Setting Up An Affordable Home Gym
Strength training twice a week is essential for health, but building strength doesn't have to mean you have to join a gym.
Creating a gym at home is a great way to squeeze movement breaks into your day and a cost-effective option. You can work out whenever you want and you'll save money on membership fees and commuting costs. You can exercise in complete privacy (family and housemates permitting) and there are no more excuses about bad weather or lack of time.
A home gym isn't about having the fanciest equipment – it's about creating a convenient, comfortable space that supports your fitness goals. With some creativity and smart shopping, you can build an effective workout space that fits both your budget and lifestyle.
Activity Guidelines
Adults should aim to do strengthening activities that work all the major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms) on at least 2 days a week.
Find a Suitable Space
The beauty of a home gym is that you can start small and expand over time. Getting started doesn’t need to cost much money or take up much space. In fact, all you really need is a space that's big enough to lie down and stretch out on.
If you can, create a dedicated space: clear out a corner of your bedroom, garage, or spare room. If you don't have room, then choose somewhere where you can store some gear with enough room to stretch out your arms and perform basic movements comfortably.
Money-Saving Strategies
Start Minimal: You don’t need all of the above to get started, a yoga mat and some resistance bands will be fine. Use bodyweight exercises if you don’t fancy dumbbells. And add to your equipment as you progress.
Get Creative: Filled water bottles can serve as weights, stairs for cardio, and sturdy chairs for step-ups or tricep dips. Necessity is the mother of invention, as they say!
Shop Second-hand: Check charity shops for dumbbells and yoga mats (best wipe them first though!). Online marketplaces and local buy/sell groups might also turn up some even cheaper kit.
No Equipment? No Problem
You can do perfectly good workouts using just your body weight. The beauty of bodyweight training lies in their simplicity - you can perform these movements anywhere and anytime. If you're new to these exercises then start with just a few of each and listen to your body. Do stop if something feels wrong.
Push-ups: Begin in a plank position and lower your chest to the ground, then push back up while maintaining a straight body.
Squats: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, then lower your body as if sitting in a chair while keeping your chest up.
Planks: Hold a straight-body position on your forearms and toes, engaging your core muscles throughout.
Mountain Climbers: In a plank position, alternate bringing each knee toward your chest.
Lunges: Step forward with one leg, lowering until both knees are bent at 90 degrees, then push back to start.
Inverted Rows: Lie under a sturdy table, grip the edge, and pull your chest toward the table while keeping your body straight.
Great Equipment for Beginners
You can enhance your workout with just a few pieces of equipment:
Exercise or Yoga Mat: A thin but cushioning mat will make your floor exercises more comfortable and protect your knees and joints. Starting from about £8.
Resistance Bands: Like long elastic bands, resistance bands come with different levels of resistance from easy to hard. You use them to make your muscles work harder when doing certain strength and stretching exercises. They’re portable and easy to store. Starting from about £8.
Skipping Rope: An excellent piece of kit for cardio workouts and another super compact option. Not everyone will have room or ceiling height for skipping inside, but if you don’t, you can take them to the park or into the garden. Starting at about £4.
Pair of Adjustable Dumbbells: Dumbbells are another way of adding weight to your exercises, helping to build strength, balance and cardiovascular fitness depending on how you're using them. Getting adjustable ones simply saves money over getting multiple pairs for different weights, and also saves on storage space. (starting at about £25)
Your Local Outdoor Gym
Some people progress onto rowing machines, exercise bikes, weight benches, running machines and fancy home gym setups.
Before investing in expensive equipment, remember your local environment offers a wealth of natural fitness opportunities that can transform ordinary spaces into an outdoor gym. A nearby hill becomes your cardio challenge, perfect for sprints or steady climbs that build leg strength and endurance.
Public staircases offer an intense workout alternative, while playground equipment can double as a workout station - monkey bars for pull-ups and parallel bars for dips. Park benches serve as platforms for step-ups and tricep dips. The key is to view your surroundings with a fitness mindset, turning everyday features into exercise equipment.
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