The gym is the ideal place for lifters, cardio lovers, and pretty much anyone that loves fitness! However, there are times where you may not have access to the gym, like if something happens to close all the gyms for an unforeseen amount of time... Like during the pandemic. Although gyms are reopened and things are starting to get back to normal, sprucing up your own home gym space is still not a bad idea!
Home workouts are great for when you're too busy to hit the gym, or just too tired to drive and deal with the busy gym. By having a dedicated workout space you'll be inspired to stay active during these times when we need it the most! Everyone's housing situation is different - some live in a spare room, apartment, small home - whatever it is, we have some tips to inspire you to create the perfect home workout space, no matter the size or equipment you have!
Where is the best area to work out at home?
This question has so many different answers because it really depends on your living situation and what type of workouts you plan to do. So we'll go through the 4 best areas to work out in and around your house and also include what type of workouts are best for that area. That way you have the information to identify what place is best to work out for you.
Garage
This is probably one of the best areas to set up a home gym, specifically for those who have a home with a garage. If you have enough space in your garage and you are able to then start creating your home gym in there. You can start by putting weights in there, resistance bands, or any other type of equipment. Then once you invest in more expensive equipment you can add it in there too!
Types of workouts you can do:
- Strength training - Free weights, portable equipment, big equipment
- Bodyweight exercises
- Cardio - HIIT, or equipment
Living room
Keep your bedroom as your place to sleep and relax only. Instead of using your room, corner off a small space in your living room to work out. It's usually the most spacious area in a small home or apartment. Certain cardio equipment may fit, but we would suggest limiting it to one piece of equipment - treadmill, stationary bike, etc. This area is best for people who have less equipment or portable equipment.
Type of workouts you can do:
- Strength training - Free weights (dumbbells or kettlebells), portable equipment
- Yoga/flexibility training
- Bodyweight exercises
- Cardio - HIIT workouts or equipment. Again, only if you have one piece of equipment.
Spare bedroom
If you happen to have a spare room... It's time to turn it into your exercise room! But if that is your home office, try to at least use half of it for working out 😅
It's a great place to put workout equipment - big or small. So if you already have your office set up in there then just corner off a space for some portable equipment. Or use the whole room, it's up to you! It also has more natural light, opposed to working out in the garage.
Types of workouts you can do:
- Cardio - HIIT, equipment
- Strength training - Big equipment, portable equipment, free weights
- Bodyweight exercises
- Yoga/flexibility training
Outdoors
The great outdoors! This is a great place to do your home workouts, but there are two things that make this a temporary option.
1. Weather - Sometimes it's too hot or too cold, so you won't always want to work out outdoors.
2. Living situation - This option is best for those who have a backyard, front yard, or driveway.
If you do live in an area with nice weather and you have the space to work out outdoors then do it! Utilizing an outdoor space will give you ample room for various workouts like HIIT, lifting weights, bodyweight workouts, and yoga.
Even if you don't have an outdoor space that can be dedicated to working out you can still go outside on walks or runs! Change the scenery every once in a while and go on a walk or run outdoors, just keep social distancing in mind.
Tips to create the perfect home workout space
The hardest part is over. You found the perfect space to make your own personal home gym, so now what? Well don't worry, we have tips to give you home gym ideas!
Create an atmosphere that will motivate you
Create a space that will inspire you to work out! No one wants to workout in a drab atmosphere so get creative and spice up your workout room or space - doesn't matter if it's big or small!
Give your space the energizing decor it needs to keep you motivated to work out. Our first suggestion is to make sure there is natural light, open up any surrounding windows. If you chose a space in your basement or garage then get a set of recessed lights fitted with bright white bulbs. Add a mirror into your space, if you can! At the gym, we're surrounded by mirrors. It seems like it would be daunting, but it is actually helpful. Having a mirror can help pick up on small imperfections with your form or posture. Lastly, don't forget your speakers! Having music around you while working out will definitely pump you up. Everything else is entirely up to you!
Get creative with your design ideas, think of what would inspire you to work out. Your surroundings impact how motivated you feel so think of what you want to see and feel when walking into your workout space.
Protect your floors
Your home is important too, so protect it! If you're going to be using heavy equipment like weights or machines then get some type of cushioned flooring to protect your floors from being damaged. This goes for everyone, but especially for those with hard floorings like wood, tile, or concrete (outdoors, garage).
Not only will this protect your floors, but your joints too! Hard floors can be tough on your body. Wood, concrete, or tile don't absorb the impact when you jump, run, or do any type of movement. Instead, the impact travels back up back through your feet and legs which can cause injuries like sprains or shin splints. So we highly suggest looking through Amazon or sporting goods stores to purchase an interlocking thick foam mat (specifically designed for home gyms). These mats are portable and will allow you to dismember them when you're done working out. That way you can take them outdoors and you don't have to keep them set up 24/7 indoors. The awesome thing about them is that the cushioning protects your floor and help muffle the sound of movement (great for those with apartments).
Look into portable fitness equipment
Most people don't have a lot of space for weights, a squat rack, and a treadmill. Some do, and if you can afford it - go for it! But if you're working on a budget and a tighter home workout space then stick to the essentials. You don't necessarily need all the expensive, bulky gym equipment to help you gain muscle, lose weight, or stay in shape. You just need your will and determination - and some portable equipment!
Here are the best home gym essentials that are portable, inexpensive, and are great for any type of training:
- Resistance bands - Long, short, fabric, or rubber. Resistance bands are inexpensive, versatile, and can really help you tone up! At UPPPER, we have fabric resistance bands that are perfect for lower body workouts. Rubber resistance bands are great for upper body workouts and they even come with attachments so you can hook it on your door and perform various exercises.
- Jump rope - If you don't have one already, invest in a jump rope! It's a great cardio exercise that can be implemented into HIIT workouts. This is a great replacement for more expensive cardio equipment.
- Pull-up bar - Pull-ups are an essential bodyweight exercise that everyone should master if they want a toned back and upper body! Pull-up bars can be attached securely to almost any wall or doorway. If you don't know how to do pull-ups then it's a great time to start practicing!
- A pair of dumbbells or kettlebells - Free weights can be expensive, and although resistance training is very helpful with building muscle, it doesn't hurt to have a pair of weights to add some intensity. Invest in at least a pair of dumbbells to start with. You can slowly buy more as your strength increases. So instead of buying all your equipment at once, you can do it little by little.
- Yoga mat and/or accessories - Yoga is great for stretching and warming up the muscles. Even if you're more into lifting weights, think about incorporating yoga into your workout routine to increase your flexibility.
- Foam roller - This is a must-have for everyone! They are used to relieve muscle tightness, soreness, and help increase your joint range in motion. They can be used to warm up, cool down, and used as a prop for yoga too!
Keep things organized and clean
Don't be like that one person in the gym who leaves their equipment laying everywhere. No one wants to work out in a messy room. So keep everything in your workout space organized and clean. Get some storage units to use for your portable equipment. If you have some weights, get a small rack for them to keep them out of the way.
Most importantly, sanitize and disinfect your equipment after every use! Even if you're not sharing equipment, sweat and other germs can be easily transferred onto your equipment. You paid for your equipment so take good care of it, keep it organized, and keep it clean.
We hope this helps inspire you to create a home workout space that will inspire and motivate you whenever you don't want to hit the gym! And if you need some home workout gear, check out our collection of Long and Short Resistance Bands.