Basement Home Gym Design
If you’re considering setting up a dedicated home gym, chances are it will come down to taking over the guest room or the basement for your gym. Since Grandma won't appreciate sleeping on a treadmill during her next holiday visit, the basement is usually the best choice. But there are some considerations for turning your basement into a home gym.
Flooring
Most basements have a concrete floor, it’s best to cover it with a cushioned material. Use rubber matting or tiles, or for more versatility for the future, carpet. While rubber tiles are great flooring choices for home gyms, rolls of rubber flooring are a budget option. If you choose carpet, make sure it can withstand humidity which can be created during workouts. Berber carpet is a good choice for basements and home gyms.
Moisture
And speaking of moisture, make sure your basement is moisture-proof before starting your home gym project. One week of rain could easily ruin thousands of dollars of gym equipment. Make sure any foundation issues are addressed before you start your project.
Stairs
One issue you may encounter with using the basement is the dreaded staircase. Make sure any equipment you purchase can fit down the stairs or be assembled in the basement – but remember, if you ever have to get it out of there for repair or replacement, that could be an issue.
Lighting
Since you’re going to be lacking natural lighting in the basement, make sure to have not only adequate lighting, but enough to make it bright and cheerful. Lighting is best done in layers when decorating any room, ambient (general) lighting, task lighting, decorative lighting and accent lighting, and that goes for decorating your home gym as well.
Colors
A bright cheerful wall color will go a long way to making your home gym more usable. Pick a cheerful yellow or a motivating orange to really spice up the space.
Accessories
Just like any other room in the house, accessories will add some personality to the room. Plants will bring some life to the space, as will pictures. Consider a wall of mirrors to not only add light and space to the room, but they can be quite motivating as well.
Safety
Don’t forget safety considerations when planning your home gym, particularly if it’s in the basement. Have a telephone accessible in case of an accident, cordless phones offer additional handsets that don’t require jacks to be installed, so they’re a good choice when working with a tight budget. Also, a door that locks if you have children is a necessity, unsupervised children in a home gym is dangerous.
Dedicated home gyms are no longer for the 'Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous', with today’s busy lives, they are becoming a necessity to keeping up with fitness routines. Turning your basement into a dedicated home gym may be just what the doctor ordered!