Published December 9, 2025
20 Home Gym Ideas That Make Working Out a Joy
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.
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Stick 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.
Amp 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.
Add 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.”
Catch 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.
Include 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.”
Take 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.
Add 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.”
Put 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.
Add 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.
Make 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.
Work 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.”
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Don’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.”
Design 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.
Integrate 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.”
Soundproof 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.
Invest 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.”
Add 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.”
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Use 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.
Add 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.
Incorporate 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.
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