Wondering if home gyms are worth it? A home gym is the perfect solution if you want to save money by skipping a gym membership, make working out your New Year’s resolution, or feel more comfortable exercising in your own living space.
Remember—wanting a home gym and knowing how to create one are different things. From shopping for home gym equipment to picking a layout, learn how to convert part of your home into the ideal workout space with Compass Self Storage.
Essential Home Gym Equipment
The quality and types of home gym equipment could be the linchpin that either makes or breaks your workouts. Everyone’s budget and exercise priorities look different, but whether you’re a bodybuilding pro or trying out weights for the first time, we consider these home gym equipment items to be must-haves:
- An adjustable bench. Your adjustable workout bench should include seating, lying, and gradation variations to target specific muscle groups for every workout.
- Adjustable dumbbells. Similar to the adjustable bench, adjustable dumbbells provide more variation for your workouts. We suggest a selectorized set of dumbbells if it’s within your budget. It takes up less space and makes changing out weights easier for fast-paced exercising.
- Resistance bands. Resistance bands give you even more exercise options without cluttering your at-home gym if you have limited space.
- Dumbbell rack. Keeping your weights on the floor may seem easier and cheaper, but a dumbbell rack is safer, cleaner, and keeps your equipment organized.
Must-Haves for a Home Gym Layout
Creating a home gym isn’t as simple as setting up a dumbbell rack in your spare room. There are a few must-haves for a home gym layout, including:
- Room for movement and equipment
- Flooring
- Lighting
- Ventilation and air conditioning
How Much Space Do I Need for a Home Gym?
The space you need for your home gym depends on how you plan to use it. You’ll need a room 8 feet wide by 7 feet long for a basic home gym with the equipment we discussed above. Larger equipment like treadmills or elliptical machines require about 30 square feet and must be close to a power outlet.
What Flooring Is Best for a Home Gym?
The ideal flooring for a home gym is a rubber floor, but most houses and apartments have carpet, linoleum, or concrete floors. If you can’t install a rubber floor, we recommend buying rubber mats to protect yourself and your floor. The last thing you want is to fall on hardwood floors or crack the concrete in your basement with a heavy dumbbell.
What Is the Best Lighting for a Home Gym?
Choose LED light bulbs for your home gym lighting. They’re energy efficient and are reliable sources of bright light. You can also supplement your LED light bulbs with natural light to elevate the energy in your home gym. We recommend focusing on ceiling lighting instead of bringing a floor lamp into your workout space to prevent knocking it over during your workout.
Why Does Ventilation Matter for My Home Gym?
Proper ventilation helps circulate the air in your home gym, control moisture, and help you breathe better while you exercise. You can maintain ventilation in your home gym by opening windows, setting a dehumidifier in the corner, or using a ceiling fan.
Create More Room for Your Home Gym With Compass Self Storage
Creating a home gym can be challenging if you have more belongings than space in your house or apartment. Before you donate furniture you still need or want, you can declutter your spare room, living room, or basement for a home gym with help from Compass Self Storage.
We offer a wide range of storage units at affordable monthly rates. You can stash guest room furniture for a wintertime home gym or give your boxes of old photographs a home away from home to create a permanent workout space in your basement.
Find a Compass Self Storage facility near you and rent or reserve your storage unit online today.
