Small Home Gym Ideas
Posted on February 12, 2025 By Mike M.
Getting into fitness is a great way to ensure that you can keep yourself happy and healthy over a long period of time, but we all know it's easier said than done. Going to a gym can be a daunting experience for new members, and it can be hard to keep up a routine if you have to bring yourself over to a gym every day. That's why setting up a home gym is a great way to get your workout in without having to spend any time dealing with a public gym. But home gyms require a lot of room, don't they? Not anymore! Read on to find out how you can set up your very own small home gym with a few simple pieces of home gym equipment.
Designating a Space for Your Small Home Gym Setup
First off, you're going to need to find a good spot to set up your new equipment, and it does not have to be massive. Many of the pieces of equipment we're going to discuss can generally be put away to take up minimal space, so this can even be an already-established location that you can convert into a hybrid gym room, like a home office or a garage. You're mainly going to need enough space for you to get active and to fit a few smaller machines, so even if it's a spot in your living room, you can make it work.
Dumbbells
Dumbbells are incredibly useful when it comes to strength training. You can get dumbbell sets in a variety of styles, and you can work out pretty much any muscle group with a good set and a few creative exercises that you can find on the web. A good way to make sure you get a few different weights without taking up too much space is to get an adjustable dumbbell set. This is one single set of dumbbells that can have its weight adjusted with ease, so you can have access to heavier or lighter weights with one duo of dumbbells. Another space-efficient way to compliment your dumbbells is a good bench. Try to get yourself a model that folds up so you can put it away when you're done.
Cardio Machines
Strength training may be important, but cardio is also essential to your health. Thankfully there are plenty of space-efficient cardio options for your small home gym. There are many different folding treadmill options that are able to be minimized and stored when not in use. Exercise bikes also tend to be rather compact if you get the right model, and there are many different kinds of bikes to choose from, so it should be easy to find one whether you're a casual rider or you're looking for a more hardcore experience.
Pull Up Bars
A very simple piece of equipment that can fit into virtually any small home gym is a pull up bar. You can do a variety of exercises on them to work out your upper body or your core, and it's a great overall workout that can add some intensity to any session. Many pull up bars can be attached to doorways, giving you easy access to this great exercise whenever you need it and easy storability when you don't.
Recovery Equipment
Though they're not totally necessary for a successful workout, getting some fitness recovery equipment can help alleviate any soreness after your workout and would be a great addition to your home gym. Percussive devices like massagers can help relax your muscles after particularly strenuous workouts and foam rollers can do the same. These devices are mainly handheld, so storage shouldn't be an issue. Any of these devices would be great for your post-gym cooldown or even just when you're feeling sore after a long day of work.
We now live in a time where getting yourself a home gym is more attainable than ever, no matter how large of a space you have. Stop waiting for a bench to open up at your local gym and start setting up your own small home gym!