How to equip a gym at home: what is necessary and what you can do without

Almost every person would like to make a home gym with their own hands.
There are many reasons for this: from simple laziness to drag yourself to training in bad weather to saving money. But, before making this dream come true, you need to take into account many technical nuances so that playing sports is not only productive, but also enjoyable. From this article you will learn how to equip a gym at home so that it is as functional, comfortable as possible and will serve you for many years.

Pros and cons of a home gym

Having your own “corner” for sports training at home or a specially designated room for this is already an undeniable plus.

There are many more advantages:

• You can do the exercises slowly - no one will “stand over your soul” and ask you to free the exercise machine;
• Don't be shy about trying new techniques;
• You can study to your favorite music, and no one will ask you to turn it off;
• You choose your own training time;
• Everything is absolutely free. You only need to make a one-time investment that will quickly pay off.

But a home gym also has some disadvantages:

• Small area compared to professional fitness centers;
• You will have to practice on your own and, possibly, alone without backup, so the lack of an experienced trainer can lead to improper execution of exercises or injuries;
• The most common drawback is laziness. At home it is much more difficult to motivate yourself to exercise regularly.

What materials to use when designing a home gym?

The design of your home gym depends entirely on your taste and preferences.
Let's focus on the materials that are best preferred. As a rule, the decision to equip a workout room in your home does not entail global changes, but there are some rules that will help create an atmosphere and not harm either yourself or the premises. Materials for wall cladding should easily allow vapor to pass through, which means plastic, porcelain stoneware and tiles are not suitable. The walls can be plastered or covered with wallpaper. The flooring that is best used in the gym can be either local (at the site of the exercise equipment) or throughout the entire area of ​​the room. The second option seems preferable. Dropping dumbbells on an uncovered floor can deform it. Covering the entire area of ​​the room will not only protect the floor, but will also provide you with additional stability when performing exercises. Bonus: special material for gym flooring does not retain unpleasant odors and perfectly absorbs sweat. If you are just looking for ideas for renovation and arrangement or already know for sure that a home gym is your option, we have collected for you 15,687 photos from real projects of interior designers, decorators and architects from Russia and around the world, including such proven professionals as Adaptiv DC and The Old Green Corner. The beautiful home gyms in our photographs are the best examples of smart design and layout in a variety of styles and colors. If you like any design option, for example, a home gym from the second photo, you can contact the author and order the ideal design project for yourself. See our photo gallery, look for inspiration and professionals, and you will see why Houzz is the best resource for apartment and home interior design, renovation, home construction, architecture and landscape design.

Choosing a location for a home gym

A gym at home with a minimum set of equipment can be created in a small apartment. In this case, an area of ​​2 square meters will be enough. It is best to allocate part of the bedroom for such a sports corner. But it will be more convenient for people living in private houses, because the most optimal solution would be to use an insulated veranda or attic. Any other well-ventilated room with windows will do. Agree that it is much more comfortable to study in a bright room than in a darkened basement.

Another important factor is the optimal area. According to sanitary and design standards, it is recommended to allocate at least 8 square meters for a training room. If you do not have such space, then you need to carefully consider what kind of exercise equipment you want and how to place them as correctly as possible. The free space must be planned so that between permanently installed equipment there is enough space for free sweeping movements, as well as for evacuation in case of possible emergencies or injuries.

Layout order

The most affordable option is to organize a gym in a private home. Firstly, this will not require spending money on increasing noise insulation and sound insulation, because the neighbors live far away and will not complain about extraneous sounds. Secondly, if there is no room of the required size, it is possible to add one, because a private house allows for redevelopment at the discretion of the owner. This allows you to change the area, number of extensions and floors. You can provide a room with exercise equipment, a swimming pool, and a bathhouse nearby. This will turn home sports hobbies into a daily habit.

