You were probably very excited to see that extra room in the new home you’re buying. If you’re a fitness enthusiast, your first instinct when thinking of a purpose for that bonus room was: home gym! Great idea. But now you have to set it up, and it has to be done right in order for it to meet your needs and flow well.
There are many benefits to installing a home gym. You can save time without having to commute to somewhere else in town, and you can save money on those expensive gym memberships (that you probably never used anyway). You’re also more likely to use the gym if it’s right down the hall or in the basement. Plus, there’s no intimidation factor when you have your own gym.
It can be daunting to unpack and install a home gym, but with the right movers helping you, anything is possible. Check out these steps to building the perfect home gym.
- Choose a space
First, you have to choose the best space. If you have a large home, you’ll have more options than if you have a small home. But choices could include bonus rooms, extra bedrooms, basement apartments, etc. Just remember that the room you choose should have plenty of room for equipment and storage as well as good air ventilation, suggests Moving.com.
- Select equipment
Gym equipment gets expensive very quickly, so be selective when it comes to what you will incorporate. You may want to limit it to one or two cardio machines, such as elliptical machines or treadmills, along with benches and weights. You’ll also need smaller accessories such as:
- Yoga mats and blocks
- Free weights
- Kettlebells
- Foam rollers
- Resistance bands and tubes
- Exercise machine attachments
- Medicine and stability balls
- Ankle weights
- Pull-up bar
- Sliders
- Punching bag and gloves
- Jump rope
- Steps
- Design the gym
Now that you know the room you want for your gym, take measurements of the space, including height, width and length to ensure your desired equipment will fit. Get creative and incorporate a storage system, especially along walls to utilize vertical space.
- Add technology
If you like to watch workout videos while exercising, install a flat screen TV. If you like to listen to music, install a speaker system. You’ll need plenty of electrical outlets, cables, wifi hookups, power strips and extension cords.
- Invest in storage
Storage is important, such as shelving and wall racks. You will need a dedicated space for your weights, dumbbells, resistance bands, yoga mats, towels and dirty clothing. Consider:
- Wall-mounted yoga mat rack
- Two-tier free weights rack
- Dumbbell tree rack
- Laundry hamper
- Locker cabinet
- Wire shelving
- Storage bench
- Bins and baskets
If you’re tight on space, consider buying easy-to-store exercise equipment like foldable treadmills.
- Install rubber flooring and a floor length mirror
Large mirrors in your workout space give you a focal point so you can view and perfect your form. They also help with spatial awareness and motivation. Try installing wall-mounted mirror tiles or a floor-length mirror. For flooring, you don’t want a hard surface, which can be bad for the joints and your back. You also want to protect the floor itself, which is why rubber flooring is such a good idea. Try interlocking rubber tiles that you can put together and take apart easily.
- Add flair
From posters to photos to whiteboards, stock your gym with things that will keep you motivated. Whiteboards, for example, can help you take note of your workouts and repetitions.
When You Have to Move Your Gym to a New Home
If you have an existing gym but are moving to a new house, you may be reluctant to leave your gym behind. Yet it can be a difficult task to move an entire room of equipment. All those items are heavy and hard to pack. This is where your movers will come in handy, especially those who offer packing services like us.
Here’s how to move your existing gym equipment to your new home.
- Sanitize every item before the move, then again after the move. Gym equipment can be full of bacteria and germs. Bring sanitizing wipes so you can clean on the go.
- Carry your small weights and dumbbells in small, sturdy boxes or plastic bins. Don’t overpack your boxes unless you want a broken toe.
- Surround all heavy weights with towels or packing paper so things don’t shift in transit.
- Hire professional movers to relocate your large gym equipment. If you insist on doing it yourself, use a dolly for easier loading and unloading. Protect equipment with moving blankets and secure them to the truck with straps. Remember, it’s dangerous to lift heavy equipment because you can tweak your neck or back. Bend at the knees when lifting and ask a friend to help you.
It’s not easy moving gym equipment, which is why so many people decide to hire moving professionals to handle it. Make sure you choose a licensed and insured mover with extensive experience in your area, and advise them beforehand that you have a lot of gym equipment to move. This way, they can arrive with all the proper equipment.
Contact Best Fit Movers
If you have a gym to move to your new home, or you need help setting up your new gym, don’t hesitate to call us for a free quote at (858) 429-0103. Rest assured, our experienced San Diego movers are well-versed in moving all kinds of home gym equipment.
