Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Canadians have created an in-home gym or workout area to maintain their physical fitness. There are many benefits to having an at-home gym, including being able to customize it to your needs. However, you still have to make time and dedicate your efforts to use the equipment you purchased and installed. Here are some tips on how to create a home gym that you will actually use.
Define Your Workout Style
The first step in creating an at-home gym you’ll actually use is to think about what types of workouts you want to do. Are you going to do yoga every morning, strength training at lunch or run a few miles on the treadmill once the kids are in bed? Depending on what type of workout you want to do, you can create a list of what materials and equipment you will need. By focusing on what type of workout you will be doing first, you can ensure you do not overcrowd your space with the equipment you won’t actually use.
Location, Location, Location!
Now that you know what workout materials you’ll need, you need to figure out where it’s all going to go! You want to make sure your gym is in a nice location so you’ll actually want to spend time in the space. Some common at-home gym areas include the basement, a spare bedroom or even a corner in your home office or living room. Depending on the equipment you will be using you can decide to always have it out or figure out a clever way to store it away.
HomeStars’ VP of Sales, Leanne Newell, shares this space-saving tip about her own home gym:
“I have a small at-home gym set up in a corner of my basement that consists of a rack of weights (about 8 sets of dumbbells), wall-mounted mirror, bands and yoga mats. Outside of the dumbbell rack and mirror, I have stored away all the other equipment in a cupboard. This stored equipment is only brought out to use and then put away when I am done. When I have those out and am working out, it takes up about half the basement space so storing them away helps in maximizing the basement space when I’m not working out.”
If your basement could use some more storage to help you organize your workout equipment, consider connecting with a carpenter who can customize your space for whatever you need. By having a nice location for your at-home gym and its equipment, you’ll be more likely to actually use it.
Get the Right Equipment Set-up
You’ve figured out what type of workout you want to do and found the right location for it, now all this is left is to ensure you have the right equipment. In addition to doing research about the best treadmill or exercise bike for you, you also have to consider if it will be able to get inside of your home. For example, you don’t want to purchase a treadmill that won’t fit in your second bedroom or a bike that takes too much space in your basement and gets your head hitting the ceiling every time you try to ride it standing up. This will just give you another reason not to use the equipment to its full potential.
Think About the Logistics
Once you’re confident you’ve got the right equipment picked out before you buy it, think about how you’re actually going to get it inside of your house and into your home office. Are you purchasing smaller items that are easy to carry down your narrow basement stairs, or will you need help assembling a large weightlifting machine?
When HomeStars’ email marketing specialist, Alisha Hobson, was planning out her home gym this was a big consideration of hers.
“I bought a lot of my equipment through online stores during the pandemic as I knew what I wanted and it was all shipped to my apartment. A lot of it was already assembled because they were things like bands, mats and weights, however, I had to assemble a pull-up bar and stationary bike.”
If you need help setting up your home gym, you can always connect with a pro on HomeStars to help you out. Whether you need help assembling equipment or building custom cabinetry to store your materials, there’s a local pro who can help you out.
By defining your workout style, finding the right location and ensuring you have the proper materials, you’ll be able to easily create a perfect home gym you’ll actually use.
