How to Make a Home Gym in the Basement | An Excellent Guide To Follow

How to make a home gym in the basement is a crucial question asked by gym lovers. Having a mini gym at home can be an attractive project for some people who prefer to have more freedom when deciding when to exercise. But it is necessary to warn that training at a home gym requires much more discipline and determination than going to the conventional gym.

If that is not a problem, the next step is to find the house’s right space. This can be a corner of the living room or even in the basement. Whoever is building his own house can as well add this when setting up an architectural design. It is also essential to count on qualified professionals’ help to guarantee the success of the assembly of a bodybuilding section in the basement at home. It is necessary to consider and provide all the required conditions for this specific space’s best use in all cases. 

Do you know?

There are a lot of people who dream of having a gym at home for the most varied reasons: not wanting to waste time in traffic, not having to leave the house on that rainy or cold day, not having to interact with people on those days when you want to stay in yours, not having to dress up a lot (yes, there are times when we want to stay in that clothes to stay at home) and so on. For these and others, many people think that it would be a good idea to have a small weight training gym at home.

Okay, a gym project in the basement is a good wish, but first of all, you have to ask yourself: will I have the discipline to work alone at home? If the answer is not an emphatic “yes,” it is better to give up on the idea and continue working out at the commercial gym. That’s because even the cheapest home gym model has costs – and it would be a waste of time, money, and effort to build one and end up not using it. So, make sure that the initiative is not just a whim, not to regret it later.

If you conclude that you are willing to take the home gym idea ahead, it’s time to choose the location. It can be an area in the living room, bedroom, or basement: in this case, the choice of exercises equipment will fall on the simplest and most basic ones. Or you can count on an entire room or bedroom that will be used just for that: in this case, the equipment can be more significant and more professional.

How to Make a Home Gym in the Basement: Conditions to Consider

When you desire to make a home gym in the basement, some conditions need to be considered. This includes:

Willingness 

Workout at home in the basement requires much more discipline and willingness because it competes with other beautiful and absorbing things, such as TV, computer, cell phone, sleep, and laziness. Remember that in this space, there is no incentive for instructors or gym colleagues. But if you can carry out the necessary planning, you will have the freedom to work out whenever you want.

Circulation 

The space chosen to work out at home cannot hinder the house’s traffic or circulation. Therefore, carefully observe the basement conditions, if it can accommodate the basement gym equipment loosely, to correctly allow the training.

Ventilation 

When physical exercises are performed, the respiratory work increases considerably. Hence, the basement chosen for the home gym needs to be well ventilated, either with natural ventilation or with a fan that makes the air circulates and renew. Air conditioning must be avoided, and the environment must be free from any air pollution. The daily routine should provide, after training, that the place is ventilated, opening the windows or turning on the ventilator.

Lighting 

The lighting of the home gym in the basement should be of good quality, but it should not interfere with the ambient temperature, causing heating of the environment.

Cleaning 

The home gym in the basement should be easy to clean, and this should be done daily so that no dust accumulates and, mainly, so that it does not retain the smell of sweat. It is also essential to avoid ammonia-based products and other strong-smelling products, as they can cause discomfort and irritation in the respiratory system. Another thing that should not be forgotten is to, after training; wipe the sweat from the mattresses, the devices, and the floor. You should also wash the towels and other materials that require washing afterwards. Finally, you need to make sure you store all used material only when properly cleaned and dry.

Colors 

Dark or intense colours in the basement gym’s layout can cause visual fatigue, make the air heavy and physically unwell, so give preference to light colours, which provide a feeling of cleanliness and clarity. On the other hand, some say that, as colours can interfere with mood, those more energizing like red and orange are good choices.

Decoration 

The decoration of the home gym in the basement must present images that are motivating, such as photos and sports posters, for example. Having an outside view, like the garden, is also a good idea. Other suitable investments for motivation are a stereo and a TV set, which help distract while the exercise series is done, especially on those days when you are most discouraged. The right floor is essential for safety reasons: no carpets or slippery floors must be replaced by rubber. Another crucial element in the gym’s decoration is the mirror, as it allows you to see if the exercises are being done correctly. If you can’t put a mirror on an entire wall, the idea is to get one that allows you to see yourself in full body.

Organization 

Whether large or small, the basement for the home gym needs to provide space to store and organize the materials used, such as towels, mattresses, weights, and other items. Especially if the area is small, organize things in boxes arranged on shelves or niches on the wall. Larger areas may have special supports for parts such as weights.

Soundproofing 

Some do not like other people in the house to know that they are exercising. In that case, soundproof windows may be a good option, but it is an expensive investment. The alternative is to use curtains that muffle the sound.

Professional Accompaniment 

An instructor’s presence is even more critical when deciding to exercise at home in the basement, especially when you are unfamiliar with the exercises. The instructor or personal trainer is necessary from the beginning of the activities. It is the person who will make the physical assessment of the person and plan the training to take better advantage of it and avoid pain due to inadequate practices. Also, it is he who will do the training updates for all these reasons, the instructor are an indispensable investment in training at home in the basement.

How to Make a Home Gym in the Basement: Equipment Needed

For beginners 

Suppose you are sedentary and rarely or rarely exercise regularly. In that case, it is best to start with more straightforward and cheaper home gym equipment such as dumbbells with a fixed weight, medicine balls, fit balls, resistance bands or extensors, mattresses, shin guards, and jump rope, among others. In this way, it is possible to start in moderation and adapt fitness to other stages. If the motivation is lost after a while, much fortune will not have been spent on devices.

For the experienced 

If you already exercise regularly (mostly anaerobic ones) and you can think about buying multifunctional equipment, that is, those that offer different exercises for different muscle groups. In this case, the investment may be less than a thousand dollars for the simplest models, which must be tested in the store before purchase. Suppose this equipment is still costly concerning your budget.

In that case, you can purchase, in addition to the dumbbells, the extenders, the shin guards, and other equipment already mentioned, a bench or a wall bar, in addition to performing exercises that use your body weight, which is indicated if the goal is to keep fit. However, suppose the intention is to lose weight or improve cardiovascular or respiratory conditioning. In that case, the equipment to be purchased is those that allow aerobic exercises, such as the treadmill, the exercise bike or spinning, elliptical, walking simulators, and rowing simulators.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I turn my basement into a gym?

To turn your basement into a gym, do make use of the following steps:

• Plan adequately by purchasing the right equipment
• Clean your basement properly
• Improve the ventilation and air quality
• Install a suitable gym flooring
• Install a sound lighting system.
• Assemble the gym equipment earlier purchased

What size should a home gym be?

A home gym should be over 30 square feet.

Is it safe to work out in a basement?

Yes. As earlier highlighted, it safe to work out in a basement upon considering the conditions highlighted above.

Is the home gym a good idea?

Yes. A home gym is a good idea, as it helps you stick to your fitness plan while reducing the possibility of making excuses for not having time to go to the gym.

What does every home gym need?

Every home gym needs the following:

• Dumbbells
• Kettlebell
• Exercise Mat
• Jump Rope
• Resistance Bands

Are home gyms effective?

Yes. If you are ready to spend some time and energy exercising at home, home gyms can be very useful.

Last Words

In conclusion, home gyms come with great merits. And if you desire help on how to make a home gym in the basement, the steps highlighted above would be indispensable.

Read More: How to Create a Home Gym on a Budget?