Sometimes we are all too aware of the lack of time and commitment when it comes to our own bodies. Taking care of ourselves and our health often comes second, thanks to the pressure of professional and family life, or the constant temptation to over-indulge in basically everything.

So, the lack of time to work-out in general, or the lack of time to invest in going and coming back from your local workut centre - whatever the cause, you have realized that a home gym might be an answer to all your problems.

If you really have, than it is decided, and the creation of a home gym is the next logical step, and we are here to help you establish your own, providing you with all the necessary practical steps, as well as some home gym design ideas.

Establishing a home gym and how to get it right

If you decided that you want a real, full blown home gym, than you can’t just pick any room for that purpose - it simply won’t suffice. Of course, this doesn’t mean you need to own a gigantic mansion, but simply that you need to find a way to maximize small space you do have at your disposal - and turn it into a functional gym area. 

This can be a bedroom you no longer use, or a garage, but it can also be a structure in your garden if you are into natural gym concept, or even a utility room. The key is to choose wisely. 

Key factors for optimum home gym design results

Space for your future home gym, especially if you have a unique home gym design in mind, has to be taken into massive consideration. 

• Flooring. Here you must think of the type of exercise you plan on doing, and the floor area it will require - this especially matters if you plan on having functional trainings, which would require a clear floor area to store all the necessary equipment. For our insight on sustainable gym flooring options see here.

• Storage room. Now, storage is the next essential factor of planning or designing a home gym. You don’t want your home gym space to appear cluttered, out of order, or to inhibit your workout flow in any way. In regards to this, you should consider making use of cupboards or racks, that you easily convert into home gym storage space. 

• Ceiling height. When it comes to home gym design process, ceiling is another very important factor that needs to be taken into consideration. If you are a tall person and you live in a house/apartment with low ceilings, you will soon find out that some cardio equipment won’t work for you. 

Same goes for plyo boxes or overhead presses and bars. This can be fixed though, if you plan on renovating, but only if your interior designer or an thinks that improvements are possible.

• Lighting. We can’t stress enough the importance of lighting and proper air conditioning in your home gym. If your home gym design involves a bright and airy spacy, any workout will be that much easier to conduct. Temperature is another important factor to consider, as it will always ensure you have a perfect environment to reach your fitness goals.

Home gym equipment to your preference

Gym equipment is important if you want to have an opportunity to vary your workouts, but when it comes to home gym equipment - it depends on your own preference (whether you enjoy cardio, functional or mobility equipment). 

If you just need the essential “starter” pack, than these are some of the most important pieces of equipment you will need. 

• Plate set - You might call this the most important part of your home gym equipment, being that it is the foundation of pretty much all the workouts you will be doing. Having in mind that majority of workouts do not have to contingent in order to produce results, so you can stick with classic few exercises in order to produce results.

• Bench - Opt for a bench that has a incline and decline functionality.

• Rack - This is probably the biggest and the most expensive piece of equipment you’re gonna need. Rack is not only important because of the variety element, but because of safety too - most of the time you’ll be training alone, so little reassurance can not be bad. You can also search for a rack that can take attachments, so you can add some variation to your workout.

• Flooring - Flooring matters because it protects your property and help your gym equipment last longer. It also works as a form of isolation, reducing the sound level coming out of the gym.

• Kettlebells or dumbbells - It’s entirely up to you what you will opt for, but have in mind that kettlebells are a more versatile piece of equipment, as they can replicate most of the exercises would perform with dumbbells in other case, adding the elements of momentum and functional training. 

Home gym design

So, we already established that in order to start working on a home gym design, you need a pick the space of the right size - if it is small, than don’t fill it with equipment, as it can only be functional if it is completely uncluttered. In case you don’t have open space, than you can compromise by creating furniture choices. 

Whatever the final decision, avoid rooms with shelves at all costs, cause whatever you do, they are still going to look cluttered, and will distract you during your workout.

The best home gym design results will be obtained if you choose a room with large windows and access to natural lighting. Natural light has the effect of energizing and stimulating a number of positive chemical changes in the brain, so it can lift a person’s mood and produce a greater sense of calm. 

Green home gym design and equipment

If you care more about the balance between the outside world and the indoors, and you want your home gym design to reflect something other than just your personal space for working out - than  “green” home gym design is a direction you should take on.

The so called biophilic home gym can help you harness the restorative properties of nature and incorporate them in your own home gym. This approach results in countless physical and mental health benefits, in a nourishing training environment embodied in abundance of greenery and natural light. 

To achieve this we use air-purifying plants, forest aromatherapy and circadian lighting if natural is out of reach. We also prioritize the organic, non-toxic materials in terms of gym equipment, creating a home gym design with sustainability in mind. 

We take in consideration what type of training a home gym is for, but also the type of equipment - what is it made from and where. This also refers to eco friendly flooring, eco rubber and sustainable wood, depending on your gym package, and based on the type of training you plan on doing in your home gym.