“Typically, people who exercise start eating better and becoming more productive at work. They smoke less and show more patience with colleagues and family. They use their credit cards less frequently and say they feel less stressed. Exercise is a keystone habit that triggers widespread change.”
~Charles Duhigg, The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business.
Exercise is crucial for a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle. It keeps you active and fresh throughout the day. Sometimes it gets difficult for people to visit the gym every single day. Some people have household commitments, whereas some people do not have a gym in their vicinity. However, the good news is that you can easily make a home gym, that too, in a small space.
This blog brings you home gym ideas for small spaces that you can incorporate while making your very own home gym. To know more about these home gym ideas for small spaces, keep on scrolling.
Select the machine wisely:
Expensive and heavy machines are not always needed to make a good home gym. Small and straightforward machines can also do the work perfectly. Before investing in heavy machines, know your requirements. Try to analyze your needs and try to buy equipment that your body needs. There is no need to invest in expensive machines that you will not even use. Heavy machines that you will not use are a big waste of money and space.
Some of the equipment that takes less space include:
- Treadmills are famous for burning excessive calories. However, it would be better to go jogging outdoors if the terrain and environment make it easier.
- Cross Trainers are the tools involved in working both the upper and lower body, involving a lot of muscle movement. Cross trainers are most effective for whole-body training.
- Lifecycle/Stationary Bikes are perfect for providing a gentle form of cardio activity, improving muscular flexibility, and easing back pains.
- Rowers are made for endurance training and help in the increase of heart function. It has minimal strain on the back and joints. Hence they are suitable for older trainers.
- Stair Steppers are intense cardiovascular workout equipment that is made to focus on lower body muscles. They not only improve muscular strength but also ensure balance and stability.
Work on the lights:
If you plan to build your home gym in a small space, make sure that you install proper lights in the room. Lights play a huge role in making the place look bigger and brighter. Also, make sure you make use of the windows of the room. Install good blinds and let that natural light come in. This will instantly elevate your mood and make the home gym look spacious and energetic.
Use mirrors:
Pan the windows of the gym with full-length mirrors or huge oval-shaped mirrors. Mirrors create an illusion of bigger spaces. Mirrors will also allow you to see your progress throughout the workout. In short, even if you are working out in a small area, the mirrors will do their magic, and you will feel like you are working in a professional environment.
Non-aerobic workouts:
Non-aerobic exercise is a type of exercise that is short and does not require oxygen to be accomplished. Examples of non-aerobic exercise include weight and high-intensity interval training (HIIT). High-intensity workouts are not everyone’s cup of tea. People sprain their body parts and even get body sores when they perform rigorous unsupervised training.
So, to keep yourself in shape, try things that you can use during non-aerobic exercises, such as equipment related to pilates, yoga, and stretching.
In short, before making your home-based gym, make sure that apart from regular exercise machines, you will have to make space formats, bouncy balls, small dumbbells, and mats for stretching out comfortably.
Embrace minimalism:
Try to keep things simple and minimal. Do not clutter the space with useless decorations and something that will not add value to your life. Simple space will give you peace of mind, and you will be able to exercise easily without any hindrance. According to livelifehealthy.com, one must keep the same neat and clutter-free.
Utilize space:
A gym does not have to be grand and luxurious. It should be functional and practical. You can also lose all the unwanted fats with the help of compact equipment that can be brought out and used in regular residential spaces. If you have a spare room, you can easily convert it into your home gym.
You can even use a single space in multiple ways. For example, you can use your living room as your yoga studio and use your garage to hang your punching bag.
Kid-friendly:
If you have kids in your house, make sure the gym you constructed is child friendly and does not have things that can hurt the child by any means. You can even add fun equipment such as playing balls and basketball hoops etc., for the kids. You can also install a kid-sized, arcade-style basketball hoop if space is an issue.
With these small additions, you will be able to spend some quality time with your kids as a family. These things will also help the children to remain healthy and fit.
Colour scheme:
A good colour scheme is crucial for the gym. Always pick an elevated colour scheme to take your home gym to the next level. You can make your home gym look chic by giving it a cool shade of grey and opting for exercise equipment in a similar tone. A wall-to-wall mirror along with a consistent colour scheme will make the space look chic and functional at the same time.
Flooring:
Flooring makes a huge difference in the home gym. Suitable flooring is always needed because it cushions you and protects you if you fall during a workout—the continuous wear and tear from heavy machinery and activities impact durability. Always go for a flooring material that is stiff enough to sustain weights.
Health and Safety:
Health and Safety is the most important thing when it comes to home gyms. Some injuries and falls in the gym can be fatal for you, so make sure that the place where you exercise is safe. Most people blame machines for the accidents in the gym. However, it is not the case.
The overall design of the gym is equally important. Ensure enough storage and put away equipment after workout sessions to avoid tripping over them to minimize injuries and accidents. Also, make sure you look for your equipment for faulty parts. Avoid outside distractions while working out and make sure that the flooring of the gym is smooth.
So, these are some of the home gym ideas for small spaces. These tips and tricks will help you to keep your house gym on point. Interestingly, all these tricks are very cheap and easy to complete. Give this blog a read, and let us know what you think about them. Also, let us know what tips you use to keep the house gym on point. Leave your comments in the comment section below, and we would love to hear from you.
