside? Or do you need a treadmill, stationary bike, rower, elliptical, etc.? Remember that there will be days of rain, snow, or intense heat that may make it difficult to exercise out of doors. It might be good to have a backup in your home gym.
Elements for any type of gym:
Mirrors help to enlarge space and aid you in maintaining form
Stereo or TV provides distraction and inspiration, preferably one that you can cast your online workout to
Power and wifi for your devices, fans, tv, etc.
Ventilation can consist of windows, doors, garage door, etc.
Floor coverings to protect your flooring include mats underneath equipment, rubber flooring over concrete or vinyl over carpeting
Heating/cooling will keep you comfortable and can include your heater or air conditioner
Fans are important even with good ventilation and HVAC
Inspiration to keep you moving, like posters, quotes, plants, whatever gets you pumped!
Chalkboard or whiteboard to keep track of your fitness progress
Shelving and storage for loose equipment, towels, mats, etc.
Lighting so you can see what you’re doing!
Lastly, the two most important elements of your home gym are that it’s safe and it’s someplace you’d like to be.
What Type Of Flooring Can Support Your Gym?
Flooring is one of the most important aspects of your home gym. You could damage the floor, your equipment, or your body if you don’t take care of this step of your planning. Appropriate flooring can also dampen the noise related to equipment use.
Grahams Flooring & Design suggests three options for home gym flooring:
Rubber Flooring
Rubber flooring, both rolled and tile, is the most highly recommended for your home gym. Besides it being relatively low cost and excellent for traction, FlooringInc.com points out that it’s also durable, easy to install, easy to clean, and there are plenty of green options (recycled rubber). However, though rubber is great about insulating sound, it isn’t so great about insulating for temperature. Still, it is our favorite option.
Carpet Tile
Carpet tile is another excellent option for your home gym. Get something with a low pile, like commercial-grade carpet, and you can definitely DIY it. Carpet gives your joints some cushion and good traction, not to mention, it is easy to maintain. However, make sure that you are maintaining it because sweat can get stinky when it soaks into a carpet that isn’t cleaned regularly.
Durable Luxury Vinyl Plank
Glue down or floating vinyl planks are just a wonderful option for flooring, hands down. But, not surprisingly, they are also a terrific option for your home gym. Vinyl is durable, water-resistant, easy to clean and DIY, and, as What Is Vinyl points out, “it’s more suited to a home style and will look less out of place than a rubber-floored gym inside your house.”
The only downsides are toughness and shock-absorption. Vinyl is going to be less resilient to piercing and damage. Yet, rubber or foam mats could come in handy. Additionally, your joints will take a beating if you’re regularly doing high-impact exercises. Vinyl is ideal for a yoga or eclectic home gym.
*And remember, put mats underneath individual pieces of equipment to avoid wear and tear.
Get to Work…out!
So, now it’s time to start building your home gym! We know you’ve probably been imagining what to get as you read this. We sure got some new ideas writing it! Start by deciding what kind of gym you need, then pick an area, get the right flooring, set up the basics, and make it an inspiring place! And finally, get your workout on!
How Can Graham’s Flooring & Design Help?
We hope our suggestions for designing your home gym have motivated you to get started planning! If you need help picking out the perfect gym flooring, the experts here at Graham’s Flooring & Design are more than happy to chat! Contact us today to talk rubber, carpet, or vinyl flooring in Fort Collins and the surrounding Northern Colorado areas.
We are dedicated to honest and fun home design and can’t wait to make your buying experience a great one! Enjoy a Free Design Consultation today!
For additional information on Fort Collins flooring, be sure to read our blog, where you can find our suggestions for the best flooring in bathrooms, bedrooms, basements, kitchens, and your mountain cabin among others!
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