Home Remodel

Home Gym Remodel Mistakes to Avoid

The failures that show up again and again, and what causes each one. Floor, ceiling height and mirrors — in that order.

BeforeAfter
  1. 1

    Mistake 1

    A gym in a basement with 6ft 10in of headroom and a rack that cannot be used.

  2. 2

    Mistake 2

    Mirrors mounted where nobody stands, so they show the wall.

  3. 3

    Mistake 3

    Carpet or laminate under free weights.

  4. 4

    Mistake 4

    No ventilation, so the room is unusable within ten minutes.

Questions

What should I decide first in a home gym remodel?
A home gym remodel is three constraints. The floor has to take dropped weight, the ceiling has to allow a press overhead, and the mirrors have to be positioned for form rather than decoration.
What goes wrong most often?
A gym in a basement with 6ft 10in of headroom and a rack that cannot be used. Mirrors mounted where nobody stands, so they show the wall.
Will it work in a small home gym?
A 10×10ft gym with a proper clear platform beats a 14×14ft one with equipment on all four walls. Empty floor is the equipment in a small gym.
Can I see it on my own home gym before starting?
Yes — photograph the space and run it through the Studio. It is generated imagery, so compare the render against your photo rather than treating it as a plan.
More on home gym remodel
How to Remodel a Home GymThe order the work happens in, and what to settle before anything is ordered.How to Remodel a Small Home GymWhat changes when the space will not take the standard answer.How to Lay Out a Home GymThe dimensions that decide whether the room works, whatever it ends up looking like.How to Light a Home GymThe layer people skip, and the one that makes the rest of the work visible.Home Gym Before and AfterWhat actually changes visually, and how to see it on your own photo first.