Top 10 Mistakes People Make When Setting Up Their Home Gym
Building out a home gym is a great way to help stay with your fitness goals and save money in the long run. Many times though we often get too excited and don’t consider everything that we need to in order to build out the best home gym for the space we have. That’s why today we’re reviewing the 10 most common mistakes people make when building their home gym.
Not Defining Goals
Whether you’re a novice or an advanced lifter, defining your fitness goals is what will make you successful. Let’s say your goal is to increase your deadlift, you won’t just throw another 100 lbs onto your max deadlift. You set up or buy a plan that helps you in increasing strength in the deadlift. Then you work that plan. The same goes for your home gym equipment, know what type of training style you like and buy equipment that will help you reach that goal. Research equipment before you purchase, know how much space it will take up. If it takes up too much space, see if there’s an alternative. For example, dumbbells. A full rack of dumbbells can take up entire walls' worth of space, but you know dumbbells are staples to anyones fitness regime. So you find a great pair of Adjustable Dumbbells on PowerBlock.com that grow with you as you get stronger. Start small and grow.
Underestimating Space Needs
Not knowing how much space you have can cause you to buy equipment and fill up your home gym space to the point where it’s unusable. Take the time to measure out the space you’ve dedicated to your home gym so you can get equipment that will fit in that space. Just like with our dumbbell example above, you don’t want a single piece or grouping of equipment to take up more space than it needs to. This way you can get more equipment to help diversify your training.
Underestimating Quality Over Cost
Anyone who’s built a home gym or even owns a commercial gym will tell you to not skimp on the cost of quality equipment. Cheap equipment will break easily and won’t perform as well as you hoped, in turn, costing you more in the long run. Being thoughtful about your goals and space will help you understand what other equipment you’ll need. This isn’t to say that you have to go and get the top-of-the-line equipment right off the bat, find a good middle ground for price and equipment. There will also be times when you might spend more on one piece compared to another, that’s to be expected. The goal is to save where you can without sacrificing quality. Going back to our PowerBlock Adjustable Dumbbell example, a 5-50 lb set of dumbbells with a rack will cast at a minimum of $1200, pricing factors may be brand and if it comes with a rack. You can get a single set of PowerBlocks Pro 50 Adjustable Dumbbells and a matching rack for almost half the cost without sacrificing quality. These savings can help you invest in another piece of equipment that you want while still saving space.
Neglecting Flooring
If you live in a house, you’ve invested time and money into the purchase and upkeep of your home. If you’re a renter, you’ve placed a security deposit that you will hopefully see a majority of back. Investing in floor protection now helps with protecting your home's flooring and your free-weight equipment. The best two are shock-absorbing mats and rubber flooring. This investment will increase the lifespan of your equipment, as you may drop your equipment from time to time, and keep your flooring and the framing of your house safe.
Skipping Versatility
Often when building a home gym people will stick to single-use equipment, like treadmills, stair-steppers, or ellipticals. This isn’t to say that these don’t have a place in your home gym, they do, as cardiovascular health is extremely important. There’s still more that can be done for your home gym. It’s important to include versatile equipment like Adjustable Kettlebells, resistance bands, and dumbbells because they are multi-use. This way you can get as much variety out of your workout as possible, reaching your goals faster.
Forgetting About Storage
Let’s say it’s cleaning day in your home, and this week you were particularly messy. You walk into the first room you plan on cleaning and the motivation to clean is instantly gone. It’s the same when it comes to your training and training space, you go to your gym and it’s messy and you lose that motivation to train. This is why when building out your gym, thinking about storage is important. With dumbbells, you have dumbbell stands, some treadmill brands allow the run deck to fold. Why not make it the same for your other equipment? Get a weight tree for your weight plates, and a barbell holder for your different barbells. This will help keep your space clean and organized so that when you do walk into your training space, you don’t lose your motivation to work out.
Ignoring Ventilation
Ignoring ventilation in your home gym can lead to a stuffy, uncomfortable environment that discourages workouts and impacts your performance. Poor airflow allows heat, moisture, and odors to accumulate, which can make the space uninviting and even lead to mold or mildew issues. Adding proper ventilation, such as fans, air purifiers, or even opening windows, ensures a steady supply of fresh air, keeping the room cooler and more pleasant. Good ventilation also improves air quality, reducing allergens and making breathing easier during intense sessions. Ultimately, a well-ventilated gym creates a healthier, more enjoyable space that keeps you motivated and focused on your fitness goals.
Not Testing Equipment Before Buying
Online shopping is the direction in which most of us are heading due to the ease of adding something to a cart and purchasing. Now this convenience can still be used, however, going to a local sporting goods store and getting your hands on similar equipment to what you want to buy helps with your purchasing process. Do you like the look of the equipment in person? Is it bigger than you expected? Do you like how the equipment feels in your hand? All of these are factors when building your home gym. The other thing to consider is the return policy of the online stores, if it’s not good, you could end up spending more because you don’t like the piece of equipment. Give the business's customer service department a call and get an understanding of what their return policy is so you can have more power in the buying process.
Overlooking Small Home Fitness Essentials
Let’s say you have already built out your home gym with all the weights and equipment you need and you’re happy with your space. Did you consider small essentials like an ab roller to diversify your ab training? How about a yoga mat for stretching? How about foam rollers to help with relaxing muscles that seem to be tighter than others? These small essentials could fall by the wayside in your planning but are great to have for both recovery and workout diversity.
Skipping Professional Advice
DIY projects are fun and can be gratifying when finished, but you probably follow a few DIY YouTubers who help take the hassle out of the project by telling you what to get and why. This in turn saves you money and a massive headache for that project. The same goes for your home gym. Consult a personal trainer and look at forums and blog posts of professionals who’ve built out home gyms for themselves and others. This will save you time and money, and get you training at home faster.
Building a home gym is an exciting investment in your health and fitness, but avoiding common mistakes is key to creating a space that truly works for you. By planning thoughtfully, prioritizing quality and versatility, and considering details like storage and ventilation, you can design a gym that fits your goals and lifestyle. Take the time to set it upright, and you’ll have a space that keeps you motivated and supports your fitness journey for years to come.
