No matter your space, it’s entirely possible to create your own home gym. Working out at home has major benefits, from convenience to efficiency and exercising in a comfortable atmosphere. With amazing at home workouts on Youtube and other online platforms, you don’t have to go to the gym to get fit! When you work out at home, you can easily fit it into your schedule and you can get just as good a workout in as if you went to a fitness class. These home gym ideas are sure to keep you physically and mentally fit!
7 Home Gym Essentials
1. Exercise Mat
If you’re going to be working out at home, you’ll need an exercise mat. Most workouts will have you down on the ground at some point, so a mat will ensure your exercises are way more comfortable. Whether you’re doing ab workouts on your back or push ups on your knees, a mat will keep you from enduring any serious pain.
2. Dumbbells
A set of dumbbells allows you to do a wide range of exercises and workouts in your home gym. Use them for isolated strength exercises such as bicep curls and hammer curls, or add resistance to moves like lunges and squats. Your ideal dumbbell weight will depend on your fitness level and you may need different weights for different exercises. A set with three different dumbbell weights is a great way to ensure you’re covering all your bases. CLICK HERE for our favorite at-home dumbbell workouts.
3. Kettlebells
Another awesome weight option is kettlebells. They’re extremely versatile, helping you strengthen your muscles and get your heart rate up. You can use them for traditional kettlebell exercises such as kettlebell swings, or you can use them to increase the intensity of exercises like squats and walking lunges. We’ve curated the best kettlebell workouts HERE.
4. Stability Balls
If you enjoy Pilates and yoga, consider adding a stability ball to your home gym. They’re also ideal for ab workouts, since they challenge your stability. They’re not the most convenient pieces of equipment to store, but if you have the space, a stability ball can seriously elevate your workouts!
5. Medicine Balls
Medicine ball workouts offer tons of benefits, especially for your core, but they can really be used to strengthen your entire body. They come in a range of weights, so make sure you choose one that’s heavy enough to slow your motion but not too heavy that your control and range of motion takes a hit.
6. Resistance Bands
Resistance bands are awesome for a number of reasons. They’re inexpensive, lightweight and don’t take much space to store. Resistance bands are used to add intensity to lower body workouts. From squats to glute bridges, wear the band above the knees for a killer workout that reaps results! Check out our favorite full-body resistance band workouts for a shredded body HERE!
7. Jump Rope
Using a jump rope is one of the best ways to get a cardio workout at home. You don’t need any other equipment and you’ll get your heart rate up fast! It’s a full body workout, incorporating your arms, shoulders, core and legs, so make sure to do jump rope workouts consistently! CLICK HERE for fat-burning jump rope workouts that will get your heart rate elevated!
3 Home Gym Ideas for Small Spaces
1. The Perfect Set Up
Don’t let a small space deter you from creating a home gym. All you need is a space that’s about as big as your workout mat! Consider your basement, attic or even a corner of your bedroom. You can also move furniture around if you need to and create a gym space in your living room or hallway.
2. Gym Swaps
There are a number of swaps you can make if you don’t have the space for equipment. Instead of doing workouts with dumbbells, you can do bodyweight workouts and instead of running on the treadmill or cycling on a bike, you can use a jump rope.
3. Use the Wall
If you don’t have room to designate to a home gym, use any wall area that has space. You can work your lower body and core by leveraging the walls in your home. Try exercises such as wall sits, bridges, pushups, wall circles and single-leg wall lunges. You can sculpt everything from your abs to your calves by simply using a wall!
5 Home Gym Organization Ideas
1. Coat Hook Organizer
Keep resistance bands and jump ropes tangle-free by hanging them on a coat rack. You can use individual wall hooks or a hanger set, depending on the amount of space you have. It’s the perfect hack to keep your home gym organized!
2. Wine Rack for Weights
Have a wine rack you’re not using anymore? Repurpose it and create a rack for your dumbbells. A wine rack is the perfect size to hold your weights and will keep them off the floor and out of harm’s way.
3. Wicker Baskets for Equipment
Wicker baskets are a trendy way to hide equipment such as dumbbells, kettlebells, bands and ropes. If you’re someone who transforms their living room into a gym space each day, a wicker basket can stay put in your living area, making it look stylish and also creating the perfect space for storage.
4. Double Duty Bench
We love equipment that does double duty, especially when it comes to organization and storage. Invest in an organization bench that will store weights and shoes, and also double as a stepping bench. A bench you can use for storage and exercise is top of the list in our books!
5. Bookcase Storage
Transform an ordinary bookcase into a stylish storage unit for your home gym. Place your exercise mat, shoes, water bottle, bands, balls, dumbbells and any other equipment in the shelves, along with any further organization elements such as baskets and bins.
Creating a home gym is easy and affordable! Use these at home gym ideas to stay healthy and fit from the convenience of your home!
