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Home gym in your garage designed by Inspired Closets

How To Build A Home Gym

Imagine going from your office to the gym in under 10 minutes. Not only is this convenient, but it eliminates the pressure and intimidation that comes with going to your local gym. And that’s why there’s no better way to ensure you meet your fitness goals than to build a gym in your own home! With a home gym setup, you’ll save gas, time, energy, and money. If you have underutilized space in your home, such as the garage, here’s how to get started building a home gym today.

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Why Should I Consider Building A Home Gym?

It’s been a long day at work and the last thing you have to cross off your list is to hit the gym. You could hop in the car, deal with rush hour traffic, park, head to the locker room, and change into your workout attire—only to find out that your first machine is already taken—or, you could consider investing in a home gym and recreate your workout routine with less stress and no gym membership.

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Garage gym drawers

If you’ve found yourself wishing you had the normalcy of your daily gym routine but are met with feelings of inefficiency or a lack of motivation, optimizing your home by building a home gym is the solution. Why? Because it offers you all the convenience – and privacy – that you’ve let keep you from making personal fitness a habit that sticks.

With a home gym, you can create your ideal fitness club without leaving the house. Limited only by space and budget, it can be as extensive and as customized as you’d like, offering you everything you need and nothing you don’t. You’ll leave behind the stress of having to compete for equipment and feeling embarrassed as you learn new things and embrace the freedom of taking care of yourself and feeling good about who you are.

The best part is with this solution is realizing you simply have fewer excuses to not get a sweat in. When a personalized custom workout space is just a few steps away, it’s easier to establish a consistent workout routine that will help you achieve your fitness goals. When you remove obstacles like travel time, sharing equipment, and feeling confident enough to take the first step, you’ll set yourself up for success. And the next thing you know, you’ll find yourself looking forward to working out and enjoying time spent in your new home gym.

How To Start Building A Home Gym

First, decide which space makes the most sense for building a home gym. For example, the garage tends to get overlooked as usable space, but it might be perfect for a home gym. You could also consider converting a rarely used extra bedroom or home office as a great alternative if the garage is unavailable,

By using found space in your garage, not only will there be minimal foot traffic, but you can also crank up the tunes without complaints. Whichever location you choose, start by surveying your space to determine the best spot to build a home gym setup. With a little decluttering and rearranging, you could be working out in the comfort of your own home before you know it.

A few additional things to consider include how much space you’ll need depending on the workouts you do and what tradeoffs you’re willing to make to get the most out of the space you choose.

Don’t hesitate to sit down and really reflect on your typical gym routine. What type of cardio do you do the most? Do you lift barbells or dumbbells? Are you a fan of floor workouts like yoga? Knowing the answers to these questions will determine how your home gym is organized and where to invest. For example, if you are passionate about lifting weights, then you might want to purchase a bench and use a jump rope for cardio.

If you are all about cardio, a bike or treadmill is your most important piece of equipment so give yourself ample space by stacking dumbbells on an out-of-the-way rack. If you have space, go for both! Either way, we can work with you to design the perfect space to create an organized and clutter-free home gym you’ll love.

THE OVERALL GOAL IS TO BE REALISTIC, START WITH WHAT YOU NEED AND THEN CUSTOMIZE AS YOUR WORKOUTS EVOLVE.

What Equipment Should I Buy?

After you’ve made your list and cleared your space, it’s time to buy your gear. The equipment you buy will be guided by your preferred type of exercise and the amount of space you have available to build your home gym. If you’re new to working out or you don’t necessarily have a “go-to” workout routine, it’s okay to start with the basics.

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How to store dumb bells for a home gym

YOGA MAT

Even if you don’t practice yoga, having a yoga mat is necessary for stretching, floor exercises, jumping exercises, and core exercises. That said, A flexible yet durable flooring solution like Swisstrax provides a great foundation for all your home gym needs.

Having some reinforcement will give you better traction during your training, increase the amount of support that your yoga mat will give you, and will be more hygienic for floor exercises.

There are a number of options out there but be sure to start with a yoga mat that’s thick enough to cushion you from the hard ground, especially being in the garage.

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How to store weights in a home gym

DUMBBELLS

One of the most useful pieces of equipment you can own are a few sets of dumbbells. Make sure to start with different weight levels like light, medium, and heavy.

