Staying out of public spaces like the gym has become the norm in recent times. Adapting to our environment is the only way forward which is why we have we are here to inspire you with some innovative ways to stay fit right at home.
And if you think that your home is too small or that you don’t have expensive equipment, don’t worry! You don’t need any costly equipment (or venture out to buy new accessories) for these ideas. How do you make do with the equipment and furniture that you already have, to create a neat home-gym or workout area in your home? Read here how you can create a perfect workout area without expensive pieces of equipment.
Pick a Good Space for Your Home Workout
If you can’t dedicate an entire room for a gym, it’s ok. Just choose a space which has ample natural light and ventilation. It could be a portion of your guest bedroom or a balcony that has some privacy. It could be a part of your basement, your entertainment room, or any other peaceful space that doesn’t get much footfall. It’s a good idea to choose a spot that faces outdoors – so that you can look out to the scenery or the cityscape when you workout.
Gather All the Equipment and Accessories You Can Find
Don’t sweat if you don’t have the bigger gym workout equipment, simply gather all the smaller pieces that you have. You may find:
- Old dumbbells
- A yoga mat
- A skipping rope
- An aerobic stepper
- An abs-roller
- A resistance band
- A punching bag and boxing gloves
- Or even an unused treadmill
- DIY a few things too. For instance, fill up old tins or paint cans to use as weights for lifting.
Gather all these pieces in your workout area. Keep this as a fixed spot for your workouts – seeing them all together, ready to go will be your best motivation to work out each day. (Having to gather these from different parts of your home every day will be a huge demotivator.)
Fix a Spare Mirror
You can mimic a gym setup with a long mirror that you may have at home. Mount it in your workout zone so that you can see your progress as you go. A mirror will also reflect light and can brighten up your space.
Move-in An Unused Shelf or Storage Compartment
You can set up a small storage space in your new gym.
- If you have a chest of drawers or a shelf that can be moved here, do that. You can store your accessories when not in use. And, use the table-top to keep your sweat bands, water bottle, towel, and music player on top. You can even place your tablet or phone to play workout videos that you follow. Store your dumbbells and other weights inside the shelf after each workout.
- Keep catch-all baskets on the floor to hold your skipping rope and yoga mat as well.
- Mount a few hooks on the wall to hang up your ropes and bands.
Your furniture and Home Structural Elements can Double Up as Fitness Equipment.
- If you have a bench in your dining room or living room, move that here for your abs crunches.
- Pick up a sturdy chair from one of your rooms to use as a prop for your lunges and pull-ups. You can even use a sturdy couch to do body-weight exercises.
- You’ll need a space to rest a few moments in between your workout. Move-in a small sofa or an armchair to catch a few breaths.
- You can also use the bed in your bedroom for leg lifts, abs exercises and so on.
- Use the wall for support to do wall sits and feet up the wall.
- If you have access to a staircase – then nothing like it. Simply climb as many flights up and down, or use it for stair squats for your daily dose of cardio.
Brighten up Your Home Workout Area with Accessories
Don’t leave the space drab, perk it up with these accessories.
- Depending on the type of workout you choose, you can decide whether to spread a carpet on the floor or not.
- Print out your favourite fitness mantras and photos and pin them up on a mood board on the wall for inspiration.
- Prop up a table calendar to mark your workout days.
- Place a few plants on the side to add a green element to your space.
- Add a floor lamp or table lamp to brighten up the room for high-energy activities like boxing. Or cover your windows with curtains or drapes to dim down the light when you do relaxing activities like yoga.
- And, don’t forget to place a music player or a Bluetooth speaker to play your workout rhythms.
So, you don’t need to wait for the gyms to open or buy expensive equipment to score a workout. Just try out these simple changes in your home to carve out your own home gym or home workout zone. Stay fit and healthy this season!
