As a lifelong runner, one of the best decisions I ever made was to buy a treadmill for the basement of the house when I became a new Mom. When the little one was napping, I could sneak down for a quick jog, release some endorphins, and get some fresh energy back to tackle the rest of the day. I liked the cushion of the belt compared to asphalt and didn’t find it monotonous. It was also less daunting than carting a baby jogger to the nearby park when I was still getting used to toddler travel.
Why Home Gym Spaces Continue to Grow
That particular treadmill was an industrial one you would find at the gym, and it still operates to this day. In pre-Los Venados times, living in a high-rise apartment, the gym was just one floor away and I took advantage of that greatly, until the pandemic took it away. At which point, I pulled that same treadmill out of my closet and my home gym was born again.
That story might resonate with lots of people who had to get creative with fitness space during Covid and never looked back. The time and cost savings, convenience, and ease of habit formation can really make a difference in one’s overall health.
The best home gyms aren’t the largest or most expensive. They’re the ones that fit naturally into everyday life. A practical workout space should reduce friction, encourage consistency, and support long-term health without feeling like a commercial fitness center.
Choosing the Right Room
There’s really no limitation on where you can house your home gym. We use an existing “breakfast room” at the ranch. It’s off of the kitchen and not completely separate but it does the job. When we lived in the Airstream, we took an adjacent workshop used for storage and carved out a space behind the steel roll-up door, for an unintentional industrial gym vibe!
I’ve used three very different home gym setups over the years: a basement, an apartment closet, and now a ranch outbuilding.
You’ll want the following:
- Space for your preferred equipment
- Something pleasant to look at
- Adequate electrical outlets
- Good lighting
- Floor space for stretching and mobility work
- Climate control when possible
- Optional: speakers for music or podcasts
To summarize, whether it’s a garage, spare bedroom, half a bedroom, kitchen nook, office, barn, or ag shelter, don’t feel like size has to be a hindrance.
Our 7 Home Gym Essentials
I’ve mentioned before that I am pretty low-maintenance. I’m not out running 10k’s every weekend like when I was 10 years old.
I try to get 25 minutes of cardio in 4x per week, with some minimal strength work. I will always want space for a treadmill, but beyond that just a few items to include some variety.
Here are a few workout wear brands I’ve returned to over the years for comfort, durability, and value.:
Champion – no nonsense, reliable brand for almost any sport
Lorna Jane – higher-end Australian line with both flattering and fashionable active-wear.
KORSA – thoughtful accents like thigh-side cell phone pockets to hold necessities, by trusted running experts, Road Runner Sports.
These are the pieces that get used most often in our gym, regardless of season:
I’m currently in the market for a new treadmill, so I can’t provide a recommendation just yet. One thing I have noticed is that fitness equipment has become far more accessible. Many retailers now offer financing options that make larger purchases easier to fit into a monthly budget, and easier to reach your overall fitness goals ❤️
One last essential in our home gym is a wireless Bluetooth speaker. With upbeat tunes at the right BPM (beats per minute) to match your pace and enough bass to keep things moving, it can make a workout feel less like a chore and more like something you actually look forward to. We love the JBL PartyBox because it pulls double duty. It works just as well in the gym as it does on the deck during a summer gathering.
That’s our setup. Here’s hoping you find a space that works just as well for you!
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