Some Tips for Your Garage Gym Conversion
Are you considering a garage gym conversion to finally make good on that New Year’s resolution? Turning your carport into a dedicated fitness space is a great way to bypass the membership fees and queuing that come with going to the gym. Enacting this transformation is a great way to elevate the value of your home, while also using your dusty garage for something useful.
However, a garage and gym have a lot of differences before you put the work in. This blog offers some essential tips so you can convert garage to gym space, including picking the right flooring or making clever installations like automatic garage doors.
Setting your fitness goals
This will set the tone for your garage home gym. Are you looking to lift weights and get swole or are you simply trying to increase your fitness with a little bit of cardio? Asking and answering these questions will help you to determine what sort of space you’re going to need, along with how much of/what equipment you should buy.
If you’re only planning on getting into running on the treadmill, you could potentially lean into half-garage gym ideas, maintaining space for your vehicles or other belongings.
Clearing out & refitting your garage
Depending on the complexity of your desired garage gym conversion, you’re going to have to clear out and potentially make proper refittings to the space.
Potential steps include:
- Decluttering the garage for any mess
- Thoroughly cleaning surfaces, from the floor to the ceiling
- Checking for damp, leaks, insulation, mould, etc.
- Replacing the garage door with something more convenient or energy efficient
- Installing purpose-made garage gym flooring/bringing in floor mats
- Bringing in an extractor fan or installing new ventilation ports
- Adding extra windows or glass panes for increased natural light
You also need to ensure that your electricity is all in order. There needs to be plenty of sockets to power equipment, along with any entertainment technology that you want. You should account for heating and cooling equipment as well. When things start to get more technical, don’t be afraid to hire a professional – DIY can end badly and bode results outside of regulations.
Making your home gym your own
Once you’ve covered the basics and technical parts of your garage gym conversion, it’s time to bring in those touches that really make the difference and create the space that you really want to exercise in. These can vary from functional integrations to more choice additions.
Functional elements
Some functional elements to bring in could include:
- Wall-mounted mirrors to check your form
- Storage for weights and equipment
- Mats and flooring additions
Entertainment integrations
If you want to feel more comfortable in the gym, you might want to bring in entertainment features, such as:
- A sound system to listen to your workout mix with
- TV monitors and entertainment systems if you want to watch guided videos, TV shows or movies while you work out
- Heating and cooling supplies for the right atmosphere in the space
- A mini fridge or water cooler to stay refreshed while you exercise
- Some sort of seating to relax in the room after as a multi-purpose space
The functional and nicer elements that you choose to bring in will change the gym for the better, making it the kind of place that you’ll want to spend extended periods in.
Remember, any garage gym conversion needs to operate within local building regulations, especially if you’re going to be making extensions or anything like that. Sometimes you have to put in the work, before you can put in the work, so be mindful, work with good people and let's get started on that summer body!
