Now that the holidays have passed and we feel bad for all those guilty pleasures that we indulged in, it is probably time to hit the gym! However, after hefty holiday expenses and the frigid weather upon us, there are plenty of excuses why we can’t afford or just don’t want to make the trek to the dreaded fitness center!
Why not allocate a space in your home for your own private gym? The initial expenses to get set up will certainly work in your favour in the long run.
Start by dedicating a space in your home. Don’t be discouraged by the location because you are about to transform it into a little zen zone!
Ensure that you declutter that area because no one will be motivated to work out next to a stack of banker boxes or kids toys.
Look at the flooring in your space and decide if it has enough cushion and support. You can easily add another layer or cushion with some foam mats, like those used for kids play mats, or with some modular carpet tiles. Check out FLOR, for some fun and affordable options.
Grab a roller and a bucket of paint, refresh your walls with a serene color, go for Benjamin Moore: Dewdrop CC-608 Or ICI Oriental Ivory 50GY 73/049. These colours will be sure to refresh your mind, body and soul during a vigorous workout!
Get yourself an inexpensive flat screen TV. This is the perfect time of year for sales on electronics. This is not an area where you have to splurge; you can get a basic model that has a DVD built into it. After all, you’ll only be using it for workout videos or to watch your favourite show during your aerobics.
Opt for alternate and inexpensive workout equipment. Today, there are so many ways to get fit without having to splurge on bulky and pricey workout gear. Look for dumbbells, a yoga matt, a fitness trampoline, or invest in a Wii Fit system so you can have fun while shedding the pounds. There are also plenty of second-hand gym apparatus stores where you can grab a treadmill or a multi-gym system for a quarter of the price of a new one. You can also check online auctions like Craigslist and Kijiji for bargain finds.
Ensure you have ample light in your workout zone to motivate and stimulate you since dim lights will make just about anyone fall asleep! Get pot lights installed or find a track light that provides high voltage output.
Ventilation is key so you may want to install an overhead fan or just a standard floor fan will do the trick.
Storage is essential for stowing workout videos, dumbbells, mats, ropes and other workout props. A cube unit like Ikea’s Expedit system, or a wardborbe cabinet by Closetmaid are great affordable options that look neat and tidy in any gym.
If you want to get fancy, you can use kitchen base cabinets to create a bar-like counter that spans one side of the room. This area can be used to house all your gym props and some refreshments.
Installing full length, wall-to-wall mirrors is a great way to make your space look larger. Before choosing to do so, take measurements of your walls and go to your local mirror/glass fabricator. Some fabricators have standard sizes that they work with, so you can save a few bucks by working with their sizes. You may end up having the mirrors a little shorter or narrower, but regardless you will still gain the same result and save money doing so.
It’s time to get to work in setting up your home gym. You may even burn some calories while laying down the floors, painting and getting your workout room together.