20 Budget-Friendly Home Gym Ideas to Help Reach Your Fitness Goals (2024)

Transform a basem*nt, garage or bonus room into the perfect workout space.

By Monique Valeris
20 Budget-Friendly Home Gym Ideas to Help Reach Your Fitness Goals (1)

It's no secret that quality exercise can do wonders for your mind and body, but if you're unable to make it into your local gym on a regular basis, carving out a workout area right in the comfort of your own home is the next best thing. Whether you have an affinity for yoga or enjoy the variety of Peloton classes, you can't go wrong with considering these home gym ideas that make use of everything from a garage to a basem*nt.

A well-designed home gym can help you reach your fitness goals, whether that may be as simple as improving your upper body strength or working more cardio into your exercise routine. What's more, studies have confirmed that making time to exercise can help reduce stress and even enjoy a good night's rest. And who doesn't want that?

That said, browse through our roundup of inspiring, budget-friendly home gym ideas with setups for just about any type of exercise you prefer. You'll even discover a few useful pointers from Good Housekeeping Institute's registered dietitian Stefani Sassos, who also happens to be a personal trainer.

1

Living Room-Inspired Gym

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Design firm Interior Impressions turned a basic gym into a statement space with the addition of an accent wall, featuring floral wallpaper. Don't stop there, though. If space allows, incorporate a small sofa and accent tables to give the room a homey living room vibe.

RELATED: 15 Removable Wallpapers That'll Temporarily Transform Your Space (Without Damaging Your Walls)

2

Statement Entry

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Want to be inspired the minute you walk into your workout space? Add motivational words right by the entrance to give you a boost to achieve your fitness goals.

3

Smart Setup

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When you utilize all space to store your workout gear (like the walls!), there's still plenty of room left in your garage for other items.

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4

Red Walls

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If you're not afraid to take a design risk, go bold with your paint color choice. Here, cherry red walls energize this home gym.

RELATED: 15 Top Paint Color Trends to Keep on Your Radar for 2022

6

Minimalist Home Gym

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Less is more, so outfit your gym with your most-used equipment and a wooden bench that'll come in handy when you need to take a break between exercises.

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7

Light-Filled

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Embrace your workout area's natural light with a neutral paint color that can work seamlessly with just about any type of window treatments and wall art.

8

Basem*nt Gym

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A black-and-white tray ceiling steals the show in this spacious basem*nt gym.

9

Neutral Gym

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Take a cue from this home gym by North Carolina-based design firm, Design Lines Signature, and stick to the basics. Keep the focus on your workout routine with a neutral space, complete with sleek wood flooring and shelving for towels.

RELATED: The Best Neutrals for Every Room

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10

DIY Yoga Studio

Once you have the right yoga mat, think about simple ways to create a calm vibe in your space. The best place to begin? Fill your workout area with a variety of potted plants for some color and texture.

RELATED: 30 Gorgeous Indoor Plants That Are Almost Impossible to Kill

11

Home Rock-Climbing Wall

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Rock-climbing is perfect for adventurous types and a great way to engage your muscles (it will also be a hit with the kids). A garage can easily be transformed with a set of rock-climbing holds.

12

Industrial-Style Basem*nt Gym

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Reimagine a drab basem*nt into a functional home gym, like this look from Kirsten Kaplan of Haus Interior Design. Make the walls a focal point with a bold paint color, statement art and an inspiring quote that will encourage you to give your workout 100%.

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13

Boxing Room

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Miss your boxing class? Bring the fun right into your home by hanging a punching bag in your living room. For this compact space, designer Vanessa Alexander paired a the bag with sleek seating and inspirational wall art.

14

A Garage Gym Set-Up

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If you can afford to give up your garage, why not convert it into an exercise room? This space from designer Marie Flanigan proves that a pair of dumbbells, a good-quality mat and a chair for moments of rest are all that's needed to maintain your daily workout routine. "The space has a Murphy bed that comes down if people need to sleep there, but otherwise the floor is clear for exercise equipment," Flanigan says.

15

Contemporary Living Room Gym

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There's nothing like outfitting your home gym with colorful equipment to keep you motivated. Interior designer Kammi Reiss crafted a home gym in New York City that played up her client's love of vibrant hues and contemporary art. "I had the pilates equipment made in colors of the Haruki Murakami plush flower ball," Reiss says. "Using these bright, cheerful colors, rather than the standard black, made the room a fun and happy place to exercise."

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16

A Gym With a View

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If you're lucky enough to have a home with a breathtaking view, designate a small area in it to exercise. Designer Taniya Nayak recently transformed an space in her living room outside of Boston into the perfect exercise spot. A simple mat "is the foundation of your workout haven," says Sassos. But don't fret if you don't own a mat. "You can also use an area rug with a non-slip backing for this," says Nayak. "A towel or rug that might slip are not great options if your floors are a hard surface like wood or tile."

17

Bedroom Corner Gym

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If you can't turn an entire room into a gym, use a corner of your bedroom! You don't need a lot of space to lay down a yoga mat or place your favorite workout machine. Sassos also recommends adding a foam roller to your collection to help relieve muscle tightness and soreness — it's small but mighty!

