How to Create a Home Gym You’ll Use

Let’s check in with Cleveland Clinic exercise physiologists Katie Lawton, MEd, and Chris Dempers, ACSM EP-C, to create a home gym you’ll want to use. 

Benefits of staying home

Convenience and cost top the list of reasons why many people prefer working out at home instead of heading to a gym. 

Let’s start with scheduling. “If you factor in drive time to a gym, you might be needing a two-hour window to get your workout in,” Dempers says. “That can be tough to consistently carve out of a day.” 

Exercising at home eliminates the need for travel time. Plus, a home gym is always open. 

On the cost front, a home gym does require an initial out-of-pocket investment. But the setup can be done on the cheap, and once you get the equipment in place, your wallet can close. Gym memberships, on the other hand, require ongoing fees.   

Getting started

There’s no one right way to set up a home gym. The workout area you create should be specific to your likes and fitness goals. Spend time thinking about what you want to do in the space. 

“Your answer can help you plan for what type of equipment you’ll use most,” Lawton says.  “If you want to do yoga, for instance, what you need will be different than if you’re interested in lifting weights.” 

A little creativity can turn just about any spot in your home into a workout zone. A spare bedroom offers plenty of space for equipment and active workouts. Ditto open areas in a basement or garage. 

You should be drawn to your exercise area and what’s in it. Put up some motivational pictures or quotes. Add a TV to stream online classes. And bring in extra lights, a speaker or a full-length mirror. 

Factors to consider

Build slowly. It can be tempting to immediately load up on equipment. Tap the brakes a bit. “It’s often better to add a little at a time,” Lawton says, “especially when you’re figuring out the space and how often you’re going to use your gym.”

Test equipment. Try to get to a store to shop for exercise equipment. “Ideally, you’ll be able to try something out to see how it works and feels,” Dempers says. “You can get a better sense of quality, too.” 

Aim for versatility. Equipment that can be used in a variety of ways can add options and interest to your workouts, which is especially important as you’re figuring out your routine. 

Pay attention to size. An ideal workout area should offer you room to move around. Avoid overcrowding. 

Equipment basics

Your first thought may be to look at fancier exercise contraptions like a treadmill, elliptical trainer or weight bench system. Before you go there, you might want to consider more basic options. 

Dumbbells/kettlebells: You don’t need a weight bench system and 45-pound plates to give your muscles a workout. Investing in a few dumbbells or kettlebells at various weights — light, medium and heavy for your fitness level — can give you plenty of exercise options. “They’re not just for your arms or upper body, either,” Dempers says. “They can be part of a total body workout.”

Resistance bands: Oh, snap! Did you know that training with resistance bands can provide similar strength gains to pumping iron? Using those giant rubber bands puts enough tension on muscles to work them hard during movements. Resistance bands also cost less than traditional weights, minimizing your start-up cost as you get a feel for the exercises you enjoy. And if you have limited space, bands are much less bulky and easy to squirrel away. 

Stability ball/ab wheel: No exercise area is complete without equipment that targets core muscles in your abdomen, back and hips. These muscles act as stabilizers as your body moves through daily activities. Stability balls or ab wheels provide seemingly endless exercise options that work these critical muscles. 

Miscellaneous: Other pieces that can be put to good use include: 

• Exercise mat
• Bench
• Gliding discs
• Jump rope
• Medicine ball

Big-ticket items

Dropping a lot of money on a treadmill doesn’t make much sense if you don’t plan to run much, after all. Ditto shelling out for an indoor exercise bike if the mere thought of sitting and pedaling makes your butt ache. 

Given the cost of larger equipment, think about buying a lower-priced device to start if you’re trying a new exercise regimen. 

“If you find you use the equipment consistently and enjoy it, you can always splurge on something later,” Lawton says. “You’ll have a better idea as to what you exactly want and need, too.” 

Larger equipment that might fit into your home gym plan includes: 

• Treadmill
• Indoor exercise bike
• Elliptical trainer
• Rower
• Climber (vertical or stair)
• Punching bag
• Weightlifting system or barbell set

No equipment? No problem! 

Remember: It’s possible to get a good workout without any equipment. 

Body weight exercises can give you a blood-pumping cardio and strength workout. Examples include push-ups, crunches, squats, burpees, lunges and leg lifts. Routines like the 7-minute workout (popularized on TikTok) combine various movements into one high-intensity session. 

If space or money is an issue, don’t give up the idea of exercising at home. “If you’re willing to work out,” Dempers says “you can find a way.”