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Due to the coronavirus pandemic and gyms being closed, the popularity of working out at home skyrocketed in the last year. Although some people are fine with workout videos from YouTube, for others (for instance, those who lift weights), it is not enough.
While you might not be able to go to the real gym, you can always create one inside your home – all you need is an empty room, basement, or garage. In this article, we will be focusing on the last one. So, if you want to find out how you can transform your garage into a home gym, just keep on reading.
Why Should You Convert Your Garage Into a Home Gym?
Now, you might be wondering – why would I even consider changing my garage into a home gym? Well, we already mentioned the most important reason. However, that’s not all, as having your own gym actually has a list of benefits. These are:
- You won’t have an excuse not to go to the gym since it will be right there.
- You won’t have to wait for the equipment to be free.
- There’s nothing better than taking a shower right after your workout in the comfort of your own home.
- You can work out whenever you want.
- You can choose your own music to work out to – as you probably know, the choice of music in some of the gyms is rather questionable, to say the least.
- You will actually save money, as you won’t have to travel from your home to the gym and back. What’s more, you also won’t have to pay for a gym membership, which can be quite expensive.
Remember about Insulation
No matter what you’ll be doing with your garage – turning it into a home gym, home office, or storing your car, etc. – insulation is crucial. If you don’t insulate your garage, you are actually making a mistake that will result in higher electricity and heating bills.
Without an insulated garage, the air can freely circulate between the outside and the inside. The house can get a lot hotter in the summer and colder in winter, meaning that more energy is needed to either cool down or warm up your home. In the long run, the cost of insulating the garage is a lot lower than the difference in bills it can make.
Since there are several types of insulation, all of which have their pros and cons, we recommend getting familiar with this guide to best garage door insulation – it should give an idea about what will work best for your house.
Clean Up the Space
You can’t do much in messy space, which is why the first thing to do when converting the garage into a home gym is taking out all the junk you keep there. Otherwise, not only will the gym be the last place you’d want to be in, but also you won’t even have enough space for the gym equipment.
In order to not make an even bigger mess when transferring the contents of your garage, consider making a plan. It doesn’t have to be precise – just think about which items you want to move and where you will place them. It will make the task a lot easier.
Flooring and Equipment
You probably noticed that most garages have concrete floors. Although that’s perfect for parking your car, it definitely doesn’t make the perspective of performing exercise appealing – quite the opposite, we would say. This is precisely why you need to invest in good floor cushioning – for instance, gym tiles – they are low-maintenance, as well as durable.
Once you have the flooring in place, it’s time to think about probably the most important part of a home gym – the equipment. If you don’t have that much space, purchase only the essentials – the equipment that you will actually use, and that can be used in several different ways so that you can make your training interesting.
The essential equipment usually includes:
- Barbells/dumbbells – these can help you improve your overall strength. If you have a bit more money to spend, you can invest in some power-blocks – since they allow you to adjust the weight, you won’t have to use as much space to store them as you would with different dumbbells.
- A bench – a simple gym bench is a very versatile piece of equipment, as it allows you to train different muscle groups.
- A rowing machine – rowing is an amazing total body exercise that can help you with endurance. However, if you want to save some money while still incorporating cardio into your routine, you can always go for a run.
Once you purchase the basic equipment, you will see just how much space you have left and whether you can include something more. If you have a lot of space left, you may want to get home gym equipment with more features, power racks, or other larger pieces.
Entertainment
Many people believe that working out without music is boring. If you are one of them, you might consider getting a portable speaker or a small TV and placing it in your new home gym. Sure, if you wish to, you can purchase high-quality products worth quite a bit of many – however, if you do it, make sure that your garage is secure enough so that people you don’t know won’t be able to access it.
The Bottom Line
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, most gyms are closed. However, that doesn’t prevent people from working out – quite the opposite. Since they cannot go to the gym, they bring the gym into their house by creating one in an empty room, basement, or garage.
There are several benefits to that. First of all, you don’t need to go to a different location to workout – you can do it in the comfort of your own home. You don’t need to wait for the equipment piece you want to use to be free, as there is no one there besides you (unless your family members work out with you). Lastly, you actually save money, as you don’t have to pay for a gym membership or transportation.
We hope that after reading this article, you know more or less what you need to do in order to convert your garage into a home gym. Who knows, maybe you’ll get inspired to do it yourself in your own home? Good luck!