Feel free to start off light because you can always invest in heavier weights as you progress in your fitness goals. Dumbbells are incredibly versatile and can be adopted for exercises that call for a barbell or kettlebell. They’re also compact and easy to store.

Once you’ve outgrown your weights, turn to your favorite online community to sell them and buy a pair from someone else! It’s much more affordable (and better for the environment) if someone can reuse what you’re done with.

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How to store weights in a home gym

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Creating a home gym in your garage from Inspired Closets

CARDIO (TREADMILLS, ELLIPTICALS, BICYCLES, ETC.)

 

Don’t be intimidated by exclusive brands and high-end pricing. Just because your gym has specific models of equipment doesn’t mean you can’t find equally effective models from other fitness brands.

You can find more compact ellipticals and bicycles online that weigh less and are well suited for smaller spaces. In fact, you can even find treadmills that fold up for easy storage when they’re not in use. If you’re tight on space, the smallest and most cost-effective cardio option is a quality jump rope.

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Slatwall storage for home gym from Inspired Closets

BONUS EQUIPMENT

 

Resistance bands are excellent for taking bodyweight training to the next level and strengthening all those small muscles that protect and stabilize your joints.

A flat bench is a space-efficient way to incorporate weight training into your regular routine. Easy to store in an out-of-the-way location, it can be more comfortable than a yoga mat and more versatile too.

If you want to maximize the benefits of your post-workout stretch, consider an easy-to-use foam roller. Not only will it help you relieve tension in your muscles, but it can play a key role in improving your overall flexibility.

 

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Slatwall storage for home gym from Inspired Closets

 

How much time you spend commuting depends on your proximity to your favorite gym. However, just a 20-minute journey to the gym at three visits per week results in 104-hours behind the wheel each year.

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How to Store It & Organize It

Once you’ve established the space for your home gym and determined the necessary workout equipment you’ll need, it’s time to organize. Keeping your workout space organized (much like your home office) can help clear your mind and motivate you to be more productive.

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Slatwall storage for sports equipment for a garage

WALL STORAGE

Using slatwall is such an easy way to store your light workout equipment. For example, you can hang jump ropes and resistance bands on a hook and use two hooks to hold your rolled-up yoga mat. This will keep your gear clean and off the floor (especially in the garage.)

Sturdy racks can help stack your lighter dumbbells, medicine balls, and kettle balls, making them easy to grab when you need to use them. The best part about using slatwall – it’s completely customizable to fit your equipment and easy to rearrange as necessary.

Take advantage wall space by incorporating open shelves to hold items like fresh towels, training materials, and post-workout snacks. You’ll feel better while you complete each session and feel motivated to stick to your workout plans.

CABINET STORAGE

An excellent choice for your garage gym needs, our cabinets are as durable as they are beautiful because they’re designed specifically for utility and heavy-use conditions.

Additionally, they can be installed lower to the ground so you can utilize the loft-top cabinet storage space, which is a great spot for a speaker or small stereo system to keep you motivated throughout your workout.

Most importantly, the shelves are built for heavy-duty use which is exactly what you need for storing light hand weights, medicine balls, and the rest of your gear. Lastly, soft-close drawers keep your equipment clean and protected.

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Home gym storage cabinets for your garage from Inspired Closets

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STANDS & BASKETS

Incorporating stands and baskets throughout your home gym can keep things both separated and out of the way.

Stands are a simple way to make sure your weights are easy to grab when you need them without having to look for the matching weight. Available in a variety of shapes and sizes, consider choosing one that is compact, offering you maximum floor space to lift with ease.

Using baskets to store things you would typically hang, like resistance bands and jump ropes, can keep them organized in an aesthetically pleasing way. Depending on the type of workout you are doing, you can remove the basket to take with you throughout your garage gym.

Every inch of your home should work for the life you’re building and that includes more time spent at home. Creating a home gym is a lot easier and affordable than most people think. Just remember to keep it simple and start with the basics. It’s okay to add to your gym over time and be intentional about what you need.

Customization comes with realizing what works best in your space and for your routine, and sometimes that includes trial and error. With a little planning, you can have your personal gym ready to go in no time. Interested in learning more? Head to this page for more garage organization inspiration and download our Ideas Brochure for additional information.

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