Home Gyms: More than a New Year’s Resolution
Captured by Christopher Nelson Photography
January marks the season of revitalization, with health and wellness at the forefront of many New Year’s resolutions. Gym membership sales skyrocket, and fitness centers are filled with motivational energy as people commit to their New Year's goals. However, as the weeks carry on, our busy schedules and daily responsibilities can make it difficult to stay consistent and find time (let’s not forget the commute and parking) for both wellness, fitness, in our day-to-day lives.
And then what about the months of February, March, and beyond? Building long-lasting habits takes time and dedication to begin to feel natural in daily life. One of the best ways to maintain the New Year motivation momentum to integrate physical exercise and mental wellness into daily life – especially during the dark, cold winter months – is by creating a dedicated home gym, built around you and your preferred exercises.
Whether you need a serene meditative yoga space, a high-energy barbell slamming strength training zone, or something in-between, your home gym should be thoughtfully designed to support your workout style and needs. From structural factors to durable, shock absorbent flooring and noise dampening materials, there are a few architectural and interior design factors to consider when incorporating a fitness space in your home.
Designing a Home Gym for Different Workout Intensities
H2D ArchiCAD Rendering
Low Impact Exercise
Designing a home gym for low-impact exercises like yoga, meditation, Pilates, and light cardio is the easiest to incorporate into any home, whether as a retrofit or new build. These workouts require minimal floor space, no specific structural reinforcements, and can do without sound-dampening materials – making this perfect for a home-gym retrofit! The ideal location is a quiet, distraction-free space in the home, but can be placed on any floor level as there are no structural impacts to this type of movement. There are no special flooring requirements for low-impact exercise either. Tile, hardwood, concrete, or carpet all work well, though using a protective mat can enhance comfort and protect the flooring surfaces. The main spatial requirement will depend on the type of activity, but you should be able to stretch fully around you and upwards, with a general room of thumb being the standard size of a yoga mat.
Captured by Christopher Nelson Photography
Medium Impact Exercise
Designing a home gym for medium-impact workouts like treadmill running, light dumbbell exercises, and/or resistance training will require integrating more resilient materials. These exercises can generate more noise and would do best with shock-absorbent flooring. Rubber flooring is an excellent option and can be installed over wood framed or concrete floors. While you can incorporate your medium impact home gym on upper floor levels, it’s generally recommended to add your gym space on the ground or basement floor – away from quiet spaces like bedrooms or living rooms to minimize noise disruption. However, a main or upper floor space can work well if the rooms below are suitable for a little noise impact such as a garage or laundry room.
High Impact Exercise
Designing a home gym for high-impact exercises like powerlifting, barbell training, plyometrics, or heavy weight machines requires careful consideration of both noise and vibrational dampening materials as well as structural integrity due to the intensity of exercises. These high-impact activities cause significant vibration, noise, and weight load, making a lower-level room such as basement, garage, or even a separate structure an ideal location to minimize the impact on the rest of the house. In this case, reinforced concrete flooring is essential for supporting the weight and absorbing the shock of the equipment. We recommend consulting with a Structural Engineer to ensure the structure can support a high-impact gym space. A minimum of ½” inch rubber flooring on top of the concrete flooring provides additional protection by significantly reducing noise, vibration, and provide cushioning. Specifically for barbell work, the installation of a wood platform with 1.5" rubber mats on either side to protect the floor and reduce impact when weights are dropped. Additionally, ceiling height should be considered for at least 10' high to ensure adequate clearance for overhead lifts and dynamic movements.
Building a functional home gym that suits your workout intensity needs is all about finding the right balance between thoughtful spatial planning, strategic material selection, and noise minimization. Investing in resilient materials like rubber flooring and considering factors like noise, shock absorption, and space requirements, you can create a workout environment that supports your fitness needs and give you a space to stay motivated and moving. By designing a gym tailored to your fitness and wellness needs, you can design a motivating space that enhances your well-being.
If you’re considering adding a home gym to your space, give us a call or reach out to us via our Contact Us form to start planning for your upgraded workout space!