A home gym provides you with a convenient way to work out when you don’t have time to visit local gyms. You also aren’t limited in terms of the types of equipment and amenities available. You can design your own personal luxury gym to include state-of-the-art exercise equipment, high-tech amenities and other features to make your workouts challenging yet rewarding. From free weights to audio systems, you’re in control of everything that goes into it. When discussing plans for a home gym with your new custom home builder, keep the following options in mind.
Fitness Equipment for your Home Gym
The types of fitness equipment to include in your home gym depend on what your personal preferences are. For strength training, consider having free weight racks installed so you can easily pick up a pair of weights for your workout.
For cardio workouts, include the latest high-end treadmills, stationary bikes, elliptical trainers or rowing machines. Many of these include high-tech features that let you download workouts and track your progress.
If you’ll be doing a lot of yoga, Pilates or stretches, consider having part of the floor installed with built-in cushioning, so you won’t have to pull out mats each time you exercise.
One of the more unusual types of fitness equipment to consider for your home gym is a rock climbing wall, if you’re interested in a more adventurous workout.
Entertainment Features for a Custom-Built Gym
While working out is the main purpose of a home gym, having entertainment features installed can make fitness routines more enjoyable. A state-of-the-art audio system with high-quality speakers and the ability to sync up with your MP3 player or iTunes library lets you have your favorite workout playlists on while you’re exercising.
A big screen TV mounted on the wall gives you something to watch as you lift weights or do a cardio workout. For better sound quality, have it installed along with a surround sound system.
If you want the ability to do some online browsing or check to see how your stocks are doing while getting some exercise, have Wi-Fi available in your home gym. You’ll be able to get online from your phone or tablet in between workouts or while using a stationary bike or treadmill.
Temperature Controls in the Gym
Custom temperature controls allow you to adjust the temperature in different parts of your home gym with the push of a button. You can keep the sauna area at a certain temperature for more comfort or turn up the heat to do some Bikram yoga. Push-button controls also let you make the room instantly cooler as you work up a sweat doing an intense cardio workout.
Workout Snacks and Drinks
When a vigorous workout leaves you feeling thirsty and hungry, you don’t have to leave the gym and head to your kitchen. Instead, have a mini-fridge installed in your home gym for holding refreshing snacks and cold drinks.
You can also take this a step further and turn it into a wet bar area where you can stock sports drinks, bottles of water, fresh produce and more. The wet bar could also include stools with adjustable heights, custom-built cabinets and countertops made from luxurious materials, such as quartz or lava stone.
Tech Features for your Home Gym
Having technological features in your home gym serves a practical purpose. A phone charging area gives you a place to make sure your phone is fully charged while you’re working out. You can also have more fitness-oriented tech features included, such as monitors that let you keep track of your heart rate during workouts or fitness tracking systems that show you how well you’re doing or how close you are to reaching your exercise goals at any given time.
Home Gym Storage
A home gym also needs a place for you to store mats, CrossFit boxes, workout clothes and other items. Built-in storage provides you with an out-of-the-way spot to keep mats when you’re not working out. Lockers give you a place to keep workout clothing and extra towels. You can also have additional lockers installed for friends or family members to store personal items while using the gym.
Relaxation Features for Post-Workout Needs
Your home gym can also serve as a place for you to unwind. Consider having a massage area set up with enough space for a massage table. You can also have a sauna or Jacuzzi installed for soothing sore muscles. For additional relaxation, have light therapy features included. These turn the water different colors in order to improve your mood and help you feel more relaxed. Jacuzzis can also have special jets installed to help improve circulation and provide a massaging effect.
Shower and Dressing Rooms in a Home Gym
Your home gym can include a dressing room to give you a convenient place to change into workout clothing and change out of it afterwards. Having a shower installed also provides you with a place to cool off after a long workout. Some features to consider for the shower area include a warming rack for towels, a custom lighting system that gives you a colorful lighting display and a shower head that simulates gently falling rain.
Important Architectural Features for a Successful Home Gym
Designing a home gym is about more than choosing the right exercise equipment and the ideal amenities. Architectural features are also important and can make a drastic difference in how comfortable your gym is.
Skylights or floor-to-ceiling windows let in more natural light, creating a more cheerful and vibrant environment. For privacy, choose windows with features such as shades that you can control with a remote or windows that you can make opaque just by pushing a button. These features make it possible for you to control the level of privacy you need during your workouts.
Movable glass partitions or walls give you the ability to let in fresh air and turn your fitness regime into an outdoor one. They let you get in touch with your natural surroundings during your workouts without having to actually go anywhere.
Design Features That Can Make or Break Your Home Gym
An important home gym feature that you shouldn’t overlook is mirrors. Having mirrors installed on the walls helps you make sure you’re maintaining the right form or posture for certain workout moves. The right lighting fixtures can also ensure that you have plenty of light for early morning, evening or late night workouts, but they don’t have to be plain or basic. Decorative light fixtures can add a whimsical touch to your home gym.
Stanley Homes can take all of your requests into consideration and help you determine the best overall design for your home gym. If you work with a personal trainer, you could also ask them for other gym equipment recommendations.