How To Create The Perfect Home Gym For You

Working out at home took off in 2020 and we know so many women in the Sweat Community haven’t gone back to the gym since. From the convenience to the time and money saved, working out at home has never been easier with almost 50 Sweat programs to choose from. And while there are plenty of workouts in the Sweat app that only need your bodyweight and a yoga mat to get started, knowing how to get the most out of your space when setting up your home gym can make progressing towards your health and fitness goals even easier. 

Find the best space in your home

As much as we would all love a spare room to dedicate to our workouts, we know that’s simply not the reality for many of us. And that’s okay! Training at home is all about working smarter (and harder). 

If you’re trying to work out where you’ll, well, work out, there are three workout area must-haves we recommend ticking off:

Enough space to train the way you want to

Being able to roll out your mat and move your body without hitting any furniture or walls is a good starting point, and then think about the training style you enjoy or the program you want to follow and what it requires. Although you can absolutely still do effective workouts in small spaces, some workouts might be better suited to your garage than your study. 

For example, you could start Britany’s original Barre program with minimal space as you’ll only need a yoga mat, a chair, a set of dumbbells and a short resistance band, while a program like Kelsey Wells’ PWR at Home will require a bit more room with up to 15 pieces of equipment, including a skipping rope, step, fitball and bench. 

A space that makes you feel comfortable and inspired

Before investing too much time and energy into turning a space into a home gym, take a moment to consider whether you feel truly comfortable and motivated to work out there, as some areas of your home may get you into a mindset that doesn’t align with an effective workout. 

If you want to associate your living room or bedroom with relaxation, it might not be the place for a HIIT workout, and doubling your home office as a gym might be uninspiring if you exercise to shake off the work day. Make sure the space supports your training goals and the headspace you want to be in when you’re working out. 

A space that feels yours during your workout

We know how hard it can be to have me-time if you’ve got kids running around, but do what you can to make your workout space somewhere you won’t be interrupted (unless you want to involve your kids!) - even just for the duration of your session. You’ll have a much better workout and won’t have to worry about anyone getting in your way.

Figure out what equipment you need to succeed

The next step is to determine exactly what home gym equipment you will need. Beyond rolling out a yoga mat for stability and support, this will largely come down to the program and training style you choose, and you can check out the equipment needed for each Sweat program by clicking on them here. If you don’t want to train with any equipment at all, there are plenty of options in the Sweat app!

If you’re not sure what program you want to try, here are some of our favourite, portable and versatile at-home equipment options for a wide variety of training styles:  

• Dumbbells: Of all the options out there for at-home weight training, dumbbells are one of the best options, especially if you get an adjustable set that allows you to change the weight for different exercises or challenge yourself as your strength increases. You can also use dumbbells as a substitute for many exercises that use a kettlebell, medicine ball or even a barbell.

• Sturdy chair: A chair makes a great option to use for support if you’re doing barre workouts or as a bench substitute for exercises like step-ups and tricep dips. 

• Resistance bands: Having a short and long band in your at-home kit can be a great way to level up bodyweight exercises and improve your strength and stamina without investing in any large equipment. 

• Skipping rope: This cardio staple appears in a number of our HIIT programs (there’s a reason our co-founder Kayla Itsines is such a fan of the benefits) or can be used during a dynamic warm-up routine.

Got more space or a bigger budget to play with? In that case, some of our favourite larger equipment options include:

• Bench: There’s a lot you can do with a chair but a bench expands your exercise options even further to include things like bench press, skull crushers, bench hops and dumbbell rows.

• Barbell: If you’re focused on building strength, a barbell could be just what you need to make sure you’re working towards progressive overload. You can buy smaller adjustable at-home pump bars or invest in a full-size barbell, rack and plates if you have the space and budget.

Level up your space

Once you know what you want to invest in, it’s time to set up your space. Alongside your equipment, there are a few items and ideas that can help you get even more out of your at-home sessions.

A full-length mirror can make a world of difference

If you have the space, consider installing a full-length mirror. This can help you check your form to ensure you’re performing exercises correctly. It’s not only practical, if you’re working out in a small room, a mirror can help to add more dimension and light to your space. 

Create an inspiring environment

Got the decorating bug? Consider adding some house plants and a motivational quote or affirmation to your wall and think about what else you can do to motivate yourself to train in your home environment. Perhaps it’s a great piece of activewear or a motivational playlist. Remember, your home gym or workout space should feel like a sanctuary for your body. 

Organise your space

You don’t want to get dressed and ready for a Sweat session only to find your space in disarray, so make sure your space it’s clutter-free so you have plenty of room to work out and nothing stopping you from getting started. This might mean adding in additional storage for your equipment, reorganising an existing space or taking the time to put everything away after your workout so you’re not creating more work for your future self.

If you’re only using small weights and a yoga mat, a storage cupboard or small basket might be a sufficient storage option. If you have larger items like a barbell and rack or multiple pieces of equipment, try to find a permanent location for them.

Keep your space clean, safe and prioritise your recovery

Wondering what you should do after a workout? There’s a reason why we encourage you to cool down and prioritise recovery, and adding a foam roller, massage gun or trigger point ball to your space can help.  

To keep your space fresh, clean, safe and ready for your next workout, we also recommend: 

• Have spray or wipes on hand to clean down your mat and any equipment after use

• Always put equipment away safely and securely after use. Don’t leave anything lying around that could be dangerous or a trip-hazard

Choose budget-savvy options

While convenience is a big factor when it comes to working out at home, so is the cost! One of the things we love most about Sweat is its value for money: it’s a cost-effective way to train anywhere, anytime! After all, the cost of your monthly Sweat membership is less than half the cost the average Australian spends on a gym membership. And in the midst of a cost of living crisis, we know the last thing many people want is to sink those savings into expensive equipment. But creating the perfect home workout environment doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are some top tips to set it up on a budget:

• Source secondhand items from your local thrift store, charity shop or online marketplace.

• Buy bundled items rather than individual pieces of equipment

• Wait for a sale or shop around for a bargain 

• Invest in versatile equipment you can use across a number of different programs and training styles (have we mentioned how much we love dumbbells?)

Start working out at home

If you want to start working out at home or aren’t sure if at-home training is right for you, start off with a bodyweight-only workout to get a feel for it. We love this full-body session from Kayla Itsines’ High Intensity Zero Equipment program.