16 Motivating Home Gym Ideas That Will Inspire You to Get Active

1. Hang the Mirrors

Designer Lindye Galloway created a home gym in Hudson, N.Y., featuring a cardio area, a meditation corner, and a yoga space. Rather than mounting mirrors on the walls, she opted to have them custom-crafted to be suspended—this floating design adds to the luxurious, spa-like atmosphere of the room.

2. Try Planks

If you're lucky enough to have a detached structure away from your house (not the garage!), turn it into a wellness retreat. This bright, open space was designed by Nadia Palacios of Nadia Palacios Residential Design and built by Windham Builders, with a garden cottage-inspired atmosphere in mind, as explained by Nadia. Every detail was carefully chosen: The wooden planks are not only charming but also practical—they support heavy equipment better than drywall. The homeowners frequently open the wide bi-fold doors, promoting airflow (a must, since gyms can get stuffy!).

3. Embrace Design-Forward Details

Erin Wheeler of Sunny Circle Studio (who also designed a room in the 2022 Mytour Home!) took her own gym to the next level by applying a stunning coat of blue paint, custom wall moldings, a stylish light fixture, and sophisticated window treatments. Fun fact: The piece in the center of the room is actually a Frame TV, which is perfect for streaming home workout videos.

4. Incorporate Elegant Cabinetry and Tile

If you have the chance to add custom storage to a space, take full advantage of it! In this basement home gym, designer Jo Alcorn of Alcorn Home Design & Build opted for cabinetry with light-colored wood grain melamine fronts, allowing the homeowner to hide workout gear like rubber bands, yoga mats, and cleaning supplies. The sleek tile backsplash adds another textural element to the room, and the warm wood slatted ceiling softens the cold, sterile feel typically found in basements.

5. Design a Partition

Raili Clasen designed this basement in our 2021 Mytour Home with versatility in mind. While a cozy sitting area occupies most of the space, she carved out a dedicated exercise zone by adding a pegboard partition (perfect for hanging things too!). And instead of going through the hassle of hanging a large mirror, she leaned it against the wall—problem solved!

6. Choose a Beautiful Wallpaper

Designer Rachel Peck of Rachel Peck Interiors aimed for a boutique hotel ambiance when she teamed up with contractor Dimora Remodeling to combine custom oak slats with a soft, floral wallpaper—this clever pairing balances the typically utilitarian look of gym equipment. Rachel describes the combination: "The intricate detail of the wallpaper, paired with the structured uniformity of the slatted wall, creates a focal tension point, allowing us to achieve the 'wow' moment with just one wall."

7. Incorporate Color

Interior designer Albie Buabeng of Albie Knows created a fitness space in her multipurpose room, which she calls 'The Flex Lounge.' Since the area serves multiple purposes, including as a work zone, it had to look visually appealing. The room is brightened with colorful artwork, temporary wallpaper, and a playful graphic Ruggable rug. To add functionality, she included a practical wall unit from iDesign and stylish woven baskets for storing weights, bands, and towels.

8. Enhance Structural Features

If you're surprised that this design is in a basement, you're not alone—we were too! Joni Lay of Lay Baby Lay truly transformed this underground area, making the best out of what seemed like an impossible space. The vertical pole, which is essential to the structure, remains in place, but Joni added a unique touch by painting a long checkerboard pattern on it! To further enhance the look, she and her husband built a custom plywood arch and installed strip lighting for a stunning backlit effect. If you look closely, you'll also notice a handrail designed for barre exercises.

9. Add Some Spa Features

Ariel Elliott, the creative mind behind True Style with Ari, focused on crafting a spa-like atmosphere in her home gym. She made sure to incorporate stylish wood open shelving, wicker baskets, and plenty of lush plants. To elevate the experience, Ariel included a small tabletop waterfall for soothing water sounds during post-workout relaxation, along with a reed diffuser. A mini fridge was a thoughtful addition—because after an intense workout, nothing beats a chilled drink to recharge.

10. Install Ceiling Beams

Shea McGee of Studio McGee has an amazing basement—it includes a home gym and an indoor skate ramp. (Totally mind-blowing.) If you're wondering how to warm up your workout space, consider adding wood ceiling beams like Shea did here.

11. Mix the Materials

For those who find Peloton to be an essential part of their daily routine, Shawna Percival of Styleberry Creative Interiors offers expert advice on creating spaces that accommodate your exercise bike in an elegant and functional way. The fusion of textures and materials, like exposed brick, a wooden ceiling treatment, and contemporary art, creates a dynamic, elevated atmosphere.

12. Design a Custom Sauna

Even if your gym is at home, a sauna doesn’t have to be off-limits. You can integrate one into an existing space! Designer Kristin Hildebrand of KH Interiors transformed a simple home gym by adding a Finnleo sauna, turning it into a true wellness sanctuary for the homeowners.

13. Innovative Storage Solutions

Professional organizer Lela Burris from Organized-ish worked her magic to transform a sunroom (formerly a screened-in porch) into a compact home gym. With her expert organizational skills, she created an impressively neat and efficient space for workout equipment. Metal pegboards, closet shoe racks, and an array of Command hooks offer ample storage, while multiple budget-friendly mirrors replace the need for a large, expensive one. And the soft pink paint? A perfect touch for the space.

14. Draw Inspiration from Your Favorite Resort

Some high-end resort gyms come with luxurious amenities like snacks, towels, and beverages. Andrea Siwiec, behind the Instagram handle Acquired_By_Andrea, aimed to recreate that same luxury resort and spa experience in her own home gym. Though compact, the space includes everything needed for a top-tier workout: free weights, a stationary bike, treadmill, rowing machine, yoga mat, TV, speakers, mirrors, a hydration station stocked with Gatorade, healthy snacks, and a diffuser to infuse the room with spa-like tranquility.

15. Integrate a Gym and Studio

Curated Nest Interiors, a design studio located on the East Coast, transformed a basement into both a gym and barre studio. One side of the space features classic gym equipment such as an elliptical, bike, and weights, while the other half is dedicated to a hybrid barre and meditation area inspired by Bali. The ambiance is set with cascading rattan lights, artwork, and candles, providing a calming, immersive experience.

16. Celebrate Your Unique Style

Lori Dennis, ASID, LEED AP, a Los Angeles-based interior designer, worked with a single father to create a gym that reflected his personal taste. The client sought a gym with the same level of sophistication as the rest of his home, so Lori incorporated stylish touches like unique wooden mirrors and brass ceiling lighting, as she explains.