With many of us foregoing the gym at the moment, more homeowners are looking for other ways to get their workouts in. Luckily, it’s easy to create a workout space in just about any home. If you’re lucky enough to have a home gym, that’s great. But for most homeowners, it’s not the case. Many don’t even have a spare room to work with. The good news is that no matter what your space looks like, chances are you can still create the workout area you need. So, what are things homeowners can do to get started?

Use What You’ve Got

Creating a workout space in your home doesn’t mean you need to go out and invest in expensive, fancy equipment. In fact, the best place homeowners can start is with the things they already have. Then, you can test the space out for a week or two and identify any small items you might be missing. For example, you might find that a water bottle is a perfect substitute for a light hand weight, or you might determine you need a thicker mat under your feet. Whatever the case, see what you already have first. Creating a workout space shouldn’t mean adding more clutter to your home.

Designate a Space

Using the same space each time you workout is ideal. It helps you associate that area with your workouts and can make you more motivated to use it. Even if that area is double functioning as a bedroom or living room, determine where you’ll workout and stick with it. While you might not leave a yoga mat and weights out in the middle of your living room, you could use a nice basket or ottoman to store some of your equipment so that it’s handy when you’re ready for a workout.

Add a Mirror

For many gym goers, something they miss about the gym is the mirrors to ensure they have the correct form. This is an easy fix, but many homeowners overlook it. If you’re doing an activity where you usually watch your form in a mirror, getting an inexpensive standing mirror (or borrowing one from another room in your house) is a great way to maintain that same benefit without needing to go to the gym.

Go Virtual

There’s a seemingly endless selection of virtual fitness classes online. These are the perfect way to maximize your home gym. If you have a T.V. in your workout space, streaming the classes there is great. But even if you’re simply using your laptop on a table, these classes can help create the energy and motivation that many find at the gym. Virtually teaming up with a friend or two to regularly attend live-stream classes can help cultivate a sense of community and accountability.

Have you created a workout space in your home yet? What are the biggest challenges to designing an area for this? What have you found works well for you? I’d love to hear your thoughts!