Creating a Home Gym in Small Spaces

So you have decided that creating a home gym is the best option for your lifestyle. Congrats! That’s the first step in starting (or expanding) your fitness journey. I’m sure you have plenty of questions regarding what equipment is best for you, how much space you need, and how to be the most efficient with your budget. Well, you have come to the right place. When it comes to creating a home gym, we at Push Pedal Pull are the experts! Let’s start by walking through some of the most important questions to ask yourself to determine what equipment is the best fit for you and your space.

What equipment do I need?

This is completely dependent upon your personal goals. First you should ask yourself what your budgetary and workout needs are. If your main focus is strength, we can point you to the best strength equipment within your budget and complement your goals. Some other things to consider is the size of the room where the equipment will be placed. We have multiple different models and types of equipment to accommodate spatial limitations. For

 example, if you have a small space you might opt for a stationary bike over a treadmill for your cardio needs.

A few other things to consider when creating a home gym are your physical limitations, current fitness level, and your fitness goals. If you have any knee or back issues, past or upcoming surgery, or mobility issues, your new equipment 

should be chosen to accommodate that. There are multiple low-impact options available that allow you to stay in shape while fitting your limitations. Your workout room should also have equipment that reflects your fitness goals whether that be weight loss, training for a competition, rehabilitation, or just general overall fitness. You can pair different types of equipment to align with all your fitness needs, such as a mix of cardio and strength equipment. For recommendations, you can view other articles on our blog that highlight the best type of equipment for your personal goals (Link to other blogs).

What room is best equipped to be a home gym?

Some of the most important things to consider with creating a home gym is the size of the space, accessibility, electrical requirements (for example most treadmills require a 20 amp dedicated circuit), lighting, ceiling height and average room temperature. If you put the equipment in an area that is not appealing, too small, hard to access, or not well lit, the equipment will most likely not get used. I would recommend adding music or a television to your space if you are someone who needs to be distracted during your workout. Make sure to check if your WiFi works in the room have chosen, especially if you are looking at purchasing any equipment with WiFi capabilities. Overall, the space should be appealing to workout in, otherwise every time you enter the room it will make your workout feel like chore instead of a highlight of your day.

How do I efficiently place my equipment?

This all depends on how much space you have. For home gyms, make sure you look at “live” versus “equipment footprint” space to ensure you have enough room to do all of your exercises. For example, treadmills need enough space behind the unit so in the event you fall off the rear of the treadmill, you have ample space to clear it.  For ellipticals, make sure you measure your ceiling height. Ellipticals are typically higher off the ground then treadmills so you want to have enough ceiling height clearance. If you are looking at purchasing multiple pieces, some equipment manufacturers have programs on their website that can help you design your space.  If you prefer a more personal touch, then simply visit your local Push Pedal Pull specialty fitness retailer and let them help you design the perfect layout for your equipment.

Once you can answer these questions to identify your personal needs, head on into your local Push Pedal Pull store and let one of our equipment room design specialists guide you in creating a home gym perfect for you.