Maximizing Your Home Workout Space
No matter the size or layout of your living area, creating a dedicated home workout space can be highly motivating and inspiring. And with no special equipment necessary for an effective workout regimen – just some careful planning!
Basements and garages often make great settings for high-intensity exercises as they’re cool and quiet environments, insulating them to ensure comfortable temperatures all year long.
Designate a Space
No matter the size or location, creating a dedicated workout area creates a purposeful space that encourages wellness-related behaviors and habits. Customizing it with personal touches like motivational mantras or posters of fitness role models further customizes and inspires goals-setting.
Keep large equipment such as treadmills and ellipticals in a designated space to reduce congestion and maximize functionality. Furniture with hidden storage compartments can help stow weights and resistance bands when not in use; alternatively stackable totes provide another efficient storage option that is easily hidden out of sight.
Consider integrating natural lighting into your home gym. Bright light can energize and excite, aiding focus during high-intensity exercises; soft lighting (such as lamps or sconces) provides a more soothing atmosphere for lower impact exercises such as yoga or grounding stretches. Incorporating lighting effectively will also make the space feel larger.
Choose Equipment Wisely
An ideal workout space can help maintain a regular exercise regimen. This could be as simple as an empty corner in a room or as expansive as an entire home gym.
Consider equipment that can easily adapt to meet your personal fitness goals, such as resistance bands and jump ropes for full body workouts without incurring the costs associated with stationary bikes or treadmills.
Home workout spaces that are well lit and inviting are key components of successful home gym designs, helping keep you motivated and committed to your workout regimen. Furthermore, ventilation during high intensity exercise sessions is critical as this helps prevent overheating while simultaneously improving oxygen levels and decreasing sweat build-up that could damage equipment over time.
Organize Your Space
Space can play an essential role in setting the ideal workout atmosphere. Consider what elements inspire and motivate you about a favorite gym, summer run on local beaches or yoga studio from childhood; and then find ways to incorporate those qualities in your own home exercise room.
Organizing equipment is key to keeping the floor clear and making optimal use of available space. Cube organizers, popular for playroom storage, make an ideal home gym storage solution – with open shelves and racks designed to store mats and other small items. Shelving units attached to wall-mounted TVs keep DVDs and exercise programs close at hand while floating shelves with woven plastic bins act as handy storage units for extra yoga blocks, hair ties, or cleaning products.
Yoga and grounding stretches that use your own body weight can be done most comfortably in tight corners of closets or the area behind the sofa; just remember to store away bulky exercise equipment in totes when not in use.
Get Creative with Lighting
No matter the size or location of your space, creative lighting solutions can make all the difference. Ambient lighting – or general illumination – sets a welcoming, energizing ambiance. Dimmable LEDs enable you to control brightness and set different moods. Accent lighting draws focus to specific equipment or architectural features while smart lighting systems enable users to set scenes, change colors and sync up with music for optimal motivation during workout sessions.
Home workout spaces should be inspiring and motivating spaces, not intimidating or dull. Consider including design elements that evoke your favorite places for exercising such as the beach, outdoor running route or dance studio – or be creative like Tonal member Jason Daigle did when he added Govee lights around his treadmill to turn it into an exciting nightclub-esque setting – creating a gym that feels personal while encouraging regular use. That way you’re sure to power through those mountain climbers!
