Anyone who’s waited in line for a treadmill or been unable to track down a set of dumbbells at the local health club can appreciate the convenience of working out at home – and it seems more and more exercise devotees are ditching the gym membership in favor of creating their own fitness spaces. Consumers spent a whopping $3.5 billion in 2006 on residential exercise equipment, according to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association in Washington, DC.
“There’s no question that interest in working out at home has increased,” says Philip Bergman, a Washington, DC-based personal trainer. “People don’t have time to go to the gym, or they want their privacy while they’re exercising.” If you think you might prefer to pump up sans the monthly fee and commute, here are some guidelines to consider when creating a luxurious exercise space in your home.
Choose the Right Equipment
To burn calories, your home gym should include at least one piece of heart-pumping equipment. “The elliptical is definitely the most popular piece,” says Jenny Betres, manager for Fairfax, VA-based Fitness Resource. Richard Miller, president of New York-based Gym Source, attributes its popularity to the fact that it offers a new movement for folks who have been running or biking for years. “Plus it offers a total body workout,” he says. That is, of course, if you purchase a model with alternating arm pulls. Before making any purchase, though, Betres suggests trying it out first. “Every manufacturer has a patented design so find the one most comfortable for your stride,” she says.
Not only does Karen and Paul Corso’s workout space in their McLean, VA, home have an elliptical, but the fitness-minded couple has also incorporated a treadmill and recumbent bike into the design. “We both work out on a regular basis and understand the importance of exercise, especially Paul,” says Karen, whose husband is the head of cardiac surgery at Washington Hospital Center. If you’re in the market for a treadmill, plan on spending between $4,000 and $6,000, especially if you plan to run, Miller says. “Look for one with adequate cushioning and one that offers a large running surface, preferably one that is 22 to 23 inches wide.”
For a well-rounded workout, your home gym should also have an adequate amount of resistance-training equipment. Because square footage is usually a factor, most folks opt for combination units that work multiple body parts with one machine. Betres recommends those with a weight stack, rather than bands, especially if you’re looking for an authentic weight workout. Weight stacks have a better effect on the muscles, she says, because unlike bands, which assist in lowering the weight to its starting point, weight stacks force you to perform the entire repetition unassisted.
Functional trainers are gaining popularity, too, Miller says. “They simulate actual activity, such as a golf swing or a tennis swing, but with resistance,” he says. If space allows, you may also want to consider some free weights, such as an adjustable bench and dumbbells, suggests Bergman. He also recommends a stability ball for core training.
For those planning on high-intensity activity in their home gyms, such as aerobic dance videos, be sure to consider your flooring options to prevent stress injuries. Chris Brandon, a Fairfax, VA-based dealer for SnapSports, a national company with headquarters in Salt Lake City, UT, says his company is often hired to install its patented interlocking modular plastic flooring tiles, along with a rubber layer beneath for added cushioning.
He offers a similar option for homeowners with space for an indoor basketball court. “It is not as cushioned as the aerobics floor and has a little different bounce,” he says. “It is more realistic to the maple floors you would find in a gymnasium.” To create a multi-purpose room suitable for shooting hoops, Brandon says height is the biggest factor in determining whether the space is large enough. “Ideally you want between 16 and 20 foot ceilings,” he says. He also advises installing heavy-duty foam pads with vinyl covers on the walls.
Personalize the Space
Hands down, the experts agree that just as important as the equipment in the gym are the technological distractions you choose to enhance the space. Televisions are a must, Bergman says. When Tanya Landry was building her Potomac, MD, home three years ago, she knew she wanted a workout space in her new digs. She exercised regularly but her husband was just getting started. “The television was a life saver for him,” she recalls. “He waits for the football game to start and then he gets on the bike and pedals.” A good sound system is key, too. “To make sure you use the room, you have to make it a place you want to be,” Bergman says.
If you have kids, make the space family friendly, says Mindy Mitchell, a design consultant at Sun Design Remodeling Specialists Inc., based in Burke, VA. “Moms and dads are no longer shutting themselves in a room and running on a treadmill,” she says. “Instead, they are getting creative and including more options for their children as well.”
The key, she says, is designing the area so that members of the family can be doing different activities but they can all still see each other and interact. For example, one of Mitchell’s projects (in Haymarket, VA) actually incorporates an indoor soccer field for the homeowners’ energetic ’tweens, located adjacent to a work-out space for the parents, complete with treadmill and resistance equipment. Mitchell selected the flooring from Sport Court, and then painted a custom soccer ball on the interlocking tiles; she enclosed the adult room in glass. “This allows the kids to be very visible while mom and dad are exercising,” she says.
When it comes to the room’s overall design, home gyms are the ideal space to get creative. “Make it fun and quirky,” says Potomac, MD-based interior designer Cindi LaPietra of Bella Interiors. She recommends bright colors, like gold or blue. “Stay away from electric colors,” she says. “They are too shocking and make you feel anxious.” Consider a mural of the beach or scenery prints of places you want to visit, maybe even a ceiling treatment for when you are stretching on your back, and, LaPietra says, don’t get too caught up in making it match the rest of your home.
That’s exactly the route the Corsos took in decorating their home gym. “We framed antique posters representing what we love, like skiing, swimming and biking,” Karen says. The Landrys also took the motivational approach. “I chose black and white inspirational yoga prints and one of Michael Jordan,” Tanya says. “It is simple and uncluttered.”
