How to Have a Home Gym in a Small Space

When most people think of a home gym, they think of a huge room with wooden floors and a large variety of exercise equipment. Luckily, this large amount of space and equipment is not necessary to meet basic needs. Whether you live in a small apartment or a small home, you can still create a perfectly functional home gym. The trick is to find multifunctional pieces that take up very little space.

Folding Cardio Machine

The most important thing in your home gym is likely to be your cardio exercise equipment. Most people think that because they are working with a small space they have to forgo this gym essential. However, there are treadmills, ellipticals, and even stationary bikes that fold up when not in use, so they take up very little space. So all you have to do is decide what piece of cardio equipment you would like to have.

Resistance Bands

These rubber exercise tubes take up almost no space but give you the ability to work numerous muscle groups. Whether you want to work out your arms, legs or back, resistance bands will help you do just that. When you are done with them, put them along the wall where they will be out of the way.

Pull-up Bar

Pull up bars that hang over a standard size door frame are a great space saving way to work out your arms and back. They can be found online or in the exercise department at stores like Wal-Mart for around $50. Best of all, there is no drilling to do for the installation so it is perfect for renters.

Adjustable Dumbbells

Another piece of equipment that is perfect for a small home gym is an adjustable set of dumbbells. These dumbbells will allow you to choose a variety of different weights, but only take up the space of one set of dumbbells. With weights going up to 50lbs, these sets will work for everyone.

Exercise Step

In an ideal world, you would be able to have a full size stair stepper in your home gym. However, because you are working with limited space, an exercise step will give you the same type of workout and take up far less room. In addition, it will work well for any step aerobics DVDs you have or as a bench for while you are working with weights. While it is not in use, you can tuck it up next to a wall and set your dumbbells on top of it.

Full Length Mirror

Finally, a full length mirror will allow you to check your form as you are doing a variety of workouts. This mirror does not have to take up any floor space though. Simply buy one of Wal-Marts $5 full length mirrors and nail it directly to the wall. It takes up no space and is something you will use during every workout.With these six items you will have a fully functional home gym that will fit into just about any space. There is no need for a gym membership or a huge room in to get in shape. You can create a home gym in any size room. Now get to work setting it up so you can start working out.