Planning a Home Gym Made Easy

We’re two weeks into the new year and Taylor Morrison understands it’s no simple thing to keep up with your New Year’s resolution to embrace healthy habits. But we’re here to help.

Whether you’re hoping to lose weight, eat right or get into shape, the job gets a whole lot easier when you set up an at home gym in your new home.

Here’s a simple guide to do just that.

Find a Space

Forget about hauling workout equipment out of the closet when you need it. Without a dedicated workout space your exercise routine will soon be out of sight and out of mind.

It doesn’t matter where you live. From sunny real estate in San Clemente, CA to new homes in metro Atlanta, a special area to make the magic happen is key to lasting success.

The first step when putting together a home gym is setting aside a private space. No clutter. No distractions. Just you and your gear.

Let’s start off by looking at a variety of floor plans for inspiration.

An Extra Bedroom

When shopping for a new home, always pick a plan with one more bedroom than you think you need. The flex space will come in handy for times just like this.

Serona III at Tuscany Woods in Oldsmar, FL has all 3 bedrooms located on the 2nd floor. This means you can set up the gym in one of the spares and walk right down the hall to the oversized shower enclosure in the master bath post-workout.

Grand Owner’s Suite

Residence Two plan at Sea Summit Azure is a great example of how a creative design can convert your master bedroom into something truly special. Set your home gym up in the retreat and enjoy al fresco exercise bliss.

Open the French doors onto the balcony for a cool sea breeze blowing past your treadmill.

Unfinished Basement or Garage

New home communities in Georgia and the Carolinas often come standard with unfinished basements. Everett at Highlands at Sawnee Mountain is a perfect example.

Another idea is to cordon off half of the garage or upgrade your plan with a garage extension.

Getting the Essentials

Now that you’ve designated a space, it’s time to go shopping.

You don’t need to spend an absolute fortune but don’t cut corners, either. Here are the core essentials you’ll want to buy for your fitness room:

Dumbbells – You can get individually weighted dumbbells or an adjustable set. It’s up to you.
Resistance Bands – Strength training is best when you combine both free weight and tension resistance. Plus, adding resistance bands to your workout arsenal makes it easy to pack a mini-gym into your suitcase for business trips or vacations.
Yoga Mat – Even if you don’t do yoga, a yoga mat is great for crunches & stretching.
Cardio Equipment – An elliptical trainer, treadmill, rowing machine, stair stepper or stationary bike. You don’t need all five but you do need at least one.
Workout Bench – An adjustable bench allows to you target a wide range of muscle groups.
Comfy Workout Clothes – You’re more likely to hit your at home gym when you feel good. Pick up quality cross-training shoes and comfortable workout clothes and dress the part even if you’re pumping iron in the garage!

And when you’re ready to truly upgrade your equipment, check out the Garage Gym Planner.

Understanding Wants Versus Needs

It’s easy to go overboard when you get excited about turning over a new leaf. It’s important to remember that you’ll never equip your at-home gym like a state-of-the-art fitness center so don’t try to.

Start with the basics and build from there as your needs grow. Think quality over quantity when shopping machines. One piece of equipment that does its job is better than a collection of gadgets from the As Seen on TV store in the mall.

Think about your goals and purchase accordingly.

Create an Ambiance

While unfinished basements and garages make awesome workout rooms, remember that staring at studs or bare sheetrock doesn’t necessarily inspire you to go the extra mile.

Spruce up your workout space and make it yours. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Even just a couple motivational posters can do the trick.

Another popular idea is to set up an extra TV to watch your favorite shows or follow along with professional routines.

Stretch it Out

An even simpler idea to get healthy and stay that way is to create your very own at home yoga sanctuary. You can even teach yourself with yoga videos on YouTube.

But don’t make the mistake of thinking all you need for a private yoga studio is a foam mat and a DVD. Yoga is just as much mental as it is physical.

Here are 4 easy steps to at home yoga bliss:

De-clutter: Just as you need a dedicated space for a gym the same is true for yoga. Turn your room into a blank canvas by removing everything in the space that doesn’t have a function.
Repaint: Cool, calm, relaxing colors do wonders for your mood and state of being.
Light the way: Warm, adjustable lighting is key. Install a dimmer switch and consider hanging translucent curtains that let natural light in while maintaining your privacy.
Accessorize with care: A few natural objects, candles, artwork or photographs can help set the mood. Choose items mindfully, with enough variety to create a sensation without being a distraction.

Get Serious with Cross-Fit

If working out to you is more about pumping iron than listening to your favorite tunes on your headphones, you really need to look into Cross-Fit.

A red-hot training method, Cross-Fit will have you sporting a beach bod in no time.

Here’s a great article that covers A to Z for garage to Cross-Fit gym conversion. Just be sure to check with your partner before moving both cars out to the driveway!