Choose the Right Spot
Before you decide which machines or activity you want to emphasize, focus on choosing the right place in your home to set up your gym, which can affect how regularly you use it. Basements are often a logical choice as they’re usually tucked away and quieter. If they have concrete floors, they can also handle the weight of heavy equipment and weights better than other rooms. Garages offer similar advantages, Daniels says.
But if the idea of heading down to a dark basement might make you less inclined to get up and get moving, a spare bedroom or designated gym space on a house’s main or upper floors (or anywhere where there’s more natural light) can be a good alternative, though interior designer Chris Powell of
Studio 133 in Colorado says designating a space for just working out can make a big mental difference. Choosing a location that’s a little more isolated might also help you focus, Daniels says.
“If it’s off of the living room or kitchen, you’re just asking to be interrupted,” he says.