10 Tips for Creating a Successful Home Gym for Beginners

There have probably been times in your life when you've wondered if you were better off building a home gym than going to a public fitness facility. You could save money in the long run and workout in the comfort of your own home. It would be more convenient, less stressful, and totally customizable. 

But could you build a successful home gym? Would you use it enough to justify the means? Can you afford it?

We believe the answer to these questions is a resounding yes and want to lend a hand. Keep reading for our top 10 tips on building the perfect home gym to reach even the most aspiring fitness goals.

1. Prioritize Your Gym Needs

First, you need to think about your fitness goals. What are you looking to achieve with your home gym? What kinds of equipment do you need to get you there?

If you're looking for the best all-around fitness, basic exercise science tells us that lean muscle mass is just as important as cardiovascular fitness. That means you need to be doing resistance exercises (lifting weights) with your cardio routine. 

But don't worry, this doesn't mean you need to start lifting hundreds of pounds or start competing in powerlifting competitions. However, we do recommend using free weights, such as dumbbells and barbells, along with whatever machines you choose for your home gym.

2. Figure Out Your Budget

However, before you can do anything, you need to determine your budget for workout equipment. Depending on how comprehensive you want your gym to be, you may need to consider getting some extra financing to help you build one that meets all of your standards.

There are plenty of options out there, but here some simple options:

• Take out a personal loan
• Use a credit card
• Find an equipment store that allows you to make payments
• Sell unused items around your home
• Offer free use of your gym to those who contribute to the funding
• Use a home equity line of credit

Once you know how much money you're working with, you can design a home gym that meshes with both your priorities and your budget.

3. Find a Designated Gym Space

Next, you need to establish a designated space to build your home gym. While you may not always have the option, we recommend using a space that serves solely as a gym.

Sharing your gym space for other purposes can lead to a lot of undesired issues. For example, gym spaces with other functions often get messy, cluttered, and unusable. For the most successful home gym, be sure to pick a space that is void of distractions.

4. Create the Right Atmosphere

Once you decide what space will become your home gym, you need to customize it to create the right environment. This is your personal space, feel free to get creative and add a unique touch to this part of your home. 

You can paint parts of the wall with chalkboard paint to write down your fitness goals or keep track of personal bests. You can also paint inspirational quotes, hang posters of your favorite athletes, etc.

Be sure to leave plenty of space for a few full-body mirrors. While you may not be the type of gym-goer who watches themself in the mirror during your workout, mirrors add light to your workout space and create the illusion of openness.

5. Be Creative With the Equipment Layout

Like most people looking to build home gyms, space will be somewhat limited. You can't expect to have the same amount of space for working out that commercial gyms do. We recommend using multipurpose machines that offer several functions for each muscle group.

While these resistance exercise machines can be costly, they literally have hundreds of uses. Additionally, they'll save you an incredible amount of floor space and money compared to buying individual pieces of equipment to accomplish the same exercises.

6. Save Floor Space Using Verticle Storage Solutions

Speaking of floor space, a successful home gym needs as much of it as possible. When it comes to storing weights, bands, belts, jump ropes, and other workout accessories, we highly recommending using a verticle storage solution.

Hanging these items on the wall can keep your floors clutter-free, preventing tripping hazards and maintaining an open feel.

7. Protect Your Home

Next, remember that this home may not be your home forever. You need to think about the long-term consequences of using your home for your gym. You could accidentally put holes in walls, ceilings, and floors if you're not careful.

Make sure you're using rubber flooring and mats where necessary. You should also put up a protective siding on the lower parts of your walls where weights and other pieces of equipment are likely to make contact.

8. Make Sure You're Comfortable

We know working out isn't about comfort, it's about progress. However, if your workout room is in an environment that's too hot during the summer and too cold during the winter, your motivation can become quite fleeting. And let's be honest, even when the temperature is perfect, the couch can seem more appealing than the best cardio equipment.

For the most successful home gym, we recommend outfitting your fitness space with the necessary heating and cooling systems. This could be anything from utilizing a ceiling fan and open doors/windows to installing an air-conditioner and heater in a garage or shed.

9. Save Money By Buying Used Equipment

You can save a substantial amount of money by buying used equipment. Companies that sell used equipment refurbish it to prime condition to ensure its function and your personal safety while working out. 

Buying used will also help you diversify your home gym by allowing you more flexibility with your budget. Why not get more bang for your buck?

10. Put Yourself on a Program

Finally, a successful home gym needs one more thing to help you with your goals - dedication! 

Just because you have a perfect home gym setup, it doesn't mean your fitness goals are going to accomplish themselves. We suggest putting yourself on a practical fitness program that you can commit to. Start slowly and build up momentum with increasingly difficult programs. 

Looking to Build a Successful Home Gym

If you're ready to build your successful home gym, we can help. Not quite sure what you need? Check out some of our gym packages to help you get started.

Good luck, and feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.