Layout of a gym in an apartment in an apartment building will require significant financial losses. After all, in addition to the purchase of exercise equipment, you will need to take into account the purchase of building materials for repurposing the room. Therefore, a home gym can only be planned with a large area. Otherwise, you will have to make do with compact sports equipment: a corner with a wall bars, dumbbells, a step platform, a jump rope, a fitball, a mat.

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Determining the goal of training

To understand what equipment you will need to buy for home sports activities, it is worth determining for what purpose they will be carried out.

A gym in the house will provide the necessary energy consumption for weight loss. To do this, the emphasis is on cardio training, which helps burn several hundred calories in one hour. They require durable equipment and a large area of ​​space. More often the emphasis is on running, exercise bikes, active types of dancing and step aerobics.

A home gym can be used to gain muscle mass. In this case, the emphasis is on performing exercises with heavy weights. In order for the body to develop proportionally, it is also necessary to take into account the participation of all muscle groups, that is, to ensure a proportional load on all parts. To do this, purchase a specialized bench, a set of dumbbells with different weights, a bar with a set of weights, and a leg trainer.

More advanced athletes use a barbell, a complex setup for the back and arms. A home gym can also be used to maintain muscle tone. This option is suitable for older people and those who have musculoskeletal disorders. In this case, exercises are practiced on gentle models of exercise machines that imitate the usual dynamics of joints and muscles without overload. An elliptical, an upright exercise bike, and a full-size treadmill will do the job.

Selection of simulators

You can determine which exercise equipment you will need to buy for your home gym based on two parameters: the size of the room and the purpose of the exercise. However, there is also a unified inventory that is suitable for everyone.

An elliptical trainer will help increase endurance, strengthen the cardiovascular system, and eliminate excess calories. It is suitable for any person, regardless of the degree of physical fitness and age. Exercises on the elliptical at home will allow you to lose weight and save time, since they can be combined with watching your favorite movie or TV series.

A treadmill is also one of the exercise machines that is needed for cardio exercise. Running is considered a universal exercise for starting a workout - it warms up all muscle groups and increases blood circulation. However, it is contraindicated for people with weak joints or heart problems.

The wall bars are necessary for people who take a comprehensive approach to purchasing equipment for home training. This equipment is suitable for both children and adults. Based on the installation, you can create a strength complex, and also use it as an auxiliary stretching machine.

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A set of dumbbells will also be a versatile investment in your home's gym room. Thanks to the ability to independently determine the permissible load, you can quickly tone your muscles or create relief.

A jump rope is an equipment that is suitable for home training for children and adults. Moderate cardio exercise and the need to maintain a sense of rhythm will help warm up the muscles before strength training. And an activity completed with its help normalizes breathing.

A mat is another piece of equipment that every home gym needs to have. It is useful for stretching, as well as if it is necessary to increase shock absorption.

Each exercise machine must be safe for health, so when purchasing, pay attention to the quality of the assembly and fastenings. If possible, try out the device and evaluate the adjustment mechanisms. The treadmill should provide a comfortable body position for running, and the ellipse should allow the height of the pedals and their elevation to be adjusted. In addition, it is worth choosing more well-known manufacturing companies for your home gym, as this guarantees experience and several years of operation without breakdowns.

Zoning the space

Almost anyone can assemble a gym at home with their own hands. To do this, you need to make a preliminary layout of your home gym and determine zones for each type of exercise equipment.

Near the outlets, you need to allocate a place for training on equipment that requires power. These can be treadmills, ellipses or steppers. An electrical outlet is also needed for the TV, which can be hung on the wall for the convenience of home workouts. This will make it possible to use the gadget to watch motivational videos, video tutorials or your favorite TV series. Strength training equipment should be placed at least half a meter away from such areas to prevent accidental injury or electric shock.

Strength training or cardio equipment should not be placed near the ventilation openings, as this will increase the risk of cold muscles. It's best to use this space for stretching or yoga.

