11 Home Gym Essentials To Keep You In Shape

I’ve always set up what I needed in terms of exercise equipment in my basement and completed my workouts in my subterranean home gym without the prying eyes and unwiped sweat of other gym-goers…

Now yes, I understand that some people need to physically get out of the house and go to a gym to do their daily workouts for motivational purposes, but in light of this damn pandemic we’re facing at the moment, do you really want to go back to a gym when it opens?

And besides, setting up a home gym is a great way to save on your monthly gym membership while incurring zero travel time and wearing your most comfy-but-ugly workout gear.

But there are a few considerations to deal with first in terms of space and home gym equipment essentials for any budget or space. I also share some of my favourite YouTube fitness gurus to guide you during your home workouts, whether you have equipment or not!

*this post contains affiliate links. Always consult with a medical professional before starting a new exercise program*

How Much Space Do You Need For A Home Gym?

Ok, so when we talk about your home gym, the size and shape of your workout space and what you put into it is going to vary for everyone based on what you have available. If you have a huge amount of space available to you – I’m envious, this section isn’t going to really apply to you.

However, smaller spaces may limit what you can put into them based on the type of exercises you’re looking to do. If you love a good HIIT workout, all you really need is a good 7ft x 7ft space or less, depending on your size, that you can jump and move around in without hitting something in the process.

You should lay out on the floor and make sure you have enough room to complete floor exercises within this space. If you don’t have enough space for your home gym essentials, consider whether you can temporarily move some of your furniture around – without injuring yourself, of course – to make the space you need.

It’s also a good idea to have access to a TV or spot to put your phone/tablet if you are streaming your workouts to easily follow along with your favourite trainer or just blast some tunes.

TIP: Don’t have a favourite trainer? I share some of mine from YouTube further down in this post.

A full length mirror is another great option to add to your home gym so you can monitor your form while exercising to avoid injury.

Home Gym Essentials On A Budget Or Small Space

Having essential equipment for a home gym is great when you can’t follow a particular time routine to go to the gym. At home you can exercise whenever you please. Also, you get the perfect exercise environment with complete privacy.

Bodyweight workouts are crazy effective, so don’t feel the need to stock up on dumbbells and resistance bands if you really can’t afford them or can’t store them easily. However, if you do have some decent space for affordable workout equipment, you can consider adding some of the following home gym essentials to your crib:

1. Yoga Mat – You can use it for yoga or any floor exercises like planks and push-ups.

A good yoga mat can provide some cushion for the knees and other joints when jumping and will be much more comfortable then resting on a hard floor alone.

2. Dumbbells – While bodyweight workouts can be quite effective, certain muscles are best trained using weights.

If you are new to using weights, start with some 3lb, 5lb and 8lb dumbbells and increase the weight as you build strength. For more serious weight lifting, consider heavier weights or adjustable dumbbells that can have weight added to them and removed as needed.

Adjustable dumbbells are more costly but take up less space and will grow with you as your strength increases without having to order additional weights over time.

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3. Resistance bands – A great affordable option to add resistance to your workouts are resistance bands. There are a ton of resistance band exercises you can find on YouTube and the bands are super compact for easy storage or travel.

4. Kettlebells – I personally love kettlebells for a great full body workout, as the weight distribution of a kettlebell engages your core and challenges your balance.

Again, newbies should start with lower weight options, like getting a 5lb and 10lb kettlebell to alternate between for various exercises. You can later purchase heavier ones as your strength builds.

*note: if you suffer from lower back pain, some kettlebell movements may exacerbate this condition.

5. Cardio Equipment – if you have the space and funds to afford a treadmill and/or bike and believe that you will actually use them, go for it!

However, these are bigger purchases and not necessary to get a good home workout in. A great cardio HIIT session mixed with some resistance training can help burn maximum calories without these pieces of equipment.

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6. Weight Bench – A weight bench is helpful, but also not necessary. You can use sturdy furniture around your home for step-ups or tricep dips and can always lay on the floor instead of lying on a bench for other movements, like chest flys.

7. Pull-Up Bar: A pull-up bar is a great way to work all the muscles in your back using your bodyweight as resistance.

Many pull-up bars can be hung in doorways (like this one) or mounted on a wall – just be sure to review how the bar you are looking to purchase is installed before you buy it to make sure it will work in your space.

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8. Jump Rope: This isn’t just for kids play – jump rope is a great way to get in some serious cardio and it can be damn tough!

Purchase a regular jump rope if you are a beginner, a wire lightweight rope to improve your speed, or a weighted rope to build up strength. It’s a home gym essential on a budget that will quickly raise your heart rate.

9. Medicine Ball: These balls are weighted and are a great way to work on plyometric movements as well as build up core strength through throwing and carrying activities.

If you’re a beginner, purchase a lighter weight medicine ball to start.

10. Barbell and weight plates: A barbell is a great way to build strength due to the stabilization and coordination skills it requires during specific movements.

Buying weight plates for your barbell lets you adjust the weight being lifted for different exercises.

Don’t worry if you can’t get to the store to purchase all these items – just order online like I do. Just know that your delivery person will probably hate you for a while when they have to deliver your dumbbells and weight plates!

Also be sure to sign up for a free Rakuten account to earn cash back whenever you shop online from qualified retailers! It’s a great way to get all your home gym essentials on a budget.

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Find The Right At-Home Trainer + Some Of My Faves

I know a lot of people go to gyms to get the advice and guidance of a trainer, whether it be through one-on-one training or an in-class setting. While you can’t get the exact same experience at home, you can definitely find great trainers online that will guide you through your workout within your home gym.

YouTube is an awesome free resource for home gym workouts. There are countless trainers and exercise professionals offering follow along workouts for yoga, pilates, HIIT, strength training and more.

Personally, I love doing HIIT workouts or strength training exercises with bodyweight, dumbbells or kettlebells by following these YouTube fitness gurus:

Some trainers also have their own websites that you can go to for exercise programs and more personalized guidance, although many require you to subscribe to and pay for their programs.

Whatever your situation may be, creating an effective home gym to get your workouts in during this quarantine and beyond does not have to be complicated or expensive, so go for it!