How to Style Gym Equipment in Your Home
A Home Gym Isn’t Merely Equipment
A home gym can be the perfect opportunity to remove barriers to your motivation. A home gym can be convenient, efficient, inspirational, and functional. If you’re considering building a home gym, you probably already know (and maybe already own) the equipment you’ll want, but a home gym can and should be more than just equipment – it should be a place to work, relax, and feel like an extension of your home.
Will a home gym increase property value? There’s no correct answer – it may or may not, depending on a lot of factors. But when you’re ready to sell, a home gym CAN set your home apart from other listings for the right buyer.
Design with Your Space in Mind
It would be great to set up a full gym, but the chances are that your space cannot conveniently accommodate everything you could possibly want to use. Don’t leave yourself feeling constricted in a room packed full of equipment, like the feeling of being in a public gym space on a busy day. A cramped workout is uninspired and demotivating.
Consider what workout equipment you’ll get the most use out of. A lot of advances have been made in gym tech that’s easily compact, adaptable, multi-functional, and minimal. If you’re not sure of what equipment you want, start small and plan to build on it.
Stand Out with a Gym-Ready Floor
There are only a few different types of materials used for home gyms: rubber, vinyl, foam mats, carpet tiles, and/or artificial turf. A padded floor is a must if you intend to lift weights or do high-impact calisthenics in your gym. You may decide that you only need a small section of rubber tiles for weights with vinyl flooring throughout the rest of the room, and additional matting for other exercises. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s a consideration from the outset. Flooring can make the difference between a home gym that feels like a gym and one that feels like just another room.
Clear the Air
Even the most sophisticated HVAC systems may not be enough to keep the air fresh in an enclosed home gym. Air purifiers are an excellent addition for any home gym, to ensure you’re breathing the freshest air.
Another option for cleaner air is to add air purifying plants which thrive indoors and help bring feelings of life and energy into the room.
Home Gym Tech
There are a few ways you can enhance your gym with technology, from basic to advanced.
On the more basic side, consider adjustable, recessed lighting to save space and enable you to change lighting style as needed. If you use music when you workout, a Bluetooth speaker is a great addition as well. Consider whether you’ll use a screen for recorded or streamed workouts or background visuals.
Machine tech has also come far in the home gym space. There are machines that are compact enough to replace multiple machines for multiple users with a small adjustment of settings. You could also upgrade your cardio machine with ones that is programmatically app-driven, which records your workout data, so you can make better use of your workout time. Weightlifters also have the option of, installing a smart mirror, which uses AI to monitor posture and positioning, and makes suggestions on form changes.
Work Up and Wind Down
When planning your home gym make sure to consider your ideal pre- and post-workout wind down. Do you regularly love to ingest protein shakes or smoothies as a part of your healthy lifestyle or want to have cold water or sports drinks in arm’s reach? Make space in your home gym plan for a mini-fridge, water cooler, or wet bar.
Don’t forget the cool-down session! Imagine having a yoga studio in your own home, with mats, bands and blocks to stretch out and singing bowls to unwind. You might also install a sauna to help boost the health benefits of your workouts.
Add Décor
A well-designed home gym will also match your style and help motivate you. Use a color combination that works for you and one that evokes the right feeling. Stimulating workout rooms are best designed in reds and oranges, whereas calming rooms are best designed in pale greens and blues. These colors are mere suggestions, as your preferences really matter more than expert suggestions.
Add inspirational quotes or artwork if you like that sort of thing. There are removable wallpaper murals that can shift your perception and make you feel as though you’re somewhere else. You’ll also need cabinetry or storage for towels, small items, and a first aid kit. Would you benefit from installing a mirror on one or more than one wall?
All of these choices help your space feel more intentional, comfortable, and motivational.
Do You
Most importantly, your home gym is only a perfect combination of function and style if it reflects your preferences and needs. Once you have a space in mind that seems perfect for a home gym, start slow and small, making choices about what you feel will best enhance your workout and inspire you to get moving.
A little extra planning can go a long way to ensuring that your space is functional for your workout needs but still has style and charm.
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Adapted from RISMedia.
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