Purchasing a Home Gym: 3. Where will the equipment go?
Deciding where you want to put the equipment is really important. It has to be in a place where you will be motivated to work out. How motivated do you think you will be if you put it in a dark, dingy basement with no windows or nothing to look at? I'm guessing it won't be long before it gathers its share of cobwebs.
When deciding where the equipment should go, the most important factor to consider is safety. Here are some things to think about when choosing a location for your home gym.
- The area should be free of clutter.
- The floor should be solid, especially if you are setting up an area for lifting weights. It might be best to avoid weights in an upstairs room.
- You should have good lighting along with sufficient airflow. A room with a window is great because it provides light and airflow. If you don't have a window to open, then consider a fan.
- It is important to have an electrical outlet in the area to supply power to your equipment, a radio or additional lighting.
- Plan to have as much open space in the area as that taken up by equipment. This will give you room to maneuver.
To give you an idea on how much space to allow for various types of equipment, here are some general guidelines.
Treadmills -- 25-30 square feet
Bikes -- 10-15 square feet
Climber/stepper -- 15 square feet
Multi-station gym -- 50+ square feet
Free weights -- 30-50+ square feet
