Designing a Family Fitness Room in Your Home

Guest Blogger #359, Entry #942, February 7, 2012

With the statistics on obesity of paramount concern these days, many families are looking for ways to improve their overall health by eating better and getting fit, and often that requires making some major changes since many of us lead a sedentary lifestyle. In terms of diet, most people understand that this means cutting out fast food and preservatives in favor of fresh, natural items. But when it comes to exercise, many families hit a wall. Kids may not be old enough to gain membership at a gym and many parents simply don’t have the time or inclination to play sports with their children (at least not frequently). So what’s the happy medium? Why not think about setting aside some space for a home gym? Here are just a few design tips that will help you to make your fitness goals a reality.

Design a gym that suits all of your needs

Image via: Myhomeideas

1.    Consider the needs of all

This is a good place to start when it comes to design. Even if you were only making a space for you and your spouse, one might be keen on cardio and yoga while the other prefers weight training. And when you throw kids into the mix you have the added frustration of planning for physical activities that they’ll find appealing as well as tailoring the space to their smaller size. So start your venture by sitting down with the whole family to find out what each person’s interests are before you start buying equipment willy-nilly.

What amenities does your family gym need?

Image via: Pinterest.Home Gym

2.    Foundation

The basics in any room are flooring, walls, and lighting. When it comes to flooring, you can pretty easily prepare for activity with interlocking tile mats. This foam rubber is cushy enough to absorb the shock of a dropped weight as well as keep you comfortable when you have to kneel or lay down to exercise. It’s also easy to install, clean, and replace. As for walls, consider a bright color to inspire energy and think about adding glassless mirror panels that will allow you to check your form without the possibility of damage if you accidentally launch a Kettlebell at one. And make sure there is plenty of bright lighting for safety reasons.

3.    Safety

This is of paramount importance, especially where kids are concerned. If you want to house heavy weights and machinery in your home gym, make sure they are locked up so that kids can’t hurt themselves. Keep your weight rack in a locked cage and opt for machinery that you can password protect to keep kids from using it. Also, make sure that you have necessary padding, belts, gloves, and other safety gear on hand for whoever needs it.

Design an area for your family to get fit

Image via: Satorismiles

4.    Equipment

Machines are large and expensive, so think about ways you can stretch your budget with other types of equipment. A jump rope, a heavy bag, and a bike stand (that makes your regular bike stationary) are all good cardio options. As for weights, consider discs, which can go on a variety of bars. When it comes to the kids, make this the only room in the house where they can toss a ball (and include plenty). Finally, make sure to include provisions for stretching, such as yoga mats and stretchy bands.

5.    Technology

It’s not like you have to include a nursing informatics system to monitor and track your family’s health. But you can do more than install a TV and DVD player to meet your fitness needs. Think about hooking up a laptop to your entertainment system to access online fitness information (like workout videos), installing game stations for the kids that come with interactive fitness activities (Wii, Xbox Kinect, etc.), and even using your smartphone or tablet to access apps that can help you work out smarter.

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