Physical fitness is an important part of modern life. More and more, people are looking for ways to incorporate an exercise regimen into their daily routine. Many people will join a gym or go for a daily run. These are decent options. However, with time and opportunity at a premium, often these options are impractical. A solution for a busy lifestyle or an unforgiving climate is to have a room in the home devoted to exercise, a home gym.
It can be difficult to accommodate a home gym within a home’s aesthetic, while still allowing for full function and capability. Home gym design is an area of concern often brought up when I design a client’s home. There are many factors to consider when designing an in-home gym. Among these are room size, layout, flooring, lighting, heating and air conditioning, acoustics and equipment.
There are different kinds of gyms. This is determined by the level of use desired. Some may simply want a place to stick a treadmill and a TV. Others will seek out equipment for the full body workout, complete with muscle training, cardio, free weights and full-length mirrored walls.
Determining the exact equipment and machines that will be utilized will largely dictate the dimensions required in your home gym. Be sure to take into account not only the length and width of the room, but the ceiling clearance height and the size of the entry ways if you have large, bulky equipment. Also consider the amount of free space that will be needed to perform your desired exercises. If you leave just enough space for your Bow-flex, and you intend to also do yoga and pilates, you could find yourself stuck between a wall and a hard place.
Remember that your home gym is also another room in your home. You should decorate and coordinate accordingly. While function is a key component of the gym, it also must be inviting and fit with the rest of your house design.
Be conscious of your space. Become a minimalist, and don't buy any more than you absolutely need. A gym cluttered with equipment isn't just an eyesore, it's dangerous and hard to navigate. And if you can't easily get to your workout equipment, chances are you're not going to use it.
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Home Gym Flooring
So much of the focus of a home gym goes towards the equipment. Which treadmill should be used? Where should the dumbbell rack be placed? A key component often overlooked is home gym flooring. Many gyms get stowed in a spare room on plush carpet. This can be bad for the equipment, the floor and your body. Installing a home gym floor that is robust enough to serve its purpose is certainly advantageous.
Heavy gym equipment placed on thick pile carpeting will leave permanent dents, often in the center of the room. This is especially true when the equipment is left in place for a long period of time. There are some far better options when considering your home gym flooring. Keep in mind your budget and your intended workout type before purchasing any flooring.
Hard-wearing, heavy duty carpet tiles, often seen in high traffic areas like offices, are tough enough to withstand the rigors and weight of your equipment. They give you’re equipment a firm base to sit on. This stability is paramount in preventing any wobble. Shaky equipment can be dangerous for you and detrimental to the equipment itself.
Rubber flooring is another excellent option. In addition to the strength and stability it provides, it also gives you a non-stick floor. This is a very safe floor if you intend to do heavy lifting and need excellent footing. Rubber flooring can be purchase as a roll (like carpet), or as tiles you piece together. Either way rubber flooring is very efficient in a home gym.
Another option is laminate flooring. If this is the direction you chose to go with, be wary of the type and quality of the laminate you use. Pay a little extra for a hard-wearing type. Laminate has a tendency to erode under heavy usage. Fake wood laminate has a nice aesthetic in a home gym intended to be used primarily for yoga or pilates.
The three important things to consider about home gym flooring are durability, function and cost. But don’t forget that your home gym is a room in your home. Try to make it inviting and in accordance with the rest of your house design and appearance. The more comfortable you are, the more likely you are to use it often.
Home Gym Acoustics
Anyone who has ever been in a gym has surely noticed that it is not a quiet place. From the clanging of weights, to the blaring music, gyms are often loud. This is fine at the neighborhood public gym. But if you are planning an in-home gym, noise might be so welcome. Unless you live by yourself, the level of noise can affect the other people in the house. We don’t want our kids distracted from their homework while you get a quick workout in.
One solution would be to have a detached room for your home gym. But this is usually not very practical. Often your home gym shares walls, floors, or ceilings with other rooms in your house. This is when you should consider the acoustics of your home gym.
If you are looking for sound-absorbing options, there are a few ways you could go. Fabric acoustical wall panels do the job of keep the noise contained. However they are not very durable, which can be a key drawback in a gym environment. They are also difficult to clean.
Padded mats, often seen in school gymnasiums, are durable, offer good protection, and are easily cleaned. The problem with these is that they don’t offer the same level of acoustical function. Your gym will safe and clean, but it’s still loud.
The best option I have seen is the Sound Silencer acoustical wall panels. These can be ordered online and easily installed. They not only absorb the noise of your home gym, they also withstand impact. The panels deform upon impact and quickly rebound to their original state. If you contact them, they will send you a free sample of the material.
Shop around to find the best fit for your home gym.
Home Gym Lighting
The lighting you use in your home gym can help your commitment to fitness as well as provide you with the essential light.
The lighting you chose should be flattering to your physique. This keeps you excited about your body image and motivates you to work harder. A single hanging lightbulb in your basement can go a long way towards feeling flabby and discouraged.
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