Setting up a home gym can be a fun project, but if you want to do it properly, there are a few tips I can share to help you get started. I’m sharing a few things you might need to know about creating a killer home gym that really serves you from the start.
Choose The Right Space
The first thing you want to do is choose the right space in your home for your new home gym. The best locations are usually the garage, the basement, or a spare bedroom. However, you can also use converted garden rooms if you want a separate area to do your exercises.
Just make sure that the space has good ventilation and temperature control. Attics that lack ventilation can become extremely hot during the summer because heat rises from the rest of the home, so you’ll need some way to mitigate this. Also, you need at least 7-8 feet clearance in the room for things like pull-ups. If the ceiling isn’t high enough, you won’t be able to do all of your exercises.
Set A Budget
After that, you’ll want to set a budget for setting up your new home gym. The amount you spend is really up to you, but most people spend around £1000-£1500.
You will need:
- Barbells and plates
- A squat or power rack
- A bench
- Various dumbbells
You will also need jigsaw mats for the floor. Don’t just place racks or weights on bare floors or carpets, as they can cause damage. Ensure that you include some protection at some point.
Buy Once
After that, you need to think about the equipment that you’ll need to buy just once. Don’t do what a lot of fitness enthusiasts do and try to save money on cheap items. Usually, they’ll break very quickly.
You want, at a minimum, a 7- or 8-foot Olympic barbell that weighs 20kg by itself. If you opt for smaller than this, you’ll be short-changing yourself because the quality will be lower. Then you’ll want up to 300-400 pounds of plates in total, in different denominations. Make sure you get a range of weights so you can adjust the amount that you’re lifting for each exercise to avoid injury.
If you can use an adjustable bench in your home gym, that’s also helpful because it opens up yet more exercises that you can do.
Make It Multifunctional
Another rule for setting up a home gym is to make it multi-functional. You want to be able to do as many exercises as possible in a small area. The best pieces of equipment to get for this are:
- Multi-gyms with pulleys
- Pull-up bars
- Racks for squatting and benching
You can also buy things like Smith machines and leg presses, however only do this if you have more space.
Plan For Progression
Another rule when selecting a gym is to plan for progression. Make sure you have the equipment that you’ll need next year, not just this year. A lot of fitness enthusiasts make the mistake of believing that they will be lifting the same weights forever. But of course, if you want to make real progress with your physique, the weights that you lift need to change over time.
A lot of people now get microplates. These are small additional weights you can add to your barbells or dumbbells in half-pound to one-pound increments. These are helpful when you are making slow progress on an exercise and want to bust through a plateau.
Another good idea is adjustable dumbbells. These are dumbbells that range from 0 kg to 45 kg and can be adjusted at multiple increments in between by removing replaceable plates. These are a good idea if you don’t have enough space for a full set of dumbbells in your accommodation.
Get Soundproofing
Getting soundproofing is another rule you’ll want to follow. Blocking out the noise emitted from your gym is important for keeping family and neighbors happy.
Pay particular attention to placing things like crash pads under the bar. Sometimes you would inevitably drop the weight, and this can cause a rumble throughout your entire building if you’re not careful. However, with the proper crash pads, this risk goes away.
Also, it’s a good idea to use bumper plates. While traditional pure iron plates are popular in some gyms, bumper plates with rubber around the edges are safer and create less noise.
Add Some Nice-To-Haves
Once you have the basics in place, another rule is to add some nice-to-haves to your home gym. For example, a lot of people like to add a cable pulley which is plate-loaded and wall-mounted. These offer opportunities to do dozens of different exercises that aren’t possible with conventional weights.
You might also want to get specialty bars or a TRX system. These are handy if you have a special program you want to follow. Finally, think about any cardio machines that you want. Rowers, air bikes, or even jump ropes can be a helpful addition.
Make The Space Attractive
A further rule is to make your gym space somewhere you actually want to go and train. Many people turn their home gyms into dungeons that are unappealing, but if you can make the space feel more spa-like, then you are more likely to use it.
The best way to do this is to add a big mirror and a fan with speakers for music. If you want to add a whiteboard to track all of your personal records, then you can. Also, some people like to put up motivational posters to show them the physiques they’re aiming for. Do this too, if there’s someone that you follow.
Start Small
The last rule is to start small when setting up your home gym. Don’t assume that you need to make it perfect from day one. Just adding one piece of equipment every couple of weeks is often enough. By the time a year is done, you’ll have everything you need.
LL x
*This is a contributed post. As ever, all opinions are my own.
Leave a Reply