Garage gym ideas are about more than just stuffing your garage with home gym equipment. A garage gym also requires design decisions, as well as decisions about proper storage, proper flooring, and facing darkness that tends to be an issue.
So, these garage hall ideas address both practical and design questions. If all you currently have is an empty garage and many home gym ideas that don’t necessarily translate well in this space, these garage examples should give you plenty of inspiration.
Garage gym ideas: Why build a garage gym?
Home gym ideas usually come to people when they realize that an indoor gym, even if it is just a small gym idea, will not work. From potential floor damage to noise, as well as the lack of privacy in a broken family home, a traditional home has its drawbacks.
On the other hand, garages seem to be for gyms. Katie Thomas, founder of KTM Design, explains that home garage gyms are popular because they are “the perfect size for all the equipment you might need,” as well as provide the desired “separation” between home life and exercise time, “giving you a dedicated space to focus with the least amount of distraction.” .”
Garages are also remarkably strong—after all, Katie points out, “they are built to withstand the weight of cars, so you don’t have to worry about the weight of the machines.” You can easily put all the home gym equipment you need in the garage without worrying about any negative impact on your home floor/design.
With this in mind, you need to spend some time planning and designing your garage gym, especially if you use your garage as a home gym and to maintain your car (this is called a half garage gym).
1. Create a multi-purpose space
(Image credit: Garage Flex)
If you are converting an unused garage into a home gym, you will have enough space to create a multipurpose space with several discreet exercise areas. The beauty of the garage gym is that it can easily accommodate a rowing machine and yoga mat, as well as a designated corner for weightlifting or HIIT training.
This multi-purpose space was created by Garage Flex. We really like how simple and uncluttered it is – more space for a more diverse set of exercise equipment spaced enough to allow multiple people to do different types of exercises at the same time. This design is also suitable as part of half garage gym ideas, where you will only be able to use a part of your garage at a time.
2. Open the space with sliding doors
(Image credit: Builder: Patterson Custom Homes, Architect: Brandon Architects, Interior Designer: Ultra-Mod Home Concepts, Photographer: Jeri Koegel)
The problem with many home garage parlors is that they can be quite dark. If you have the budget for it, consider opening up your garage conversion by installing bi-fold or sliding doors, or even a glass roof.
This home gym created by Patterson Custom Homes and Brandon Architects is one of the smartest we’ve ever seen. The space is designed to form continuity with the flat area outside. The result is a home gym that’s airy, open, and never dark.
3. Combine the garage gym area and utility area
(Image credit: Garage Flex)
A converted garage is an invaluable source of space for smaller homes, so it’s understandable if you don’t want to use all that extra space just for a home gym.
Since the garage is like a blank piece of cloth, you can really put whatever you want there. Mill, washing machine, shoe store? Why not. If most utility room ideas are out of reach for you due to a lack of space, combining a utility area and a garage gym may work well.
4. Brighten up the space with colorful floors
(Image credit: Garage Flex)
If you want a space that looks a little more exciting, invest in colorful home gym floors. Vinyl or resin floors are good choices for garages thanks to the durability of these materials, although you may eventually find your floors scuffing, so choose richer, deeper colors instead of lighter ones.
5. Serious at work? Use every inch of space
(Image credit: Nick Taylor)
If your garage transformation ideas gravitate toward the garage gym, you can also get serious about full-body workouts.
Nick Taylor, a professional personal trainer with over 15 years of experience, created the highly advanced workout space in his garage. It’s not for the faint of heart, and no available space was wasted. If you have big fitness goals, get inspired by the huge selection of equipment featured here.
6. Keep your gym garage tidy with ample storage
(Image credit: Garage Flex)
If your garage gym is a family workout space, you’ll need to invest in some proper storage. We love how chic the space looks in this example by Garage Flex—the back wall is lined with dresser cabinets that keep all the small items out of the way when not needed.
7. Consider an all-white design to brighten up your gym
(Image credit: Garage Flex)
Another way to deal with the potential darkness of a garage gym is to paint it all white or clad the interior with white panels. Add plenty of light panels or spotlights to brighten up the space.
8. Create a weightlifting station
(Photo credit: Nick Taylor)
If strength training is one of your fitness goals, you’ll want to invest in the best dumbbells. When you try different types and weights, you’ll find that they build up pretty quickly, so you’ll want to organize them properly in your garage.
Nick Taylor’s organization of dumbbells is exemplary – they are displayed in a multi-level storage unit, in a way that makes picking and retrieval very easy.
What do I need in the garage hall?
Mark Reynolds, founder and CEO of WeMakeGyms.com, told us that “in an ideal scenario, it’s good to be able to check every box when it comes to the home gym. These boxes are cardio training, resistance training, free weight training, and mobility/body weight/floor/core/functional work as the four main categories.
That’s a lot to cover and would involve a lot of machines. Mark recommends:
- One piece of cardio equipment (ideally, a total body like a cross-trainer, but this also comes down to personal preference and budget of course)
- A piece of equipment to facilitate resistance training such as a cable machine or high-quality adaptive multiple equipment
- Free weights solution like squats with free weight bars and plates
- Dumbbell or hybrid squat stand
If you use your entire garage as a home gym, this might work just fine. If space is limited, “You can combine a squat rack and a cable machine in one space.”
Also, don’t forget that you’ll need “a lot of floor space for commuting/body weight/flooring/core/functional work” – therefore, sufficient vertical storage is essential to keep the floor clear.
How can I make my garage hall look beautiful?
This is one of the most common questions people ask about garage parlors, because garages are not inherently beautiful spaces. The main problem with them is that they are often very dark – and some have no windows.
Therefore, good lighting should make most garage halls look much nicer. Alex Gwilliam, Director of Sales at Green Retreats, recommends, “Choose an LED lighting option that mimics natural daylight, such as an LED panel lamp, to brighten up your home gym and energize your workout.”
Good flooring will also go a long way towards creating a nicer appearance for your garage. You don’t have to worry about matching the floor to anything else in your garage, so a colored floor can be a solution to an otherwise unnoticeable space.
Finally, well-designed storage cabinets can elevate the look of your garage hall. Open shelving may be simpler, but for a more professional look, a purpose-built cabinet will really save.