In the gym at home, you also need to organize a relaxation area with a bench or sofa, shelves for towels and clean water in bottles or shakers.

Preparing the premises

A home gym should be well ventilated, have a well-thought-out power supply circuit, and increased noise insulation and vibration absorption. In addition, only natural materials that can absorb moisture should be used as wall and floor coverings. The problem of poor ventilation will be solved by installing an air conditioner with a dehumidifying function or a regular fan directed at an open window. Sockets should only be moved as a last resort when a large number of extension cords creates a risk of falling or becoming tangled.

But the flooring should be selected in advance, taking into account the upcoming loads. For yoga classes, thick carpet is better; for strength training at home, rubberized tiles are better. You can cover the surface with thick linoleum with a backing, but under particularly heavy exercise equipment you should still put an additional layer of a rubber mat.

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A mini gym at home should also be pleasant to visit, so its design should also be thought out in advance. You should not choose a bright design, as it will quickly get boring. It is better to choose a calm color scheme. Men are more susceptible to cool tones, while women's performance, on the contrary, is activated by peach and beige tones. In your home room, you can hang a mirror or design an entire mirrored wall. This will help you perform the exercises correctly. However, if it is distracting or annoying, you can abandon the idea.

Designing a room for a gym

To have a clear idea of ​​how to arrange sports equipment, you need to sketch out on paper a schematic plan of all the details that can have a direct impact on the arrangement:

• We mark window and door openings. This is necessary so that when opening doors or windows, people involved do not get injured. You can also replace the structures with similar sliding ones - this will also save space;
• We mark lighting fixtures and sockets. The lamps should be located on top and emit white light, similar to daylight. Exercise machines powered by electricity should be placed as close to electrical outlets as possible to avoid the use of extension cords that could cause tripping and injury;
• In a poorly ventilated room, it is necessary to have ventilation, because during training, sweat will be released and condensation will accumulate. The simplest solution would be to install a regular fan. A more expensive option is a climate system;

• If space allows, it would not hurt to allocate a separate relaxation area with a bench or sofa;
• It is also necessary to put a table for drinks and various small items (keys, mobile phones), place a clock in a visible place or hang it on the wall, make several hooks or hangers for clothes;
• In order to be able to watch educational videos or listen to your favorite music during classes, you need to install a TV with a built-in DVD player or USB port.

Choosing wall decoration for a home gym

It makes no sense to radically remodel the room allocated for the gym, but only need to slightly re-equip it, creating the most comfortable atmosphere for training. The selected finishing material for walls must be highly permeable and not retain foreign odors, so artificial products such as tiles, porcelain tiles or plastic are definitely not suitable. The easiest way would be to plaster the wall or wallpaper it. You can also use cork panels or natural lining.

It is better to decorate the interior in calm neutral colors. According to psychologists, the following shades are suitable for men:

• White;
• Blue;
• Light grey;
• Pastel.

Girls will be motivated to work on their figure by light, dim colors:

• Peach;
• Orange;
• Yellow.

You should not use a green tint, as it does not stimulate performance.

You can make one wall completely mirrored. This will help you monitor yourself during the training process and develop the correct technique for doing the exercises.

Finishing the floor for the gym at home

Flooring for a home gym is perhaps the most important element, because during training the noise level is quite high. If you organize a fitness club in a separate private house without neighbors and in a room located on the ground floor or in the basement, problems with sound insulation fade into the background. The main criterion in this case is the wear resistance of the coating. The best choice would be a floating screed. Due to the presence of a gap, it does not transmit noise and sound vibrations to the surrounding space.

Home gym floors can be made from the following materials:

• Rubber coating in the form of tiles or in rolls;
• Carpet - a thickened base of the material is ideal for performing exercises in a lying or sitting position;
• Cork has good soundproofing properties and springiness.

Also suitable:

• Laminate;
• Vinyl tiles;
• Linoleum.

