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Small Home Gym Ideas (Turning Tiny Spaces Into Huge Results)

Christiana Mikesch
Published by Christiana Mikesch
Last updated: May 15, 2023

Home gym setup may be challenging for people who have small spaces in their homes. But that doesn't mean it is impossible.

As a fitness trainer, I consulted a few interior designers and went through a vast amount of online sources to gain some knowledge and shed some light to my readers on setting up a home gym in a small floor space.

I will discuss the home gym ideas I discovered throughout my quest.

The fundamental idea here is that if you have sufficient room for a yoga mat, you have enough area for a dedicated training space.

Quick Summary

  • You can make a home gym from a small space by designing a layout that accommodates the equipment you will use and gives you enough space to work out.
  • Choose workout equipment that is portable, affordable, and suitable for all sorts of training.
  • The best home gym basics are jump rope, rubber bands, dumbbells and kettlebells, and pull-up bars.

Making a Home Gym in a Small Space

A man working out in a small home gym

A well-designed home gym may help you achieve your fitness objectives, whether as basic as increasing upper body strength or incorporating more aerobic exercise into your workout program.

Furthermore, studies have shown that prioritizing exercise can reduce stress and even get a good night's sleep [1].

If you can't get to your local gym daily, creating a workout room in your house is the greatest option.

But where do you begin when creating a modest home gym space?

First Considerations

You must pick where in your house is most suited for this function.

"An unutilized garage is a common location for converting into a home gym. It is the ideal size for each of your equipment and often has separation from your house, providing you a distinct location to focus with minimum noise distraction."

- Katie Thomas, Interior Designer

Another consideration is the sheer weight of a few machines, particularly multi-gym machines. You must ensure that your flooring can support your ideal home gym equipment you want to place in your home gym.

Another alternative is to convert a garden shed into a home gym.

You can also construct an outbuilding, but you must first determine whether you require planning permission.

Try setting up your home gym in a space with a window to maintain adequate ventilation since this generates good airflow to help you stay cool while working out [2].

Next, think about the layout of your small home gym.

Home gyms do not have to be dull places. Decorate with your flair and add color with bright paints, or wall art. This will aid in the creation of a motivating workout environment.

Choose a Workout Room/Area

A woman working out at home

The first step is to determine the location of your new training space. It could be a tiny unoccupied area in your bedroom, sitting room, or bedroom.

Measure the length and note them down after you've decided on an area. So you'll know what gym equipment will readily fit into it.

You must also know what kind of workouts you intend to undertake.

It could be yoga, pilates, weight training, cardio, or a combination. From there, you may determine the sort of equipment you'll require.

Invest in Portable Fitness Equipment

Close up shot of portable fitness equipment for a home gym

Most individuals don't have enough room in their homes for weights, a squatting rack, and an elliptical machine.

However, stick to the necessities if you are on a budget and have a limited home workout area.

You don't need expensive, heavy gym equipment to build muscle, reduce weight, or remain in shape.

Here are the greatest functional home gym fundamentals that are portable, affordable, and suitable for all types of training:

  • Resistance bands: Can be long or short, made of cloth or rubber. Resistance bands are affordable, adaptable, and may help you tone up significantly. Rubber resistance bands are excellent for upper-body training, and they also come with connectors that allow you to hang them on your door and conduct various exercises.
  • Yoga mat or yoga attachments: Yoga is excellent for muscular stretching and warming up. Even if you like to lift weights everyday, consider integrating yoga into your exercise program to improve your flexibility.
  • Jump rope: It's an excellent aerobic exercise that may be incorporated into HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) weight loss sessions. This is an excellent substitute for more costly cardio machines recommended by experts.
  • A set of kettlebells or dumbbells: While resistance training is incredibly beneficial for muscle growth, having a bunch of weights doesn't harm adding extra intensity. To begin, purchase at least a dumbbell pair. As your strength grows, you may slowly buy more. Instead of purchasing all your gear at once, you may do it gradually.
  • Pull-up bar: If you want a muscular back and upper body, you should learn how to do pull-ups. Optimal pull-up bars may be safely connected to practically any wall or door.

Related: Must-Have Gym Equipment

Keep Things Clean and Organised

A close up shot of a small home gym workout space

Maintain an orderly and tidy workout environment. Purchase some portable equipment storage cabinets.

If you have free weights, invest in a compact rack to get them from getting in the way.

Most crucial, clean and sterilize your equipment after each usage. Sweat or other germs can readily be transmitted onto your equipment, even if you are not sharing it.

Take care of your equipment by keeping it organized and clean.

Minimalism Works Best

Minimalism is great for your little home gym.

You'll use the bare minimum of tools and eliminate all excess material from the walls, flooring, and window layouts.

It's a great method to arrange the design and keep anything else out of the way of your exercise in the future.

Set Up a Mirror

A woman in a home gym looking at a mirror

I usually advocate investing in a full-length mirror for at-home training.

There are several solutions available depending on your price range and style, much like gym equipment.

I prefer full-length mirrors with a base that can be moved from one room to another. Or, for a particularly small space, a mirror placed on the wall and not in the way.

Look at the space where you will put a home gym and ask yourself if the mirror may look well there.

When it comes to tiny home gyms, it's preferable to purchase for the original space rather than for the gym so that after you put all your gear away, the exercise room returns to normal, and you have a lovely full-length mirror that functions well in a room.

Ensure There Is Lots of Light

Natural light is one of the most effective ways to make any little area look bigger.

That's where you'll have to emulate in large numbers to make your home gym feel bigger and more dynamic.

A huge picture window will do the job well. If you position your home fitness equipment toward the windows, you'll also get a wonderful view of the outdoors.

Keep It Simple

A woman working out with a resistance band in a home gym

The ideal approach to constructing a tiny home gym is to make it as basic as possible.

Knowing what type of activity your body requires daily is also useful here.

Most individuals utilize ellipticals and resistance bands for daily aerobic exercise.

Establishing a room for such home gym devices may result in the best use of the workout space available. Adding anything else will make the area feel cramped and congested.

 

FAQs

What Equipment Is Best for a Small Home Gym?

Equipment that is best for a small home gym is a piece of multipurpose equipment such as rubber bands.

How Much Room Do You Need for a Small Home Gym?

The amount of room you need for a small home gym is about 150 to 250 square feet.

Why Are Smaller Gyms Better?

Smaller gyms are better because it gives you a more personal, less overwhelming exercise experience and personal coaching options are often way better.

Small Space Home Gym Devices

A home gym is necessary if you wish to live a healthy lifestyle. However, it can be very difficult to outfit them with heavy-duty equipment like treadmills, weight machines, bench press machines, etc.

Consider the small space you have and incorporate the right equipment for your convenience.

We've put numerous high-quality home gym machines into our routine tests and compiled a list of the best compact home gym devices for small spaces.

We highly recommend these because they are easy to assemble, don't take up too much space, and have solid and sturdy construction.


References:

  1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22933142/
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK143277/
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