How to Set Up a Home Gym You’ll Actually Use

Here in Hamilton, we don’t let a little snow get in the way of staying active outdoors during the winter. However, if you’re looking for a better (read: warmer) way to stay fit from the comfort of your own house, a home gym is a great way to do it.

With snow on the ground and New Year’s resolutions still ringing in our ears, January is a great time to set up a home gym. But if you don’t want to become part of the 80% of people who ditch their resolutions early, here’s how to set your home gym – and yourself – up for success in 2020:

Setting Up a Home Gym in 6 Steps

1. Think about your exercise needs

Before you start on your home gym, think about what you hope to accomplish with it. This will help you choose the right equipment for your fitness goals and allow you to map out the best spot in your home to set it all up.

For instance, if you only want an exercise bike and some space for free weight exercises, you could probably transform a small corner of your basement or garage into a gym space with ease. But if you’re looking to invest in a full bench press rack plus a treadmill and free weights, you may need to choose a larger spare bedroom for your home gym.

2. Choose a space and clear it out

Time to make way for your home gym. Whatever room you’ve chosen, start decluttering it from top to bottom. If there are items you haven’t used in a while, consider donating them to Discover Goodwill or another local donation center like Springs Rescue Mission.

3. Add shelving and wall storage

If your home gym is messy, you won’t want to use it. Having the proper storage space for things like free weights, jump ropes and resistance bands is important for maintaining a clutter-free home gym that you’ll want to come back to every day.

Installing custom shelving or storage hooks is a great way to keep your free equipment in order, and safe from the clutches of kids and pets. Yoga balls can be tricky to store, but there are simple fitness ball bases you can purchase to keep them from rolling about.

4. Choose the right flooring

When it comes to home gym flooring, you’ll need to choose a material that’s durable, slip-resistant and easy to clean. Traditional carpet can work for basic dumbbell workouts, but if you have heavy machines or will be doing more intense workouts, you may want to protect your carpet with extra thick mats or tiles in either rubber or foam.

Rubber or foam mats are also a great way to soften and add traction to concrete floors in garages or basements.

If you’re planning on scrapping your existing carpet or tile, call in a flooring professional to find the most durable and stylish option for your home gym space.

5. Insulate or install heating, if needed

If your home gym will be in an uninsulated area, like your garage or attic, this is crucial. Adding drywall and insulation can keep your workout space protected from most of winter’s bitter temperatures. If insulation isn’t enough, installing radiant heating or a ductless mini-split system should do the trick.

Just keep in mind that installing drywall or heating systems is usually not a DIY job; play it safe and call an expert to handle it.

6. Bring in the equipment

Now you’re finally ready for the main event: adding in your gym equipment. Start by bringing in your biggest machines first, keeping in mind any free space areas you want. Then, add in your free equipment, hanging and shelving items on their pre-designated spots. Need help hanging your boxing bag or chin-up bar? If you’re not particularly handy, call a pro to install it – you don’t want either falling in the middle of a workout.

Finally, if there’s room, hang a full-length mirror – this will help you make sure you’re doing your workouts safely and correctly.

Need help setting up your home gym? Call Handyman Connection of Hamilton

Whether you need help installing a few hooks and a mirror or want a full-scale room remodel to build the home gym of your dreams, Handyman Connection of Hamilton can help. We offer a wide variety of handyman services to help you transform your home into a fitness oasis. To learn more about how we can help, call 719-259-6219 today or request an estimate online.