***Update***

I completed this post before the quarantine measures were put into place because of the coronavirus.
With gyms closed, a few essentials from Amazon is all you’ll need to continue your workouts at home. Check out 8 Home Gym Essentials, for a concise list of our home gym products (no machines).

We all know how important it is to stay fit, but how difficult it can be to actually maintain a healthy lifestyle. For me it comes down to prioritizing my health, as sadly I’m cursed with terrible genes. Sorry Mom and Dad, love you guys, just not the genetic health issues. I also find vanity a motivator, I want to look and feel good!

**Contains Affiliate Links. As an Amazon Associate I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.**

Why a Home Gym?

If you’d like to skip this life story, skip down to How to Build a Home Gym.

Why have a home gym vs gym membership you say? For both my husband and I it’s convenience, we have 4 kids, ages 16-2 years (need I say more)? Suffice to say with a toddler, teens and a 4 year old who have evening (and some day time) activities, finding ME time is rather difficult. Getting to the gym was next to impossible some days, and my husband and I would have to coordinate our schedules constantly.

The other issue was the time commitment. Driving time to the gym 10 min, workout 40 min and another 10-20 min to get back home. We were looking at 1 1/2 to 2 hours by the time we showered and changed. Both of us realized that time could be cut down in half if we worked out home. We could be flexible to when we’d workout, even set the kids up with some TV and keep an eye on them while working out. Basically it would be much easier to make it work. Also I never was a fan of driving in the winter to get to the gym, or if the roads were bad I wouldn’t even bother.

Finally, I am a self conscious gym member. You know the kind, the one looking around to see if anyone was watching me, let’s say squat. Or if I was sprinting and breathing like a manic, I’d feel sheepish. (I tend to gravitate towards HIIT workouts).

Working out at home, I was able to squeeze in a workout any time of the day! No more excuses. In terms of classes at the gym, that’s probably the only thing I miss. However we have a TV in our gym and I’m able to follow workout videos/YouTube classes. Bottom line is, do what works for you and your family just get moving!

How to Build a Home Gym

Now that you have an idea as to why we prefer a home gym, let’s get started on what we did to build ours.

Planning

Equipment musts for us: Cardio, weights & yoga/stretching. These are the main uses for our gym. I’d suggest coming up with a loose plan on what your main purposes for your gym will be.

Budget

We did incur significant cost when we finished our basement. However, we were able to save some money as we already had a few of our larger gym equipment. When building a gym you will need to budget for your must haves and then nice to have items. Start with the equipment you’ll find most useful. Ours was the treadmill and then we added more affordable weights. We took our time and completed our gym over a year, continuing to buy equipment we would actually use. It’s a work in progress, just like our bodies. 🙂

Space

2021 update: For an ENTIRE post dedicated to floorspace design, check out Gym Floorspace Design | The Complete Guide to Home Gym Organization | Part 1.

First of all, for a permanent home gym, you need a dedicated space. Before we finished our basement, we had our equipment laid out and taped the area we were planning to use as a gym (see above pic). We worked out in this space for 3 months adjusted the tape depending on our workout needs and finalized plans during the reno.

Open Concept

This was a huge reno for us as we were finishing our entire basement, so were able to plan out everything. One consideration to make is whether you want a closed or open concept space. We didn’t want the gym to feel closed off from the rest of the basement, so we added large glass panes (installed like windows) that made the room feel bigger then it is.

The open concept plan allows in light from the windows that are in the media room. I can also keep an eye on the kids while I work out.

Gym Size

Our space is approximately 9 ft. by 16 ft., however does narrow down to about 6ft wide where we have the treadmill and utility wall. This works for us.
If you don’t have a basement or wanting to undertake a reno, a spare room, garage or even an unfinished space would work. We worked out in our unfinished basement for 2 years mess and all.

Ceiling Height

We are lucky that we have 9ft ceilings in the basement, so didn’t have to worry too much about accommodating certain equipment. But if you do have low ceilings, take a look at what your specific needs are, i.e. can you hang hooks from the ceiling, or get a power tower in?

Lighting

We installed 5000k LED pot lights (similar) in our home gym. The 5000k (daylight) mimic sunlight and make the gym feel so bright and inviting. Lighting is key for a good workout, and also who really wants to workout in a dark dingy space? We put ours on dimmer switches (similar), as I do dim them for yoga/stretching or when running on the treadmill and watching a movie.

Flooring

We opted for the same flooring we have through out the basement, which is hardwood. However, in the gym we layered workout mats on top, to protect the flooring and provide some cushioning.

