How To Turn Your Basement Into A Home Gym

Bicep curl your way into a new basement workout space with our home gym how to guide!

A new year means New Year’s resolutions, which usually means increased gym memberships and long waits for equipment. Avoid the hassle of overpacked gyms with these tips on how to build a home gym in your basement.

Choose A Space 

First, choose where you would like to place your gym. Do you plan to convert your entire basement into a home gym, or just a section of the basement? The space you choose will impact the size, quantity, and layout of your home gym. According to the American Council on Exercise, treadmills require about 30 square feet; free weights use approximately 20 to 50 square feet; and multistation gym equipment can take up about 200 square feet. Once you’ve decided where your gym will be, you can begin designing.

Choose Your Workout

Choosing what exercises you’ll practice will help determine what fitness equipment to purchase. If you plan on focusing on yoga, pilates, or other movement-based exercises, then you may want to invest in building a yoga studio rather than purchasing a bench press. If you’d like to focus on weight training, purchasing a set of free weights, barbell weights, a pull-up machine and a weight bench are probably better options for your home gym.

Set A Budget

How much are you willing to spend? Home gyms can be a costly when you invest in quality equipment. However, the benefits of investing in safe, quality equipment, far outweigh saving money and ending up with an injury on your newly renovated basement gym floor. If brand new equipment isn’t in your budget, try looking for used commercial equipment from a reputable dealer who offers a warranty.

Protect Your Floors

Whether you’re trying to protect your floor from dropped weights, or you’re trying to protect your weights and other equipment from potential basement floods, these Waterproof Interlocking Gym Floor Mats will protect your floors and anything you put on them.

Motivational Tools

The great thing about commercial gyms is that they take measures to keep you motivated, whether you realize it or not. Gym managers mount televisions and stereo systems, mirrors, and motivational sayings to keep you wanting to come back for every workout. Your home gym should be the same way—that’s where design comes in. Install mirrors across one of your walls so that you can make sure that you’re using proper form while you work out. Keep a television and stereo in the basement so that you can watch workout videos, or listen to music while you exercise. Post photos of your favorite athletes or inspirational sayings around your gym to keep you motivated. You can even keep a mini refrigerator in the corner so you have access to cold water and post-workout nutrition at all times.

Have you designed a home gym? What’s the one piece of fitness equipment you could never go without? Tell us about it in a comment below!