Tips for Setting Up a Home Exercise Area

Winter’s arrival means many Vermonters will be spending more time indoors. That doesn’t mean you have to be less active. Creating an exercise space in your home will help you stay fit as you await the return of warmer weather.

With a small investment in furnishings and equipment, you can turn an underused space into a warm and inviting exercise area. Not only will it help your body stay healthy, a well-designed workout space will also lift your spirits during the dreary winter months. Here are some tips for setting up an exercise area in your home, including finding the right space and how to outfit it on a budget.

Choosing a Space

The first — and probably most important — decision you’ll need to make is choosing a space to turn into your new exercise area.

Look for a spot in your home that is currently underutilized. It could be a spare bedroom, a basement corner, or part of an insulated garage. Some considerations include:

• It should be out of the way, so your exercise equipment doesn’t block traffic flow.
• It shouldn’t be located where other family members will be disturbed by workout noise. For example, if you like to exercise early in the morning, don’t pick a spot next to a bedroom where someone is sleeping.
• A space with windows will let in natural light and give you something to look at while exercising.
• It should be big enough to hold your existing equipment and give you options to expand. You don’t want to choose a space that’s too small or that you’ll soon outgrow.
• If you intend to get a lot of heavy equipment, make sure that the floor can support the total weight and the impact of your workouts. For example, the basement or garage may be best for a treadmill instead of a second-floor location. You may want to consult a home builder to determine your floor’s weight capacity.

Once you’ve identified a potential location, create a space plan to determine how well it will work.

• Measure the space you’re considering and make a diagram on paper or using a computer program.
• Measure your existing exercise equipment. Look up the dimensions of equipment you intend to place in the space.
• Try several floor plan arrangements, either on paper or digitally, to see how the equipment would best fit in the room. Be sure to leave adequate space for floor workouts and movement. Also determine where smaller pieces of equipment, such as dumbbells and yoga mats, will be stored when not in use.
• Once you have a floor plan you think will work, test it out physically. Using masking tape, mark on the floor where equipment and other items will go. Then go around the room, simulating your workout, to check that you’ll have enough space. If your workout involves jumping jacks, do some to be sure your hands won’t hit anything. Lie down where you’ll do floor exercises to see if your hands or feet touch anything when fully extended. Use a few weights and run through your routine to find out if it will be comfortable.

When you are happy with the plan, it’s time to start turning it into reality.

Room Furnishings

Prep your new exercise space by completely clearing it out and giving it a deep cleaning, so that you’ll have a fresh start. Also consider giving the walls a new coat of paint to brighten up the room. Add some of the items below to make the space easier to use.

• Rubber flooring. Mats or interlocking rubber tiles will help protect floors from impacts, lower the risk of slipping, and reduce noise. They are also easy to clean.
• Wall mirrors. Putting up one or more wall mirrors will make the space appear larger, and help you check your form while working out. If there is natural light coming into the space, mirrors will help make the most of it.
• Heater. Having a warm space will keep you comfortable and you’ll want to exercise longer. If your space isn’t already well heated, consider adding an electric oil-filled radiator or other supplemental heater to warm the room up when you’re working out. Be sure to place a heater on a stable surface away from potential fire hazards. You may want to look for one that automatically turns off after a certain period of time.  
• Television. If you like to watch videos while exercising, installing a television on the wall can be a great addition. Be sure to mount it so that it’s visible from all parts of the room.
• Speakers. Listening to your favorite music can make a workout more enjoyable. Wireless speakers are relatively inexpensive and can be positioned wherever you want them.
• Clock. Not only will a wall clock let you keep track of time, it will help you know when to take rest breaks.
• Fans. You may not need it during the winter, but a fan will help keep you cool while working out in the warmer months. If installing a ceiling fan, make sure it’s high enough that you don’t hit it while exercising.
• Organizer rack. Keep smaller pieces of equipment handy and visible with an organizer rack. Pegboard mounted on a wall offers plenty of flexibility, as you can move hooks and baskets around as your needs change.
• Mini-fridge. If you have room, a mini-fridge stocked with water or other beverages will save you trips to the kitchen.
• Whiteboard. You can use a whiteboard to write inspirational messages, keep track of personal bests, and post photos or notes.
• Art and plants. Finish your exercise space off by hanging posters and other pieces of art to give it more visual appeal. Adding houseplants will make it feel more homey.

Buying Equipment

The final step to preparing your space is adding exercise equipment. The specifics will depend on what type of exercises you want to do, but here are a few inexpensive items to help you get started.

• Yoga mat
• Dumbbells
• Kettlebells
• Resistance bands
• Jump rope
• Medicine ball
• Exercise ball
• Foam roller  

There are many online videos that show you how to use this basic equipment to create a good workout routine. If you don’t have a television in your exercise space, an inexpensive device holder will allow you to watch videos on your tablet or phone while working out.

A workout with simple equipment may be sufficient, but if you want to take it to the next level, consider adding more-advanced equipment like a treadmill or rowing machine. These can be expensive purchases, so if you haven’t used such equipment before, it’s a good idea to become familiar with it before buying. That will help you select equipment that you’ll use often.

When deciding which piece of equipment to add to your exercise space, think about your fitness goals and how the equipment will help you achieve them. For example, if you want to improve your cardiovascular health, an elliptical might be a good choice. If you want to lose weight or strengthen your legs, consider a stair climber.  

Look for equipment that is enjoyable for you to use. Even the best equipment is not worth much if you don’t spend time on it. If you have joint pain, low-impact equipment such as a stationary bike may be preferable to a treadmill.  

Happy Winter

We hope that you’ll spend many happy hours this winter exercising in your new indoor workout space. But we want you to get outdoors too! Check out this blog article about enjoying winter activities in Vermont, and this article on winter activities you can do without snow.