Use light colored paint for an open, fresh look.
Turning an unused or rarely used spare bedroom into a home gym provides you an energetic, aesthetically pleasing place to work out at home. Having a personalized home gym may motivate you to work out more and save money, if you can cancel a neighborhood gym membership and get in shape in the process. Encourage a family member or friend to join you during your workouts, since a home gym is convenient.
Instructions
1. Measure your spare bedroom walls and ceiling to ensure you have enough space for the equipment you want to include. Make a floor plan drawing of the bedroom, if necessary, so you know position all of the equipment and leave enough space to utilize the equipment properly and still walk around the room. Check height requirements for the equipment as well.
2. Paint the walls a light color that makes the room feel open, airy and energizing to you. Dull grays or frilly pinks are typically not a good choice, whereas a fresh sky blue, aqua, crisp white or steel blue will give the illusion of more space and a cool feeling rather than making the room feel warm and closed in.
3. Cover the floor with interlocking rubber mats designed for gym floors to protect the carpet or tile in the room, provide a safe walking surface in the gym and absorb some of the sounds of the equipment, such as clinking free weights.
4. Add extra overhead lights if the room doesn't get a lot of natural sunlight or if you frequently work out when it's dark outside. A well-lit home gym will feel more welcoming and energizing than a dull, dark or dingy-looking room. A ceiling fan and light combination provide extra light and a cooling mechanism during hot workout sessions.
5. Install a full wall of mirrors along one wall or hang a series of inexpensive mirrors for the same effect to watch your form while you work out and to mimic a traditional gym. Hang motivational pictures or posters on the other walls, such as your dream body, professional athletes or motivational words and quotes. Use peel-and-stick decals for motivational words, phrases and quotes if you want a personalized, hand-painted look. Include a clock to keep you on target to ensure you devote enough time to each segment of your workout.
6. Cover the windows with rolling shades or blinds for privacy. Add sheer panels if you want window treatments that won't interfere with the light or look of the room.
7. Utilize the closet for extra storage, such as a miniature refrigerator to hold water, shelves for dumbbells and free weights, yoga mats, workout videos, a basket of clean towels or other small equipment.
8. Install a flat-screen TV or shelf for a stereo or other form of entertainment to help you get through your workouts.
Tags: enough space, free weights, motivational words, room feel, your workouts