10 Home Gym Ideas to Inspire Your Fitness Goals

Look to Unexpected Spaces

home gym with white walls and pink patterned rug — JONETSU Studios

Small-space design tricks enable this hardworking foyer to double as a calming home gym. To make the space look larger, Camille Bensler of Jonetsu kept the furniture and wall colors similar. A mirror incorporates plenty of natural light, and transparent chairs at the window coffee nook also help the home fitness area feel more expansive. Freestanding cabinets on either side of the room provide much-needed storage; one also serves as a place to prop the rowing machine when it's not in use.

02 of 10

Pick Convenient Storage

shelving with gym equipment — Marie Christine Herian

If you frequent your home gym, consider using open storage so it's easy to grab what you need (and put it away when done). Blogger Sara Meadows combatted the sprawl of a growing collection of fitness accessories with an entryway storage rack. The unit is deep enough for weights, shoes, and yoga blocks, and the tiered shelving fits neatly into the small space next to the bike. Plus, it fits the aesthetic of Meadows' home office, which shares a room with the fitness nook, so it's not a distracting eyesore when she's working.

03 of 10

Install a Pegboard Wall

home gym with weights and tv — Lisa Medina Wildfire Breaking Free

To transform her formal dining room into an energizing home gym, Lisa Medina of Wildfire Restoration created DIY modular pegboard units to hold most of her exercise equipment. Wood trim around an old frameless mirror and puck lights above and below the pegboard create a studio feel. A simple painted pattern on the opposite walls caps off the gym's totally custom look, which was accomplished without any structural changes.

04 of 10

Allow for Design Changes

organized home gym — Lela Burris Organized-ish

If at-home fitness is new to you, create a space that can adjust as you learn what works best for your needs. Simple accessories and storage solutions that can be easily reconfigured are the stand-out features in this refreshed 1970s porch makeover by Lela Burris of Organized-ish. Although the steel pegboard is securely mounted to the wall, the hooks are adjustable. The mirrors and spray-bottle hooks are mounted with easy-to-remove adhesive strips, and the shoe organizers can be moved or stacked for vertical storage.

05 of 10

Use Awkward Spaces Creatively

wooden sliding door into home gym — Rick Hammer

Designing a home gym around eaves can be tricky, especially in a room that requires free movement. This upper-level home gym uses the steep-ceilinged space for storage and a TV. Fitness equipment angles accordingly, while the rest of the layout leaves an open area at the center of the room. Minnesota-based Lands End Development designed a dedicated workout space tucked behind a stylish sliding barn door—a smart solution that removes the need to leave room for a traditional door swing.

06 of 10

Add Motivating Touches

home gym in corner of room near window — Karina Lovemade Handmade

When slotting a home gym into an existing space, look for ways to make it feel motivating but not out of place. Karina Moran of Lovemade Handmade added a stationary bike to a busy family space, since she knew the central location would boost its convenience and usability. This spot also allows her to enjoy natural light and backyard views. Adding string lights and a large houseplant upped the ambiance so the exercise nook feels focused yet still part of the room.

07 of 10

Install Only the Essentials

Starting with an unfinished basement, blogger Laurenda Marie created a hardworking home gym with just a few key elements. Planning ahead allowed her to identify installations that needed reinforcements—wall-mounted mirrors, the TV, a pull-up bar—prior to drywalling. Laying foam floor tiles over the concrete added cushion without requiring a subfloor. By placing equipment around the perimeter of the room, she left most of the space open for workouts like yoga, cardio, and online HIIT classes.

08 of 10

Disguise Functionality with Style

home gym facing window — Stephanie Osborne

If unframed mirror panels and rubber floor mats aren't your style, don't sweat it! Even a dedicated home gym doesn't have to look like one. Blogger Stephanie Osborne transformed her dining room into an exercise area with accents that match the character and decor of her home. A rustic framed mirror and patterned rug provide home gym necessities without looking out of place. She camouflages additional equipment storage in a perfectly-styled bookshelf so you hardly notice it's there.

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Go Bold with an Accent Wall

home gym with black textured wall — Kelly Ballard City Girl Meets Farm Boy

Although spa-like neutrals are a popular choice for home gyms, dark colors can bring intensity to your exercise space. Kelly Ballard from City Girl Meets Farm Boy used a deep blue paint and DIY wall treatment to create a sophisticated focal point in her home gym. Limiting the color to one wall keeps it from overpowering the room, while offering a visual counterbalance to the heavy gym equipment and television. The modern board-and-batten pattern brings movement to the narrow room.

10 of 10

Take Clutter Elsewhere

home gym with artwork — Britt Blackwelder Brittish Way

Reinvigorate an existing home gym with thoughtful organization. Professional organizer Britt Blackwelder of The Brittish Way made room for barre and free-weight workouts with out-of-the-way storage for gym accessories that used to overrun this basement workout space. An exercise mat and decorative shelves displaying greenery and simple accents anchor the otherwise-bare fitness area.

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