One of the most popular new year’s resolutions is to lose weight. Creating a home exercise area is a great way to motivate yourself to exercise more, which will help in losing weight. I’ve helped to create and organize many home exercise areas for my clients.
8 Tips to Create & Organize a Home Exercise Area
1. Determine a Location
You may decide to repurpose a room or create an exercise zone in a multi-purpose room. When determining the location, consider the size of the room, the ease of access, the proximity to a bathroom, the type flooring and average temperature in the space.
2. Declutter
Once you have chosen a space, declutter to make room for the workout gear. If reusing an space, such as repurposing a bedroom, basement, bonus room or garage space, clear out all of the clutter first. Narrow down the items to only things you intend use while exercising. If creating an exercise zone in a multi-use room, clearly outline which area will be used for exercising and declutter that space.
3. Make a List of Items Needed
The types of items needed in a home gym will vary by your type of workout, but determine what items are needed to make this a workable, useable home exercise space. Make a list of items such as weights, a yoga mat, yoga blocks, resistance bands, exercise balls, a jump rope, a foam roller, a treadmill, an exercise bike, an elliptical, towels, a water cooler, audio speakers, a TV or computer, a laundry basket, fans, space heaters, etc.
4. Consider the Layout
Think about how you will move from one exercise to another if doing a circuit workout. Make sure you have, access to electrical outlets for some items, an open area for stretching and the ability to view a TV or computer, a mirror, or look out a window while you exercise.
5. Determine Flooring
Depending on if you are on an upper or lower floor, or in a basement or garage, choose the flooring that is right for you. You may want to keep it as is, or add vinyl, rubber or foam flooring to this space.
6. Set Up Lighting
Lack of light in a room can discourage you from using it. Make sure you have enough overhead lighting and floor lamps in this space. Use mirrors, blinds and window dressings to control the amount of light in your exercise area.
7. Choose Storage Items
Once you have decided what items you need in your exercise space, invest in storage items to help keep it organized. You may want shelving or storage cabinets for your media systems and accessories, a weight rack, hooks for towels, resistance bands and jump ropes. If using a multipurpose space, you may want to hide workout gear in storage ottomans, decorative bins, or inside a closet.
8. Hang up a Calendar
Use a wall calendar to keep track of how often you use this room. Put it in your schedule to motivate yourself to exercise more. Let family members know that this is your exercise time and location so they do not disturb you.
Leave a Reply