Creating a home gym provides a convenient place for you to exercise and saves the time you would have otherwise spent driving to a local fitness center. In addition, once you make your initial investment you can save the money spent on monthly membership fees. The right gym for you is one based on your individual exercise goals and spending budget. The American Council on Exercise provides helpful tips for how to design a quality home gym aimed to keep you fit and healthy.
Step 1
Evaluate your space and determine how much is available to create your gym. Consider the size that popular exercise equipment will necessitate such as most treadmills take up about 30 square feet, free weights can take up anywhere between 20 to 50 square feet, and one-station machines designed for exercising all muscle groups take up about 35 square feet.
Step 2
Determine your exercise goals to outline what type of equipment you will include in your gym. For example, if you run outdoors and play sports for cardiovascular exercise perhaps you do not want to invest in cardio machines. However, if you want to do all your exercise at home, plan to purchase one cardiovascular machine, a free weight station or single station gym and a mat for stretching.
Step 3
Outline your budget and how much money you plan to allocate to each item. It is recommended to invest in higher quality cardiovascular equipment. In 2009, a quality treadmill could cost $700 and up. This is also true for elliptical machines and bikes. Consider a budget of $700 to $1,500 for a cardio machine, $500 to $700 for a bench and weights and $500 for extras, such as bands, mats and medicine balls.
Step 4
Go shopping at local exercise equipment supply stores and online to find items based on your budget. Read customer product reviews on the Internet and try out machines in stores to gain an understanding of their function and if they are a good fit for your exercise needs.
Step 5
Consider extras you may wish to add to your gym, such as a television, mirrors, a water cooler or mini-fridge. These things are not always essential, but if you have the money in your budget, they can add comfort to your gym space.
Step 6
Plan the layout of your space before the delivery of any equipment so you know exactly where you want each piece to rest. Make sure your cardio machine faces the television and ensure it is away from the wall to avoid a cramped exercise environment. Place weight racks up against a wall and create enough space around them to do standing exercises.
Step 7
Paint the walls or hang up pictures and charts to make your gym more attractive. For many, an attractive and comfortable space for exercise is appealing and helps with motivation for getting in regular workouts.
Tips and Warnings
- Inquire at your local fitness center for cardio equipment they may be selling. Some gyms remodel regularly to make space for new machines on the market and you can get a commercial quality piece for less money. Also check out sporting goods resale shops for deals on used equipment. To save money on strength training equipment, consider buying a set of dumbbells that can be adjusted to different weights. Also consider kettle balls, bands and tubes, which can be less expensive than large weight trees, plates and bars.
- Do not put too much in a small space. Be realistic about how much your gym can handle. A cramped exercise space will not allow you to exercise to your full potential. Be honest with yourself regarding how much you will use the gym you invest in. Weigh the cost of the items you want against the cost of exercising elsewhere to ensure your investment is worth it.
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