3 Spaces to Remodel Into a Home Gym

BY ELISABETH STUBBS

A gym is a convenient home feature that can save you time and money. In the long run, repurposing a space in your home for gym equipment can eliminate your family’s monthly gym membership(s). Not to mention, you can squeeze in a workout in the time it would take you to drive to and from a gym.

Here are three spaces to consider converting to transform your workouts:

1. Remodeled basements make great home gyms, offering lots of space and a quiet place to work out, so other family members are not disturbed.

2. A finished attic also can work as a gym setup. Just be sure the floors are adequately braced for heavier equipment and weights. Air quality is essential, too, so make sure there’s no exposed insulation and have an AC unit or a fan to keep the attic cool as you break a sweat.

3. Extra space in your two-car garage can make an excellent space for a home gym. The point is, almost every homeowner can find somewhere to perform their daily workout rituals, even if there’s not much room for large equipment.

Since your home gym setup may include heavy equipment and rigorous workouts, it’s essential to have durable flooring that can absorb shock and be easy to clean. Consider the type of exercise you typically do. If it’s a light-impact exercise like yoga, you don’t need the same flooring strength and resilience as more intense exercises like weight training or jumping rope. Rubber and higher-end vinyl floors — glue-down or wood-plastic composite construction with a 20 mil (one mil is .001 inches) or higher wear layer — are good options for home gyms. Luxury vinyl plank floors look quite attractive and resemble hardwoods, giving a sleek gym studio vibe. Laminate flooring also is a good choice for a home gym due to its incredible durability and impressive commercial wear ratings. There are commercial gym flooring options, such as PuzzleTile rubber flooring by Centaur Floors. This versatile flooring is made of interlocking rubber tiles that can be installed on almost any type of existing flooring, and it doesn’t need adhesive to hold it down.

Once your flooring is installed, be sure to add some color and decor that inspires you. You might want to set up speakers and mount a television to the wall so you can stream music and your favorite movies or TV shows. A home gym also is a great place to showcase your family’s medals and trophies or memorabilia from your favorite sports teams. Whatever you choose to decorate your space, make sure it motivates you to get active!