A personal gym and a dedicated exercise space have always been among our clients’ most requested amenities. After more than a year of Covid lockdown, where weekend bike rides were put on hold, and yoga and pilates classes cancelled, our home work-out routines have gone from luxury to necessity!
Many homes already have a treadmill or dumbbells, but we’re taking investing in “sweat equity” to a whole new level now.
Consider all aspects of the project before you begin, including how your gym space design will complement the rest of your home’s décor.
We spoke with Tracy Morris about her must-haves for today’s luxury home gym. Known for bringing a sense of well-being and serenity to all her spaces, Tracy has been busier than ever helping her clients accommodate a variety of activities that had previously taken place elsewhere – especially the quest to stay healthy and fit – into their homes.
Image credit: Fitness Design Group
SPACE Planning
A custom gym begins with a design that’s as functional as it is motivating. According to the American Council on Exercise, free weights require 20 to 50 square feet of space to use properly, treadmills need about 30 square feet, and a multi-station gym requires 50 to 200 square feet.
“Like any space in your home, it’s good to lay everything out first,” Tracy explains. “I always have clients make a list of all the types of equipment they would like to have. Some machines require lots of space around them for movement so be sure to leave room around the machines. I also always like to leave an open area, this allows space for floor exercises and stretches and so the room doesn’t feel so full of machines.”
Unless your designing your home gym as part of a new custom build, having Wi-Fi isn’t always easy. You’ll want to add extra routers or ideally multiple networks, as necessary or you’ll be frustrated when your spotty wifi keeps collapsing during circuit training class or refusing to track your progress on Peloton.
Don’t forget to add built-in speakers for some high energy, footloose fun.
Image credit: Fitness Design Group
SURROUNDINGS Are Important
“For materials, I always go for a rubberized flooring for cushion under your feet, and to keep the noise level down,” Tracy advises.
“After you’ve laid out the space, find the wall that makes the most sense for a mirror,” suggests Tracy. “If you are closing off a space, I like to do a glass wall with doors for a true gym feel. You can add a frosted finish to part or all of the glass if you want privacy.” Mirrored walls not only create a professional airy dance studio look to your gym, they reflect light and expand the view. When you can check your form and watch your fitness progress, that’s a powerful motivator.
Stream music playlists or your favorite exercise routine on a wall-mounted TV. You’ll want to position the TV at a comfortable and safe height, where your eyes are pointing straight forward to about 15 degrees up without bending your neck.
Nothing makes a workout more inviting or lifts the mood than a bright environment. The best lighting for a home gym is natural light, let in through lots of windows. When this isn’t possible, installing multiple fixtures evenly across the entire space, using Daylight LED bulbs (greater than 5000 K), provides a bright and energetic space in which to train.
No need to overheat during a workout. A home gym ceiling fan creates a wind chill effect that makes you feel cooler and more comfortable while exercising and allows for personal levels of air movement at the click of a button. Better yet, connect your ceiling fan to your home smart device and make it voice activated! Hello, Alexa!
Spa-like environment you say?
To take your gym to the next level, add a small bar area with a mini fridge and water-filling station to have cold beverages on hand or add a smoothie and organic juicing station for your convenience or dare I say, reward?
Install a heated towel rack for clean (and warm) towels at the end of your work out. Make it a true spa experience with a little aromatherapy, and add a splash of lavender or lemon.
An important part of creating a luxury home gym is making sure you have the right storage solutions for your gym equipment and training tools. Custom cabinets and wall-mounted racks have become creative and resourceful ways to store (and hide) yoga mats, kettle bells, ropes, blocks, belts, gloves and resistance training equipment.
Sources of Motivation
While gyms tend to me more utilitarian spaces in a home, Tracy likes to add some wall art to personalize the exercise area. “It’s definitely a space you can have some fun with, and put items that may not have found a spot in the main parts of your home.” What motivates you more than framed photos of your kiddos smiling back at you? Or perhaps that art that you fondly remember purchasing while on vacation and at your optimum fitness level?
Image credit: The Spruce
With professional design assistance from interior designers like Tracy, you can create a home gym that ensures an optimal training environment to achieve your personal goals, a place that helps you stay focused and motivated, without losing appealing aesthetics and your favorite entertainment options.
At Joy Design + Build, designing a home gym is a very personal experience. Our Design Concierge team is here to help you create your workout haven, a place where you are are truly inspired.
