Your Life
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE A HOME GYM
Convert your kid’s old bedroom or a corner of the basement into an exercise space you’ll actually use
It’s the new year, and you’re ready to commit to getting back—or staying—in shape. One key to keeping that commitment? Convenience. The easier it is to get workouts done, the more likely you may be to keep doing them. And it doesn’t get more convenient than a home gym. A recent poll by CivicScience reports that at-home exercisers are 21 percent more likely than gym-goers to work out at least once a week.
But converting a spare bedroom or basement space into an inviting home gym isn’t as simple as setting up a treadmill and tossing a few dumbbells in the corner. “The more beautiful and pleasant and engaging a space, the more apt you are to use it,” says Steven Webber, associate professor of interior architecture and design at Florida State University.
LIGHTING
Artificial lighting can be harsh, uninviting and unflattering. Consider lighting with modern technology that will let you adjust the tone among warm, white and daylight settings. That will let you set the mood for your activity. Dimmers will give you more control, letting you re-create the ambience and energy of a dim indoor cycling studio, for example, says Kelley Robinson, assistant professor of interior architecture and design at Florida State.
ADVANCED TECH
Some high-tech video screens mount low on the wall and have exercise equipment built into them. They use digital resistance, so you can do exercise moves without actual weights, says New York City–based celebrity personal trainer Kacy Duke.
AUDIOVISUAL GEAR
Infuse your home gym with energy, variety and innovation with a multimedia setup that includes a TV or tablet for workout videos or movies as well as a Bluetooth speaker to pump up the soundtrack or your favorite music. “There are so many workouts on YouTube,” Duke says. “Push play, and you’re ready to go.”
WALLS
Nothing is less inspiring than a blank wall. So think child’s playroom: Use dry-erase or chalkboard paint on the walls to track your exercise progress and write motivational messages, Webber advises. Or cover one wall with cork tiles or sheets, he says, “so you can pin things to it. Cork also absorbs sound.” Another tip: Gyms usually have mirrors, so you can observe your form as you exercise. Hang one or two large mirrors on the wall, or carefully lean up a floor-standing mirror, Duke suggests. This can make a smaller room appear open and spacious.
BENCH
A bench reduces the need to get down on the floor, Duke says. “You can get them in great colors, so the room is stylish.”
FLOOR SPACE
Optimally, you should be able to do each of the four main types of exercise (strength training, cardio, balance exercises, stretching) in the same room. That likely will require a 7-by-7-foot space with no equipment where you will do much of your movement.
WEIGHTS AND BANDS
Modern dumbbells will adjust from 5 to 50 pounds with a twist of a handle. Inexpensive resistance bands let you work every muscle.
STORAGE
If you have a lot of loose equipment such as dumbbells, medicine balls, kettlebells, mats and bands, invest in a sports rack, shelves or chest to keep it all organized and away from your areas of movement, Robinson says.
ROOM LAYOUT
You can start by using painters tape to mark where pieces will go. Depending on the size of the space, you can create workout stations. “You can give your room flow and purpose by creating designated corners,” Duke says. “You can have your yoga corner, strength corner, cardio corner and so forth.”
CARDIO FOLDABLES
For smaller spaces, look into compact equipment, such as a foldable treadmill that can be tucked against a wall when not in use, Duke says. Some exercise bikes are also compact.
FLOORING
Hardwood is too hard. You want flooring with some give—easy on your joints and able to absorb vibration and noise. Webber says vinyl flooring and linoleum are good options. But he prefers interlocking rubber flooring tiles, which are easy to install and make your room like a giant yoga mat. Skip carpet, Webber says, as it gets too worn too fast. (An exception may be carpet tiles, which can easily be replaced in sections.) Definitely avoid area rugs; their propensity to shift and slide makes them dangerous.
Selene Yeager has written for Men’s Health, Cosmopolitan and other publications.