How To Build Your Own Home Gym: My Top Tips
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If the last year has taught us anything, it’s that having workout equipment at home is a MUST. And now that many of us are working from home on a more regular basis, there’s no time like the present to perfect your home gym setup!
Much like starting a new workout routine, building your own home gym can seem like an overwhelming task. Where are you supposed to start? What equipment should you invest in?
To help you out, here are my top tips for creating your own gym at home, including the pieces of equipment that have become my workout staples!
Tip #1: Find the right space for it
The first step in establishing your home gym is designating a space for it—whether that’s in a specific room, basement, garage, etc. Contrary to belief, you don’t need a ton of room… even if you only have enough room for a yoga mat, you can make that work! What’s most important is that you have space to move around in each direction: forward, backward, left, and right. A good way to test that is to do a few basic movements, like a squat, a lunge in each direction, a forearm plank, maybe a jumping jack. Are your arms or legs bumping into anything? For activities like jumping rope, you’re going to want somewhere with high enough ceilings, and for strength training, you’ll need somewhere to put your weights. Once you find a space that has what you need, you’re ready to start stocking it!
Tip #2: Hit on the Big Three—Cardio, Strength, and Recovery
When buying equipment to keep in your home gym, you want to make sure you’re investing in versatile, multi-purpose equipment. Think of it like stocking a kitchen—you want to get the appliances that serve a number of purposes first, and once you have those, you can buy things that are more niche.
To do this, I recommend focusing on three categories: cardio, strength, and recovery. For cardio, you can a) get a machine if you have the space, b) you can get something simple like a jump rope, or c) you can go for a walk or run outside! For strength training, dumbbells and kettlebells can be used for hundreds of exercises, so one or two of each is a worthwhile investment. Your recovery equipment can be as simple as a foam roller or as complex as a Theragun or NormaTec boots. Also, yoga and stretching are underrated, but super effective recovery modalities.
In general, if any of these forms of exercise are new to you, I recommend starting small with equipment that isn’t crazy expensive and doesn’t take up much space. Then, once you’re in the habit of exercising, you can build out your collection. Take it from me… you don’t want to waste money on equipment you don’t need or aren’t going to use!
Tip #3: Invest in one high tech item, if you can
I firmly believe that you can get a solid workout using your bodyweight and/or minimal equipment. That said, sometimes high tech equipment is worth the investment, and it will serve you for a long, long time. If you love walking, for example, and you have the space and money, it could be worth getting a treadmill! If you love cycling or spinning, you could consider a Peloton bike. Whether it’s a rower, stationary bike, or treadmill, indoor workout equipment is perfect for the days when the weather isn’t conducive to going outside, or when you’re short on time and want to squeeze a quick workout in. If you want something akin to a workout class or personal training session—or want a piece of equipment that can basically do it all—you can check out the Mirror or Tonal home gym systems.
Tip #4: Make sure to include storage in your home gym
When I help my clients build out their home gyms, I always have to remind people not to forget about storage! Assuming you don’t want to leave your workout equipment strewn about your home, make sure you pick up some storage solutions to keep your workout gear in. These can be bins, weight racks, boxes, drawers, baskets, whatever you want. Ideally you want something that doesn’t take up too much space and that can fit a lot of items in an organized fashion. You want to know where everything is while also keeping it out of your way.
My Workout Staples & Favorite Equipment
Now that you know how to build your gym, it’s time to make it happen! Here are the pieces of equipment I have at my home, or that I’ve used many times before and loved.
Cardio
Strength Training
Dumbbells—they come in sets of two, or sets that have a few different weight options
Resistance bands—for your legs/glutes, or your arms/upper body
Recovery/Flexibility
I can’t wait to see your home gym come to fruition! If you have any other questions about workout equipment, you can DM me in my Pure Joy Wellness Private Facebook Group! And don’t forget to follow me on Instagram, where I do IG Lives with experts every other Wednesday!
Xo,
Renata