But before laying the flooring from these materials, it is necessary to make a thick rubber underlay.

If you place a gym on a loggia, you should definitely think about insulating the floor so that classes are comfortable, especially during the cold periods of the year. Infrared heating systems are best suited for this.

Sports equipment and equipment for training in the halls

Types of rods

Olympic

It has a reinforced design and is used not only in training, but also in weightlifting competitions. Such a bar must have good springiness and absolutely comply with the standards established by the International Federation. There are male and female versions. Male parameters: length 220 cm, weight 20 kg, grip diameter 28 mm, seat diameter 50 mm. Women's parameters: length 210 cm, weight 15 kg, grip diameter 25 mm, seat diameter 50 mm. The carrying capacity of both standards is 350-600 kg.

Powerlifting

Powerlifting is a power lifting event that includes three disciplines: squat, bench press, and deadlift. In the process of performing these exercises, you work with extreme weights; accordingly, the most rigid and durable projectile should be used. The springiness inherent in the Olympic model is unacceptable in powerlifting. This neck is made of an alloy of steel and tungsten and is distinguished by deeper notches. Its parameters: length 220 cm, weight 20 kg, grip diameter 29 mm, landing diameter 50 mm, load capacity 600 kg.

Standard training

The most popular projectile. Widely used both in gyms and at home to perform basic and isolation exercises. It differs from competition barbells in the absence of landing bushings, that is, the bar has a monolithic structure, and in a lower load capacity. Different types of locks are used to secure disks. Training bar parameters: length 120-220 cm, weight 10-20 kg, grip diameter 20-25 mm, seat diameter 25, 30, 50 mm.

Types of barbells according to the shape of the necks

Classical

Straight chrome plated metal rod with knurled grip areas. Suitable for pumping muscles of the whole body, mainly used by bodybuilders.

W (slightly curved) and EZ (strongly curved)

Specially shaped equipment designed to work the biceps and triceps of the shoulders. The neutral grip provided by the bends allows you to take the stress off your joints.

For parallel grip

It looks like a frame with jumpers located parallel or at an angle to each other. Designed for safe training of arm muscles.

Trap neck

Polygon-shaped frame for performing deadlifts. It is considered more injury-proof and reduces the load on the spine.

This is not a complete list of shells. However, here are the most popular weights, most often found in fitness clubs and in demand by their visitors. The barbell is a unique piece of equipment that, due to its versatility, can replace a mini-gym.

Home gym equipment

Inventory should be selected based on many parameters:

• Room area;
• Availability of funds;
• Gender of people exercising;
• Goals you want to achieve during your training.

For example, for a girl watching her figure, the following would be suitable:

• Cardio machine (treadmill or exercise bike);
• A pair of light weight dumbbells;
• Jump rope.

Suitable for men:

• Punching bag;
• Strength multifunctional machines or a barbell with several plates and dumbbells;
• Bars;
• Horizontal bar.

When creating a home gym for the whole family, you can include the following equipment:

• Fitballs;
• A complex of wall bars, rings and rope;
• Hoops.

If you have large spaces, you can even install a billiard or tennis table. You can make some equipment for your personal gym with your own hands. We wrote about this here. It all depends only on your imagination and financial capabilities. To clearly understand how best to plan the available space, look at photos of home gyms on the Internet and, based on them, come up with your own interior according to your own preferences.

Share in the comments how you would like to see a gym in your home and what you would include in it.

Home gym equipment: classification, purpose

Once you have set your goals, you can begin choosing exercise equipment. In order not to get confused in all the diversity, you need to know what models exist and what they are intended for:

Cardio equipment

The most popular are exercise bikes, ellipsoids, treadmills, and steppers. They are used to improve the functioning of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, get rid of extra pounds and as a warm-up before strength training. Today, there are modern designs with excellent technical content on sale. So, they track heart rate, show speed, time, distance, revolutions per minute, and control calorie consumption.