Photo by Victor Freitas

Originally Posted On: Basement Gym | New England Basement Finishing and Remodeling | Lux Renovations, LLC (ocboston.com)

What are you going to do with a finished basement? There is so much you can do. You built an entire room and it’s now a blank canvas, what can you do with it. The short answer… ANYTHING! One type of functional room that many of our happy clients choose to design is a home gym. The amount of space you have in your newly finished basement will dictate what you’re able to accomplish with your basement gym but there are many options.

Some clients have enough room for a full on weight room, others only a machine or two. So when planning to use your basement for a gym, you need to take into consideration the space you have to work with. Also, keep in mind how much room you’ll need to move around. If you’ve got a small space, you probably won’t be able to fit a weight rack, elliptical and treadmill so if you are working with limited space, the first thing to do is consider what exercises you’ll be doing the most.

Many of our clients who turn their unused basements into a home gym find that one to three different cardio machines are perfect. But again, depending on space, you’ll have to make some decisions. Stationary bikes are popular, as they don’t take up a lot of room. Having one or two stationary bikes is perfect for a smaller home gym.

If space is limited, you might want to consider a yoga space instead as yoga mats don’t take up much room at all, and when you’re done, you can roll up your mat and leave it in the corner. This is best if you ‘ll need your space for more than just a workout/ gym area. Of course, if all you have is space, than a few cardio machines and weights aren’t an issue. You might also want to consider an all-in-one machine. While they do take up a bit of space, you can easily work your entire body in one corner of your newly finished basement.

While a finished basement will add value and functionality to your home, the way in which you use it will dictate your enjoyments for years to come!