“
Any good workout routine consists of a mix of cardio and strength training, among other things, so it’s good to have a variety of equipment to support these goals.
Exercise, as you know, is essential to living a long and healthy life. However, paying for a gym membership can be expensive as well as time-consuming to travel to and from a gym every day.
So, what's the solution? Investing in a home gym that has all the essentials can be a great step in eliminating time pressure and extra expenses, giving you the freedom to increase your fitness capabilities from the comfort of your home.
When it comes to setting up your at-home gym equipment, you can really go as small or big as you’d like – because you don’t need a mountain of equipment for it to be effective.
But where do you start? Below, we take a look at things to consider when setting up a gym at home, including different types of equipment for your activity.
What’s your preferred activity and fitness goal?
Before you go out and add everything to cart, you need to figure out your goals. Are you looking to build muscle, improve balance and strength – or even drop a few kilos?
Does your workout routine consist of being in downward dog? Or are you more likely to pick up a pair of dumbbells and squat? Knowing your fitness goal and preferred activity will ultimately determine what space you need – and the equipment you’ll require.
There’s a range of equipment from treadmills to free weights, but you don’t need to buy everything at once. You can add as you go once you figure out what you want to get out of it – as whatever you buy you want to have it long term.
What space will you use?
While it would be nice to have an entire room dedicated to your gym, you don’t need to occupy a huge space for it to work. With the right equipment, you can still have a quality and effective gym in a small space – you might just have to get creative with it.
Will you convert a spare bedroom, corner of lounge room, backyard or take over the garage? Measure the space and figure out what you have to work with first before deciding on what equipment to buy.
If you have a small space, then you might have to utilise a wall for hanging racks or purchase extra shelving to store equipment. You'll also have to be selective on the type of equipment to fit a smaller space, such as opting for a foldable treadmill. If you have lots of room, you'll have a much easier time fitting in all the home gym equipment and gear you need.
What equipment do you need?
With your goals in mind and your space picked out, selecting the right equipment is the next step.
Any good workout routine consists of a mix of cardio and strength training, among other things, so it’s good to have a variety of equipment to support these goals. Once you figure out what you like and don't like, then you can work on adding more specific items to your gym.
Here are a few examples of some essentials for each activity and their intended purpose:
Yoga & Pilates
Yoga Mat: Having a good quality fitness mat or yoga mat for your workout space is going to make a world of difference to your workout performance.
It will provide a padded and non-slip surface for yoga and Pilates exercises but are also great for other types of floor-based workouts, like (ahem, burpees) HIIT exercises.
Yoga Block & Strap: Essential yoga accessories to help with alignment and support during yoga poses, as well as stretching and deepening poses.
Fit Ball & Pilates Toning Ball: Useful for core strengthening and balance exercises. You can find everything from toning and flow balls to Pilates rings here.
Cardio
Every home gym should have some form of cardio available. Cardio helps with maintaining a good cardiovascular system as well as conditioning for strength training.
Treadmills are a fantastic go-to for your basic cardio workouts like walking or running. While things like exercise bikes, rowing machines & ellipticals provide a low-impact cardio workout.
However, if you are on a budget or simply don't have the space, other alternatives can do the trick. For example, a skipping rope is a fantastic and space-conserving way to get a quick and effective cardio session in. You could also try things like jumping jacks, high knees, or mountain climbers. For these exercises, you just need enough space to move around.
Strength Training
Dumbbells & Kettlebells: A good set of weights should be at the top of any home gym list. A range of hand weights from dumbbells to kettlebells are one of the most important pieces of equipment of any home gym.
They’re versatile (come in a range of sizes, types, and weights) and can be used for various strength and functional movements to target different muscle groups.
If you are more advanced in your weightlifting, investing in a bar and plates is going to offer you the same training effectiveness as a gym. In this case, including something like a half rack in your home gym is going to give you more versatility in your workouts and provide outstanding results from home.
Weight Bench: Including a quality bench in your home gym is going to provide so many workout opportunities. Not only can a bench be used while doing a variety of weighted exercises, like chest presses, rows, seated bicep curls, etc., but can also be used during cardio workouts.
For example, step-ups and bench hops are great exercises to get the heart pumping and the blood flowing.
Multi-Use Equipment
Adding equipment like resistance bands, exercise balls, medicine balls, etc. are great additions to consider for your home gym.
They can be used for various workouts including cardio, strength, HIIT, you name it. Including equipment that is not only versatile but adaptable to you and your fitness is a must for any home gym.
Optional additions depending on your preferences, budget, and space availability:
Door Gym & Pull-Up Bar: Enables pull-ups, chin-ups, and hanging leg raises for upper body and core strength.
Home Gym: The all-in-one home trainer that will not only save space but will allow you to work just about every muscle group (think: arms, shoulders, pecs, legs).
Power Rack or Squat Rack: These are ideal for safety and stability during heavy lifts.
Battle Ropes: Battle ropes are excellent for full-body workouts, building strength, and improving cardiovascular fitness simultaneously.
Ab Wheels & Training Aids: From ab wheels to push-up bars and ankle weights, these are great tools to add a little extra burn to your routine.
Recovery
Foam Roller: If there’s one recovery tool you need, it’s a foam roller. Great for releasing muscle tightness, improving flexibility, and enhancing recovery through self-myofascial release techniques.
Massage Gun & Therapy Devices: Massage guns and therapy devices (like massage balls) are the ultimate recovery tools, effective for relieving muscle tension, reducing soreness, and promoting faster recovery after intense workouts.
Consider Flooring
It’s a good idea to also think about flooring when installing bulky exercise equipment. Will you use a rubber gym mat or place down interlocking foam, rubber tiles, or vinyl floors (similar to commercial gyms) to protect your floors (and you)?
If you’re planning to exercise over carpet, it’s a good idea to have a conditioning layer between you and the carpet to prevent unwanted odour and discolouration, among wear and tear. In the same sense, if you are setting up in a garage with concrete or tiled floors, mats prevent any damage to the flooring like cracks and dents if you go too heavy on a squat and have to bail halfway through. Even if you're a pro at deadlifts and chest presses, it's better to be safe than sorry.
Whatever you choose, it should be easy to clean and durable enough to withstand your workouts (and equipment).
Lighting: Good lighting (and atmosphere) will not only enhance safety and visibility during workouts but can also boost your mood and motivation.
Music: If you can’t work out without music, you might want to consider whether you need a portable speaker or are just as happy to use headphones.
Storage: A storage box to stash away all the smaller items, such as foam rollers and resistance bands.
Mirror: A decent-sized mirror will help assist with your form and technique.
Fan: To keep you cool when things start to heat up.
Whiteboard: Great for writing down workouts.
Remember, to build an effective home gym it’s about prioritising equipment that aligns with your fitness goals and preferences – not just what you can squeeze into your garage.
It's about creating a space where you feel inspired and motivated and can achieve quality workouts – and results – from home. Good luck!
Shop our entire range of home gym equipment online or head in-store to speak to one of our friendly rebel staff to help you find the right equipment for you.
If you know you need a treadmill and a recovery device but can't choose between a massage gun or massage ball, our buying guides can help: