33 Home Gym Ideas That Make Working Out a Joy
Don’t sweat it: These rooms look as good as you’ll feel when using them
Whether you’re an endorphin junkie who doesn’t go a day without a solid workout or you’re trying to get into the habit of exercising, coming up with home gym ideas can seem daunting. Though gym design is getting better—and there are a number of designer-approved home gym equipment recommendations available nowadays—workout machines are at best impersonal and at worst straight up ugly.
While it might seem less necessary to have a beautiful home gym compared to, say, a beautiful living room, your gym aesthetic matters more than you think. “Designing with intent changes how we feel about a space, and if that’s a good feeling we are more likely to want to be in it,” says architect Karen Lantz of Lantz Full Circle. In short, finding the right home gym ideas not only gets your endorphin flowing, but it can even inspire you to get into the habit of exercising more.
So how might you create a welcoming space that’s not lunk central? It’s all about being realistic about your fitness goals and keeping function top of mind. We spoke with interior designers and plucked home gym ideas from AD home tours to give you inspiration that will make you want to reach for workout gear pronto.
Photo: Marco Ricca1/33Stick to black and white
The team at SISSY+MARLEY Interiors, Chelsea Reale and Diana Rice, used wall-mounted pegs to hold stability balls and cubby storage for kettlebells, creating visual interest that’s actually functional. “It’s clean, bright, and not distracting,” Reale says. You’d never think that this space, and its epoxy floors, was once an unfinished basement.
Photo: Noah Webb2/33Amp up the cardio with colorful wallpaper
Need motivation to power through a workout? Look no further than kaleidoscopic wallpaper. “A bold, vibrant space can make all the difference in setting the right tone,” says interior designer Kishani Perera, who chose Lee Jofa Roulade Paper to infuse her client’s home gym with energy and fun.
Photo: Katie Charlotte3/33Add a custom mural
Commissioning a mural from local artist David Boatwright was a way to “break the gym stereotype” in this home gym by AD PRO Directory firm Courtney Bishop Design. “Our clients wanted a home gym that felt as inspiring as it was functional—a space that invited movement but didn’t feel sterile,” Bishop explains. “The mural motifs were drawn from nature and movement: abstract waves, bursts of light, and organic lines that mimic energy in motion. It’s meant to feel meditative and kinetic all at once.”
Photo: Douglas Friedman4/33Catch a breeze
A covered outdoor gym protects the equipment from the elements yet lets you exercise en plein air. Tom Kundig, principal of Olson Kundig, designed an overhang made with natural wood panels, which echo the surrounding trees of this Bay Area residence. Black steel beams reflect the color palette of the equipment.
Photo: Sean Litchfield5/33Include regular decor items
This yoga studio designed by AD PRO Directory firm Christine Markatos Design doesn’t sweat about looking like a professional workout space, it leans into the fact that it’s a home gym—emphasis on home. Decor objects and finishes of the same style as the rest of the house are integrated throughout for a sense of cohesion. “The client’s long-standing yoga practice was an important consideration from the outset,” Markatos explains. “Natural textures, sculptural forms, and handcrafted details echo the sense of calm central to the home’s design narrative.”
Photo: Matt Clayton6/33Take advantage of storage options
As you design your home gym, consider adding smart storage solutions to give your space more than one function. XUL Architecture added a sliding door to tuck away the treadmill when the wall bed is in use. Thanks to cleverly placed light wells and interior courtyards, the room has plenty of natural light. The minimalist look is further enhanced with wood details meant to give the room a soothing vibe.
Photo: Sean Litchfield7/33Add a refreshment station
In this home gym by Acquire, a built-in refreshment station helps to separate the cardio area from the weightlifting zone while also adding visual interest to the space, which is visible from the rest of the living area through French doors. “Because the gym is open to the other rooms on this level, we needed to make sure that the aesthetic of the space felt elevated,” Acquire founder Nikki Dalrymple says. “The client uses the bar area for water bottle and ice storage, as well as a towel and hamper storage.”
Photo: Jessica Delaney8/33Put it in the attic
Oliver James Interiors founder Whitney Talsma says her clients were after “a peaceful, airy space for workouts and mediation” with this new build—so she put the home gym in the sunny attic of a barn on the property. Talsma discovered her clients were more interested in flexibility and mobility training, not heavy weight lifting, allowing for an airier, uncluttered gym design.
Photo: Christy Kosnic9/33Add some (faux) sunshine
Add depth to a small gym space with a sprinkle of yellow paint. Here, Laura Hildebrandt, principal of Interiors by LH, painted the ceiling a yellow that was inspired by the fabric used in an adjacent space. “It was the right pop of color to make the space interesting without feeling oppressive,” she says.
Photo: Ric Marder Imagery10/33Make it tough
Embrace Rocky with a home gym design that doesn’t come off as too pampering. The brick façade against the black ceiling, walls, and floors—plus the chain-link fence accents—highlight the fact that this weight room means business. Designer Melissa Fenigstein created the edgy urban aesthetic by employing reclaimed New York bricks and chain-link fence to create an environment that motivates. Our heart is pumping just thinking about working out in this New Age Interiors–designed space.
Photo: Life Created11/33Work with negative space
As you work on the plans for your dream home gym, remember that less is more. Even if you have equipment galore, try to space it out so you can move around without bumping into weight plates. “Negative space around exercise equipment is essential for both practicality and aesthetics,” says Lauren Lerner, CEO and founder of Living with Lolo. “It allows for safe and unrestricted movement, reducing the risk of accidents or injuries during workouts.”
Photo: Eric Frazier12/33Don’t forget the lighting
Deferring to rich, moody colors can anchor your home gym or yoga studio, but to really elevate the space you’ll want to consider details such as sleek lighting. That’s just what designer Liz Potarazu at LP & Co. did when mocking up her own space. “I exercise in the morning and overhead lighting isn’t pleasant at 5 a.m.,” she says. “The sconces were a way to create ambient lighting to ease into the day.”
Photo: Margaret Rajic13/33Design a split plan
The trick to breaking up one open space for multiple uses is to be mindful of sight lines and furniture layout. To merge a home office with a fitness space, Laura Tribbett, principal and founder of Outline Interiors, installed a 48-inch-high wall to separate the two. “We needed just enough height to make each space feel distinct without being closed off,” she says. The result? The home gym isn’t distracting, yet it serves as a friendly reminder to take workout breaks, even if just a few minutes on the stationary bike.
Photo: Matthew Delphenich Architectural Photography14/33Integrate it with the rest of your living space
Creating a workout space that isn’t entirely separate from the rest of your living space can encourage you to use it more—and probably make it a more pleasant space to exercise in too. This home gym by Isamu Kanda of I-Kanda Architects is separated from a living room with glass walls, a feature that ushers natural light inside. “The wellness zone feels airy and intentional—seamlessly integrated into the rest of the home rather than tucked away,” says Kanda. “Instead of a closed-off gym, the space feels like an extension of their everyday environment—an “adult zen” retreat that supports both movement and relaxation.”
Photo: Halkin Mason Photography15/33Soundproof if you can
No one wants to hear their partner dropping dumbbells as you work from home. That’s where acoustics come in. When possible, use materials to soften the noise. Interior designer Marguerite Rodgers recommends stretching decorative fabric that absorbs the noise within the room and keeps it from traveling to other floors. Bonus: An accent ceiling will also serve as a focal point in the home gym.
Photo: Life Created16/33Invest in mirrors
Home gyms should be as inspiring and personalized as any other space in your home. “Incorporating mirrors and art adds a sense of personality and energy, making the gym feel less like a utilitarian workout zone and more like an extension of your lifestyle,” says Lerner. “Unique mirrors can bring unexpected shapes and textures, enhancing the aesthetic while maximizing light and space.”
Photo: Kelly McGuill17/33Add turf
For clients who were most interested in maintaining a sense of fun in fitness for themselves and their children, architect Caitlin Struble of Winslow Design and designer Kelly McGuill of Kelly McGuill Home transformed a basement into an open workout space. Adding a space with turf is especially ideal for children and it ensures they have a space to get energy out in all weather. “The turf area provides a dedicated space for play,” McGuill tells AD. “While soccer is the main activity, it’s also perfect for kickball, golf practice, and a variety of other games the family enjoys together.”
Photo: Douglas Friedman18/33Use outdoor space
If you live in a warm climate and happen to have extra outdoor space to spare, put it to use to create a home gym! At this St. Barts retreat, Vanessa Alexander of Alexander Design opted to do exactly that. A Peloton, a punching bag, and an assortment of dumbbells sit on a wood deck, offering exercisers unfettered access to the beauty of the home’s location. What’s better than a bounty of fresh air when getting your daily cardio in? Note that Alexander kept most of the exercise equipment to a natural color palette to best suit the area.
Photo: Marni Mervis19/33Add a sports court
One of the simplest home gym ideas, if you have the space to create it, is the addition of a sports court. A half-court indoors is certainly a luxury, but one that can make exercise all the more alluring—just take a look at the Tiffany Thompson–designed half-court in D’Angelo Russell’s Minnesota home, which is accessorized with a neon sign and framed jerseys. Depending on where you live, exterior space is often easier to come by and could allow for the creation of a full court, or even a tennis or pickleball court.
Photo: Norman McGrath20/33Incorporate shelving
While it might seem simple, adding shelving to a home gym setup often comes as an afterthought. In fact, it should be at the center, as a proper workout space winds up with plenty of odds and ends hanging about. Sweat towels, water bottles, cellphones, resistance bands, and jump ropes are among the many implements that deserve a distinct storage spot in your home gym. In Steven Spielberg’s Gwathmey Siegel–designed Hamptons home gym, built-in shelving was created to accommodate speakers and the like.
Photo: Alanna Hale21/33Repurpose a living space
What could have easily been an additional living room in this Berkeley Arts and Crafts home now functions as a home gym. Oftentimes it can be discouraging if a room in your space doesn’t feel like your mental image of a workout space, but often this is actually a strong suit. Rather than trying to make their space look more gym-like, homeowners and architects Vishaan Chakrabarti and Maria Alataris simply added a weight bench, a stationary bike, and some plants, allowing the room to flow seamlessly with the rest of the home. Lesson learned: In interior design, work with your space, not against it!
Photo: Melanie Acevedo22/33Level up with some entertainment
This Suzanne Kasler–designed space fills us with design ideas, but the most easily recreated is its inclusion of TVs. One of the best parts of working out in your own home gym is no longer being plagued by the pesky satellite TV shows that most gyms display on monitors throughout those communal spaces. Here, workout equipment is positioned around the TVs, making it easier to watch a motivating workout video or catch up on your latest Netflix binge—we’re not judging! Plus, the offer of not one but two TV screens means multiple household members could feasibly share the space without fighting over the remote.
Photo: Simon Brown23/33Put your motivation on display
While there may be plenty that’s outdated from our 1993 home tour of Elton John’s Adrian Cooper-Grigg– and Andrew Protheroe–designed England retreat, there’s one element in the home gym that has proven timeless: displaying what’s most motivating in your space. In John’s case, this means a bevy of framed gold records. The rest of us may not have a stack of those lying in our personal collections, but prints with inspirational quotes, photos of friends, family, pets, or even role models should do the trick.
Photo: Pieter Estersohn24/33Stay on theme
If the rest of your house is geared towards certain decor ideas or styles, do not feel the need to switch it up for your home gym! For a Colorado ski lodge’s home gym, Atelier AM created a sleek wood-paneled space that perfectly matches the space without sacrificing functionality at all. If the rest of your space is midcentury-modern-inspired, bring in a wood sideboard for storage in your gym space. If you have plenty of wall art throughout your home, make sure to include some in this space too.
Photo: Roger Davies25/33Center on natural light sources
There’s nothing more energizing than abundant natural light, so it can be key to creating an energetic space no matter what your workout routine looks like. Director Michael Bay’s gym is perhaps as dedicated to natural light as a space can get: An entire wall is comprised of floor-to-ceiling glass sliders. While we can’t all expect to have such a space, even if you have a small window, it can be very effective to simply center your equipment to face toward the light source, as Bay’s Lorraine Letendre–designed space does, rather than away from it.
Photo: Björn Wallander26/33Add rubber flooring
If the spare room you’re redesigning has hardwood flooring, covering it with rubber flooring can help provide traction, reduce the likelihood of damage to the flooring from weights or equipment, and it can be easier to clean than hardwood. An added bonus: If you happen to have old wood flooring that’s somewhat slanted, the rubber flooring will keep your equipment from wobbling on that flooring. For George Clooney’s workout room, a limited amount of space is covered by the rubber flooring in order to still show off that gorgeous, gleaming hardwood flooring.
Photo: Michael J. Lee27/33Opt for colored flooring
Home gyms can be hard to personalize, what with the necessary equipment taking up all the square footage in the room. Carefully choosing your flooring can allow for a distinct, personal vibe in a home gym design, as it did in this space by Elms Interior Design. “This vibrant flooring not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of the gym, but it also provides a functional surface for various workouts,” says Elms Interior Design founder Dee Elms.
Photo: Roger Davies28/33Break up the space
If you plan on having a variety of equipment, create defined workout areas for each distinct activity. In Giselle Bundchen and Tom Brady’s Joan Behnke–designed home, toured by AD in 2017, weight racks are employed to divide the space. Exercise bikes have a distinct area, while there’s a separate space for weight lifting, and even a runway for the ceiling-mounted monkey bars.
Photo: Durston Saylor29/33Don’t forget seating
Another element that can often end up as an afterthought in home gym design is seating. Though Madonna’s Christopher Ciccone–designed home gym, seen in a 1991 tour, is quite retro looking in the 2020s, we appreciate the rounded bench—and know that a place to catch one’s breath is always appreciated during particularly vigorous workout sessions.
Photo: Nikolas Koenig30/33Keep small spaces simple
If you only have a little room to work with, don’t attempt to stuff too much equipment in. No one likes to be cramped while trying to stretch! Assess your most essential equipment and cater the space towards it, accessorizing with hung artwork to avoid eating into the space’s footprint. In this Frederic Schwartz–designed New York apartment, workout equipment is kept to a minimum while still being effective.
Photo: Nikolas Koenig31/33Offer open space
If you tend to favor yoga or other mat exercises, presenting a blank yoga-studio-like space is often best, even if it doesn’t feel quite as exciting as sourcing a myriad of equipment. In designer Laura Santos’s own Manhattan town house, she added a calming wood-floored space next to an indoor pool.
Photo: Pieter Estersohn32/33Focus on the ceiling and the floor
If you dread the idea of a minimalist gym space but don’t want to sacrifice valuable square footage to decorations, add drama via the floor and the ceiling. This Richard Keith Langham–designed home gym in Mississippi displays how effective that can be—extra points for the tented ceiling!
Photo: Julia Lynn Photography33/33Add a ceiling fan
It’s one of the more practical considerations for a home gym design plan, but adding a ceiling fan can immediately boost the usability of a workout space. Such was the case for this home gym designed by MDI Luxury Design. “The ceiling fan was essential for airflow both during and after workouts and to really prevent stale air,” says MDI Luxury Design founder Margaret Donaldson. “This room can really warm up when the afternoon sun comes through the large windows, so having a fan circulating air, even in addition to the air conditioning, really helps. No hot yoga for these clients!”
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I put in my home gym?
Lantz, the founder of Lantz Full Circle, points out that good dimmable lighting, enough power outlets for equipment, and speakers are vital to a successful home gym design. The rest depends on your space and your preferred workout. For yoga, curate a space geared toward total relaxation—along with a yoga mat, blocks, and a bolster, add house plants, candles or incense, and remember to keep your walls bare so the space doesn’t feel overstimulating. If you’re committed to a stationary bike or treadmill type, add some high-energy art, bold paint colors, or whimsical wallpaper. Adding floor cushioning is great for both a garage gym and a room that’s used for strength training, as it will prevent damage and keep the noise to a minimum. A station to towel off and hydrate will make the home workout more enjoyable.
What do I need for a small home gym?
Depending on how small your space is, it might be best to keep the design concept simple. “To make a small space feel more expansive, keep it simple,” Hildebrandt says. “Give sections to the [exercise] activities and limit visual clutter.”
Either focus on adding one piece of equipment that you see yourself using most, or keep things open so that you have enough space to stretch, use weights, and accommodate whatever guided workout videos you hope to tackle any given day. For the former, you need a treadmill or stationary bike—some of the best treadmills and bikes for home use have excellent space-saving features—and for the latter, you need a yoga mat, a selection of small weights (like Bala Bands), and a space to put a laptop or tablet if you hope to watch guided workout videos.
How to make a home gym look expensive?
You don’t need to take out a loan to make your home gym look luxe. Ultimately, approach the design as you would any room makeover. Focus on where you place the equipment and decorate around it. “Negative space creates a sense of openness and calm, which can enhance focus and reduce feelings of clutter or confinement,” Lerner says. “This breathing room elevates the overall design, making the gym feel inviting and luxurious rather than overcrowded.”
Once the room has flow, focus on the surrounding space by considering the paint hue. “There has been a shift in thought about the colors used in gyms,” says Joa Studholme, color curator at Farrow & Ball. “No longer do we need to default to a ubiquitous white—smarter home gyms are being decorated in dark naturals.” When you opt for rich paint colors, mix the finishes. You can use high gloss on the lower third of the wall to bounce some light around and a flat on the higher walls. “This gives an added decorative twist and feels very luxurious,” Studholme adds.
A whimsical accent wall ups the ante when it comes to inspiring you to workout. We like the Patchwork mural by Chasing Paper for its bespoke motif that echoes an art gallery. To add a pop of color that also helps soundproof the space, look to products like Felt Right, customized felt tiles that let you choose your aesthetic and keep the acoustics at bay.
Alternatively, hang thoughtfully chosen artwork. “It’s about creating a space that not only supports your physical well-being, but also sparks creativity and positivity, forming an environment you genuinely enjoy spending time in,” Lerner adds.
How can I make my home gym look good?
Making a home gym look good is similar to making just about any part of your house look good. “In a space without abundant natural light, lively design elements become even more essential to keep the mood uplifting and the motivation high,” Perera says, noting that interesting wallpaper can transform a home gym from a potential chore zone into an invigorating retreat.
Like to accessorize with houseplants in your living areas? Add foliage in pretty planters and place them next to your rowing machine. Those with a minimal aesthetic shouldn’t feel pressured to go beyond the basics in your home gym. By the same token—if you’re a master maximalist, go ahead and add knickknacks aplenty to your home gym; that’s the beauty of having a workout space that’s all your own.
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