Regular exercise is one way to stay active and healthy, whether it involves hitting the gym or hiking. For most individuals, achieving such goals is far-fetched as shuttling to and fro during training sessions can be challenging. Others prefer the comfort of their homes to the gym, but lack the training gear required to stay fit. Having a residential apartment equipped with workout tools provides the platform to exercise without stepping foot outside.
Image by Ryan Qualls
One may assume that there is no space in the home dedicated to health and fitness. But on second thought, the section needed could be just underneath the floors – the basement. This section of the build can serve as a personal training and fitness centre. It takes creating an ideal layout and purchasing the right equipment to turn an empty spaced room into a fully-equipped gym.
Starting with the Basement’s Condition
Is the basement finished or unfinished? This question determines the next step to take with its design. Perhaps, it is in its completed state, including the installation of drywall, carpet, and insulation. If there are pieces of unused items, the homeowner has to clear them to create space for the fitness equipment. If it is an unfinished basement, there is a likelihood that it will be in pristine condition. Cleaning may be minimal.
For such a basement type, the homeowner may have to purchase materials to upgrade its current condition. Having prepared this room for the next transformation – unique flooring, storage, and the main part, equipment.
Flooring Options
Of course, the dedicated gym area comes with its flooring. It could be marble, floor carpets, or concrete. But this flooring option is unsafe for exercise. If there is existing tile or carpet flooring, the homeowner may need to swap them for an ideal basement gym material. There are several options, including foam tiles, rubber mats, and vinyl panels. Each of these items has its unique features, which are reflective of its costs.
Foam tiles feature optimum comfort and shock resistance to absorb impact and distribute it evenly. Individuals who engage in lower-impact exercises will find this option a must-have. However, foam tiles do not provide great support for heavy training gear, like weight benches. A bodybuilder may not get the best result using such products, which serves pilates and yoga trainees better. This flooring option costs between $1 to $5 per square foot.
Rubber mats provide resilience and versatility to withstand impact. It is easy to install these products in any room type as they come in rollable mats and interlocking tiles. The price of rubber mats ranges from $3 to $8 per square foot. For rigorous exercises, homeowners can install vinyl panels. These products are easy to maintain and they provide friction. Their costs range from $1 to $5 per square foot.
Purchasing the Right Workout Equipment
For a full-body workout in the gym basement, homeowners can purchase the right training equipment. However, such products tend to be on the high end. Evaluate the cost and merits that come with their installations. Here are some training machines worth considering:
- NuStep Recumbent Cross Trainer. Being a full-body workout machine, the NuStep Recumbent Cross Trainer provides trainers with biking and rowing movements from a seated position. Purchasing such products may set a homeowner back by $1,000 to $2,800.
- Bowflex Max Trainer Series. Fitness trainers in need of a full-body cardio workout machine can opt for the Bowflex Max series. These training machines save space and time, while newer options come with technology systems. They include Bluetooth connectivity, app support, USB charging ports, and many more. The cost of such products ranges from $1,000 to $2,800.
- CardioGym. It is a mixed-training machine that fuses cardio training and bodybuilding into one unit. It has an average cost of $5,900.
Clearing the Basement for the Equipment
Once the equipment is in place, it is time to declutter the basement. The homeowner needs to get rid of unwanted items and junk. The first step to take is to pack them into a box or container and donate to a local charity. However, it is essential to know what will be acceptable there before transporting them. Items that are not needed at the local charity can be discarded. These include damaged appliances, electronics, and furniture. If there are bulky items that need decluttering, hiring a dumpster service will be a call in the right direction. This option saves time and energy.
There are items that the homeowner may not want to discard. As such, the individual can move them to other sections of the building. But if there are none, the homeowner may have to partition the basement to create space for the gym equipment, while the rest will serve as a storage compartment for the items. Otherwise, creating a new storage space will be the right call.
Designing the Basement Workout Room
Even though the basement will serve as a gym for various workout techniques, a homeowner may have to include a storage section for various training materials, including workout clothes.
Setting up weight racks. After a workout session, a fitness trainer should have a dedicated space to keep the training equipment, including dumbbells. Weight racks are ideal items for such applications.
Placing Tupperware tubs. The workout basement may be devoid of storage closets. Having a Tupperware bin can help a trainer keep several gym items, including kettlebells, weights, yoga mats, work-out towels, and many more.
Creating wall storage. The basement-turned-gym should have storage compartments to keep various training materials, including fitness hand gloves and headbands, yoga mats, jump ropes, and more. As such, the training environment stays neat and organized.
Having dedicated corner spaces. Not all items may fit into a storage compartment or a Tupperware bin. Gym trainers can dedicate a section of the gym basement to the storage of such items.
Bottom Line
Having set up the basement as a new workout environment and placed each workout equipment properly, it is time to start training and staying fit without stepping out of the home. Kindly remember that over time people tend to get bored with their gym setup. For this reason, the homeowner should spice things up and keep the flame burning by reconfiguring the space. A single item move may restore life to the gym.
