Maintaining a regular workout routine can be challenging, especially when you’re busy and have to travel to the gym. To make things easier, consider turning an unused room or space into a home gym. It’s not as hard as it sounds and can even increase your home’s value.
It’s a good idea to keep your workout area separate from the rest of the house. One way to do this without making the space feel smaller is by using mirror sliding doors for the closet. This not only sets your workout space apart but also provides a mirror to check your lifting form.
When it comes to flooring for your home gym, rubber flooring is the best option. It supports heavy equipment and absorbs the impact of weights and high-intensity exercises. You can get rubber flooring in rolls, mats, or interlocking tiles, with various thicknesses and sizes. Foam flooring is another option that’s affordable and provides decent shock absorption, but it’s better for lighter exercises. Vinyl flooring works well in basements or garage gyms since it’s resistant to mold, mildew, and moisture, though it has less shock absorption. Cork flooring is eco-friendly and resistant to fire, mold, and mildew, offering good support and shock absorption.
A well-lit gym is crucial for motivation. If your gym is in a basement without natural light, install good lighting. Recessed lights can brighten up the space without taking up headroom, but if you’re on a budget, consider indirect LED wall mount lights or LED strip lights to illuminate dark corners.
For a motivating and energetic feel, paint your gym walls in soft white or warm gray. You might also add an accent wall in colors like vibrant blue, peaceful purple, or bright yellow for extra energy—but avoid overwhelming the space with too much color.
Add minimalistic decor that boosts your motivation, like easy-to-care-for plants, abstract art, or motivational quotes on canvas. The goal is to create a space that’s pleasant without being distracting.
Building a home gym gives you a dedicated space to stick to your workout routine, even when life gets busy. Use durable materials that can handle heavy equipment and intense workouts. If you’re thinking about how a home gym might affect your home’s value, consider talking to a local real estate agent for advice.
