Experts Reveal Top Tips on Converting Spare Space into a Home Gym

Having entered a new year, and what feels like a clean slate, many of us will have ‘becoming fitter and healthier’ at the top of our list of resolutions – for a better year, better life, and better you.

Heading to the gym can often be an unnerving task; these fears can come from lack of knowledge when it comes to fitness equipment, a preference to exercise in a quiet environment, or a lack of motivation. For many, exercising at home may be the more attractive choice. Within the UK ‘Home Gym’ is searched 85k times, ‘Home Gym Equipment’ is searched over 45k times and ‘Home Workout’ is searched 10k times on average per month, making it clear that this is a popular topic, especially for 2022!

So, expensive gym memberships aside, Stokemont.com have worked exclusively with experts from Garage Gym Reviews to provide the 5 best tips to start converting your spare space into a home gym. Whilst Bradley Mackenzie, RICS valuer and surveyor from Stokemont.com has provided 5 top tips to go about building your own home gym with outdoor space you have in your garden.

Converting Your Spare Space as explained by Cooper Mitchell from Garage Gym Reviews:

1. Flooring – put your flooring down before your equipment: Equipment is heavy, so you want to make sure you assemble your space first before bringing in your new equipment. There are many different flooring options available for home gyms, but for most, we suggest horse stall mats from your local farm supply store.

2. Proper storage: You’re working with finite space in a home gym. To maximize the area, we suggest storing as much equipment on the wall as possible. This means buying things like barbell gun racks, plate storage that is screwed into wooden studs, resistance bands and chain holders, etc.

3. Buy inexpensive equipment and research: Make sure to research what equipment you need and what is best for the goal you have. There are lots of articles online to read through and find the right equipment for you. You don’t need expensive equipment for your home gym. Check second-hand marketplaces for the best deals near you. Many people have built their gyms by scouring Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist or even Ebay. You can also try out different equipment and sell the items that don’t work for you, so you are never out of pocket.

4. Get a good sound system: A popular system is the Echo Dot hooked up to Bose Speakers to pause or change music with your own voice – so you can control the music during your workouts! This may seem like a minor detail, but it makes a big difference when it comes to exercising, it motivates you and gets you pumped to work out harder and better.

5. Invest in a mini fridge: Have a refrigerator in your gym so that cold protein shakes and drinks are always available – especially water! Mini fridges do not have to be expensive, and they are the perfect size to have placed in your home gym. Again, you could check second-hand marketplaces near you to find inexpensive deals on mini fridges.

Bradley Mackenzie, from Stokemont, explains what to consider when building a home gym outside:

1. Decide what you want: Creating space in your garden has become extremely popular, from sheds, to garages to the new, modern ‘Garden Rooms’. They are all structures that you can build in your garden at home, these can be used for outdoor space, offices or a home gym! They give you extra space, are not expensive, and they are easy to install.

2. Permissions: The construction of the new gym room/structure would need to comply with permitted development or planning permissions. The structure would also need to be building regulations compliant. Most installers of garden offices/studios will complete these tasks, however some don’t, so it’s worth checking. This can add delay and cost to the install.

3. The Party Wall etc Act 1996: When creating a new structure, you must take notice of the Party Wall Act 1966. If any new sheds, gym spaces or structures are within six meters of any neighboring structures – Party Wall Notices will need to be served. This will also occur if the walls of the new structures are built up to the neighboring boundary lines.

4. Insulating: Garden structures can get cold in the winter, due to their outdoor setting, so if you intend to have a warm gym – storage heaters and electric radiators can be used. However, it is important to keep these on a low setting so as not to result in expensive electricity bills.

5. Height: Finally, it is important to note the height of your gym equipment. An average treadmill is anywhere from nine inches upwards from floor level; this can be expected to increase after an incline setting change, so ensure your ceiling is high enough to accommodate your equipment.