• Gray Rubber Grip Floor Mat – Great for creating a nonslip surface.
• Black Treadmill/Bench Floor Mat – Ours is the NordicTrack mat, however I’ve linked a similar. It’s actually for treadmills but we bought two so we can place one under the bench. Again added protection from weights.
• Interlocking Foam Mats The other option we looked at are these very dense foam mats (see pic below) specifically designed for gyms. We are waiting to see if we actually need them, based on our workout needs. These would be great if you had unfinished floors.

Equipment

Deciding on equipment was fairly easy for us, because we were already working out in our unfinished space for years, and knew exactly what we needed. The only new purchase was the Power Tower and the BowFlex SelectTech 552 adjustable dumbbells.

When planning for your equipment, be realistic with your purchases. No point getting something you won’t actually be using. To get an idea, here’s a list of our current equipment. Again it took us several years to get to this point in your gym, don’t rush this process and stick to the essentials first!

Larger Size Equipment

• Marcy Workout Bench (similar) – No issues, have had ours for years. Can recline and is adjustable.

• NordicTrack Treadmill (similar) – I purchased a new NordicTrack C1750 Treadmill. Our previous one was about 10 years old, and held up extremely well even after countless miles! I am just as satisfied with the new one.

• Power Tower (similar) – We have the Apex Power Tower, linked similar. My husband primarily uses the power tower for pull ups, sit ups, triceps dips, etc. Also pretty space efficient.

Medium Size Equipment

• Dumbells – various ones depending on our progress but at the very least enough free weights for total body exercises.
• Dumbell Stand (similar) – To keep the various dumbells off the floor.

• Kettlebells -These kettlebells have a comfortable grip and flat bottom to prevent rocking. However, I may have bought these because they matched the colors of the gym. 🙂

• BowFlex Select Tech Adjustable 552 Dumbell – If budget allows, then this is a good space saving option. Also, in the long run could be more economical (as you are not buying individual dumbells as you progress). My husband uses these and is quite happy with them.

• Aerobic Step – I still love a good old school step workout. (I find the workouts on Youtube).

Smaller Size Equipment

• AmazonBasics Exercise Mat – I use the mat primarily to provide a cushion during stretching and floor exercises.
• Black Foam Roller – Am really finding the foam rolling amazing for my back & muscle aches.
• Green Foam Roller (similar) – Great for a deep massage due to the grooves. Highly recommend if you need that extra pressure.

• Suspension Bands – We also just purchased these TRX style bands, I love them for the flexibility they provide while working out. A pretty unique way to strength train as well. I am telling you, they are the most fun I’ve had working out in a while!

• TheFitLife Resistance Bands – these bands are light weight, affordable and easy to store or travel with. Provide a great low impact workout.

Sources: Resistance Bands

Extras

• Media Equipment -TV is a must, I HAVE to have some kind of entertainment, especially on the treadmill. Plus if you follow YouTube videos, it’s easier to watch on a bigger screen compared to the phone. Also, when planning your space, consider also prewiring for a surround sound system. We have our gym equipped with audio receiver and speakers.

*2021 Update* A full post focusing on Gym Audio Video Setup! Lot’s of tips and ideas to organize and store your smaller gym items, check it out as well!

• Utility section for towels, peg board, shelves for water etc. The peg board is especially handy for gym storage and hanging things. Keeping things organized makes it easier to use for the entire family, and also it’s a fun spot in our gym.

*2021 Update* A full post focusing on Gym Wall Organization! Lot’s of tips and ideas to organize and store your smaller gym items, check it out as well!

Sources: LCD Jumbo Wall Clock| Gym Towels | Metal Pegboard |Display Board (similar) | Wired Basket (similar) | Pegs | Digital Interval Timer | Resistance Bands

• Mirror – I find mirrors are essential when working out at home, especially to check your form.

Make it fun!

We couldn’t leave our gym with plain walls because well why not have a little fun with paint! My husband and I were going with a fun 80s vibe with the neon colors and the cool accent wall with the stripes.

Also, the picture on the left is what I sent my husband to accent the far wall. After 17 years I’m glad he is able to work with the detail I provide. :).

That’s it! Ok that was A LOT of information, but I hope you found this post helpful in planning your home gym. Here are the rest of the Home Gym Posts for your reference. More in-depth information on some key areas of your gym! Please leave me a comment if you have any questions.

• Part 1 Floorspace Design| Home Gym Organization
• Part 2 Gym Wall Organization | Home Gym Organization
• Part 3 Audio Video Setup | Home Gym Organization
• 8 Home Gym Essentials (no machines)