18

Mirrored Look

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Keep your form in check by making an oversized floor mirror a part of your gym's design scheme, as Los Angeles-based designer Vanessa Alexander has done here. It can even help to brighten up your space.

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19

Attic Gym

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Rather than overlooking an unused attic, take a cue from designer Benjamin Johnston and transform it into a gym. Make sure it's well-lit and equipped with simple essentials, like a wall-mounted TV, an exercise bike, and some weights.

20

Exercise Nook

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Don't let a small apartment prevent you from breaking out a sweat. Set up an exercise bike in a corner, fill a wall with words that'll push you to make the most of every session, and you're all set.

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Monique Valeris

Home Design Director

Monique Valeris is the home design director for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand's home decorating coverage across print and digital. Prior to joining GH in 2020, she was the digital editor at Elle Decor. In her current role, she explores everything from design trends and home tours to lifestyle product recommendations, including writing her monthly column, "What's in My Cart."

20 Budget-Friendly Home Gym Ideas to Help Reach Your Fitness Goals (2024)

FAQs

How can I make my home gym better? ›

If you have the space and are interested, you should follow these tips for setting up a home gym.
  1. Find the Right Space. ...
  2. Get Rubber Flooring. ...
  3. Invest in Bumper Plates. ...
  4. Install a Mirror. ...
  5. Use the Wall for Storage. ...
  6. Add a TV. ...
  7. Have a Clock on the Wall. ...
  8. Install Speakers.
Feb 4, 2020

How to make small gym at home? ›

The basics (inexpensive)
  1. An exercise mat or yoga mat.
  2. Resistance bands (light, medium, heavy).
  3. Stability ball.
  4. Bench, step bench or box (something to elevate you).
  5. Ab wheel.
  6. Gliding discs.
  7. Jump rope.
Jan 6, 2021

How to create a budget home gym? ›

The key is to focus on versatile items that offer a wide range of exercises. Some budget-friendly options include resistance bands, adjustable dumbbells, and a jump rope. Sometimes, a mat is all you need and you can start with doing body-weight workouts!

How do I make a gym plan? ›

As you design your fitness program, keep these points in mind:
  1. Think about your fitness goals. ...
  2. Make a balanced routine. ...
  3. Start slow and go forward slowly. ...
  4. Build activity into your daily routine. ...
  5. Plan to include different activities. ...
  6. Try high-intensity interval training. ...
  7. Allow time for recovery. ...
  8. Put it on paper.

How do I start a gym at home for beginners? ›

Beginner gym circuit programme
  1. 2 min rower.
  2. Alternating side plank (45 secs)
  3. Bicep curl to shoulder press (45 secs)
  4. Benched tricep dips (45 secs)
  5. Squat jumps (45 secs)
  6. Press up into superman (full/knees) (45 secs)
Dec 18, 2019

Is 10x10 big enough for a home gym? ›

A typical space that works well is a 10'x10' bedroom. This allows for the necessary width for items like a squat rack and free weight systems. This will give enough width to load and unload weight plate from a bar easily and away from walls. If your plan is to have a cardio piece or two, then a 10'x10' space works too.

Should I put a mat under my home gym? ›

If you work out with free weights or do a lot of aerobic exercise, it's helpful to add an underlayment beneath your gym flooring. This will offer added protection to the subflooring from dropped weights or excessive pounding from the bottoms of your feet.

What do you put over carpet for a home gym? ›

If you have a large home gym area, rolled rubber flooring is the best solution. They come at a very affordable price per square foot and allow you to cover large surfaces quickly. If you're planning on primarily doing plyometric exercises and cardio in your home gym, rolled rubber flooring is an excellent choice.

What is a good size for a home gym? ›

Step 2: Choose A Space

Tanya, whose portfolio includes luxury projects, says that 250 square feet to 300 square feet is a good-size room to accommodate a home gym, but warns against loading the room with equipment just because you think you have the space.

What is the only thing you need for a home gym? ›

”Generally, I think of home gym essentials as your basic free weight items, a cardio machine, and some nice-to-haves, like resistance bands, a suspension training system, a plyo box, and a jump rope,” she adds.

What is the most versatile exercise equipment? ›

Kettlebells. Kettlebells are some of the most versatile pieces of equipment you can own because you can use them both for strength training and conditioning.

Where is the best place to put a home gym? ›

Basem*nts are a popular place for home gyms because they often have leftover space, but for the fitness-obsessed, it's perfectly acceptable to put a gym in a more prominent spot — like an unused guest room, or a home office.

How can I make my home workout more intense? ›

More reps

This is the easiest way to make your workouts more intense. If you normally do 15 reps of squats, do 16 next time, and 17 the time after that. Keep on adding reps as you get stronger. This strategy has its limits, and you'll need to use another option once your rep count starts hitting 30 reps or more.

Can home gyms be effective? ›

Exercise leaves you feeling energized, but you don't need to go to a gym to get a great workout. Exercising at home can be just as effective. While gyms provide dedicated space, home workouts offer more flexibility. Using your time and equipment to maximize efficiency is the key to a great workout.

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