1. PLAN WHAT YOU NEED
Planning what equipment you need will steer the amount of space you require. According to the fitness pros, you actually don’t need much to get going. Dalton Wong, personal trainer to the stars and founder of the private gym Twenty Two Training, says your home kit need only include “an exercise mat, weights - a kettlebell or dumbbells or just resistance bands, and some type of muscle release - a foam roller, a Theragun or even a tennis ball.” You can waste a lot of money buying big, expensive equipment, adds Pip Black, whose home kit comprises “lightish” dumbbells, gliders and a kettlebell - which doubles up as a doorstop.
2. GET SOME GOOD LIVING ROOM STORAGE
Perhaps your biggest challenge is navigating the conundrum of having your kit handy so that it doesn’t become forgotten or require unpacking each time you want to exercise, but without having to look at gym paraphernalia all day.
3. THINK VERTICALLY
If you're wondering how to make a home gym then, realistically, it will come with some stuff you can't hide. For the clunkier kit that’s better out of sight, Carly Madhvani of NW3 Interiors recommends using low storage (which makes it more accessible) - blanket chests, or benches or coffee tables with hidden storage - even better if on wheels, unless it’s for heavy weights. But if space is tight, “Think vertically,” says Suzann Bozorgi. “Instead of taking up precious floor space, consider using tall storage, such as industrial lockers, Ikea’s minimalist Kallax shelving, or a beautiful wooden unit from Heals.”
4. USE DIMMABLE LIGHTS
With many people now taking a “portfolio” approach to exercise - maybe with a mix-up of cardio, resistance training, pilates and yoga - a space has to work even harder if it’s going to support different types of exercise. Enter the best surround sound systems and light - an instant way to change a mood. “Bring in dimmable lights so that you can create variety in atmosphere and warmth levels,” says Carly Madhvani, whose personal regime ranges from yin yoga to Muay Thai boxing.
5. BE DECORATIVE
Crucial for how to stay motivated to workout at home is joy, says Pip Black, an easily overlooked detail. Frame’s studios are famously bright and colourful, with bold House of Hackney wallpapers that inspire a sense of satisfaction just from stepping through the door: “Your environment plays as much a part as the exercise you’re doing,” she explains.
6. ADD A MIRROR
A gym would not be complete without a mirror or mirrored wall. It’s a useful addition, lending the illusion of a larger and brighter space, and, in the absence of an instructor, will help you correct your form. A luxury option could be an oversized backlit mirror to give a boutique gym vibe, or you could rent or buy a wall-mounted, interactive “smart mirror” featuring your own virtual personal trainer (for example Mirror, Vaha, Tempo Studio, NordicTrack). As well as being able to have a PT on tap, “it would look completely acceptable in your living room,” says Carly Madhvani.
7. ZONE YOUR SPACE
It helps if there is some form of separation between your living space and workout area, even if it's only decorative. Consider adding decorative details and colors that spark joy in your home gym space, or installing LED strips to demarcate your workout space and literally get you in the zone, which can be switched off and barely visible when the gym is not in use. Or, use paint effects, like these stripes from a Minimalism style shoot.
8. DEDICATE A CORNER OF THE BEDROOM
Have you thought about using your bedroom for your home gym ideas? You're in it less during the day than your living space, so it won't feel as obtrusive, and there are ways to do it subtly. Shown here as slightly separate from the bed, built-in storage has been created as a place for the best dumbbells, skipping ropes and more.
9. CREATE A GARDEN ROOM GYM
It can be hard to find a large enough space in the home to dedicate to creating the home gym you want. If you're lucky enough to have a garden, then factoring in a gtm at the end of it would be, well, *chef's kiss*. Aside from giving you the space you need and the privacy away from other family members, it also promises green views, better natural light and plenty of ventilation.
9. TAKE OVER A MEZZANINE
Many homes designed under the principles of modern interior design now have a mezzanine level - it's part of the open plan way of life that been so popular for so long. If you have one, then it's the perfect spot for a gym. Here, you can barely notice the glass balcony that wraps around the slim mezzanine gym below. It sits above a living area and shares views of the garden, while sky lights offer maximum natural light. While it's open and connected to the living area below, it feels private as it offers views down, but you can't be spied on from below.