5 Tips for Building Your Dream Home Gym

For many, needing to workout and stay healthy at home was a new concept, but for once I was ahead of the trend. I built my home gym in 2017 and learned many things from years of research before buying a thing, to redesigning it many times. There were many misconceptions about working out at home and why it isn\'t \"normal\", so if you\'re on the fence about buying more than a set of dumbbells and keeping your gym membership, check out these tips to help plan out what that looks like for you.

(1) Pick your space! Is your space going to be a spare room in your house, or will you have garage or shed space? This is the first important question to answer because you need to consider a few things besides how much space you have to put equipment.

• Temperature control needs. A spare room is likely temperature controlled like any other room in your house so a fan or heater is less needed than an outdoor space like garage or shed. My recommendation is to invest in a propane heater like a Mr. Buddy! Electric heat in a garage space just does NOT cut it. For an indoor space a ceiling fan is a great choice because even in the winter you may break a solid sweat.

• Compact options. If you are planning to workout in a common space used by your family, or want to still keep your car parked in the garage when you\'re not working out, look into fold away options. Check out companies like PRx Performance and the Profile Rack System. I\'ve owned mine for 4 years and it by far my most valued piece of equipment. The quality and ingenuity of their equipment is second to none!

(2) Start with your dream gym and price it out. Same advise our realtor gave us when we build out first home. If you start too small you may end up spending more later. Most companies offer bundles so it could be worth waiting to save up and get it all vs buying piece by piece. You can definitely prioritize what you need now and add later. For example, if you need a barbell and plates, maybe get one 20kg (~45lbs) or 15kg (~35lbs) bar and a set of plates up to 240lbs (typically the lowest option for a set) and then add plates or a second weight bar later.

Sometimes it\'s hard to know where to start so here are my top must-haves and recommendations on types of equipment:

• 2 to 3 sets of dumbbells (light, medium and heavy weights will allow enough versatility for any workout program)

• Step / Bench / Plyo box (something to sit and lay on)

• Squat rack with a Pull-up bar

• Barbell

• Bumper Plates (these are rubberized and when dropped/fall they make a much nicer sound and will last longer)

(3) Factor in storage. The cost of your gym will be more than just the equipment itself. I highly recommend planning for some storage. If not your space won\'t quite feel so dreamy. It\'ll be frustrating like when people at the gym don\'t rerack their weights or leave things at a bench for you to clean up...

• Floor storage for bumper plates will save space vs a tree. I\'ve owned several plate storage options and the floor rack is by far my favorite. It also doubles my storage because it has a top to put my kettlebells and adjustable dumbbell set. Some have barbell holders too and wheels for easier moving around.

• Wall storage is great to save space. Barbell holders have several options for wall hanging. I recently invested in holders for my wall balls and it makes me so happy not have them rolling around anymore.

(4) Adjustable vs Dumbbell Sets. An adjustable set will save you a ton of space and money in the long run. Depending on what type of workouts you plan to do they may not be ideal since they can be bulky. For example, I love my Bowflex set for accessory and basic exercises. After starting Street Parking (a badass home workout community and programming) I purchased a set of 25lb dumbbells to more easily and comfortably do the Crossfit style movements like Snatches and Devil Presses.

(5) Consider Cardio Options. Depending on the space you select, cardio machines may be nice to have. If you are in a garage, shed or other space with easy outside access don\'t forget that the outside can serve as a great option too. For example, some of my workouts incorporate running at 200m or 400m distances which I used a maps app to determine about where I need to run to and turnaround on the block. No treadmill needed!

Other great types of home cardio equipment to consider:

• Treadmill

• Recumbent bike

• Spin bike

• Air bike

• Road or Mountain bike

• Rower

• Ski Erg

• Stairs / Ladder

• Rollerblades (yes these count too!)

There are so many brands and options out there, so do your research to see what will fit your needs best. Not all your equipment needs to come from one brand or site, but sometimes that will give you the best deal. Shipping is something to look out for, so even look locally for used equipment sales or deals too.

Just like with every other aspect of fitness... everyone is different!

Have more questions about putting together a home gym? Drop me a note below and I can help guide you on your new adventure.