Readers' Choice: The 10 Most Popular Home Gyms of 2012

by Vanessa Brunner · 10 photos · 9 comments

contemporary home gym by Visbeen Associates, Inc.

1. Michigan home for basketball lovers. This carpeted indoor basketball court can be seen from all of the main rooms in the house, so the family members can cheer one another on. Houzz users loved how this incredible court can double as a workout room.

by Visbeen Associates, Inc.

mediterranean home gym by Celebrity Communities

Add to Ideabook

2. Warm and stylish Colorado gym. Houzz readers know that home gyms don't have to be ugly. This room proves it with sleek laminate flooring, wood paneling and a sage-green accent wall.

by Celebrity Communities

contemporary home gym by Brandon Architects, Inc.

Add to Ideabook

3. TV time in Orange County. Houzz users were curious about the TV in this room in California. Installing it on the mirror seems complicated, but the seamless look makes it worth it.

by Brandon Architects, Inc.

Add to Ideabook

4. Spacious Chicago basketball court. This impressive gym has enough space for a decent pickup game. Houzz users saved this photo for everything from the school banners to the soft upholstered walls.

by Oakley Home Builders

eclectic home gym by Kuhl Design Build LLC

Add to Ideabook

5. Amazing indoor golf simulator in Minnesota. You'd have to hit a lot of golf balls to get a good workout in here, but this golf simulator isn't really about breaking a sweat. Instead, it offers the fun of golf without the walking.

See more of this house

by Kuhl Design Build LLC

eclectic home gym by Your Favorite Room By Cathy Zaeske

Add to Ideabook

6. Bold colors for a better workout. Electric blue and lime light up this small home gym, creating visual energy for whoever's using it. Houzzers saved this photo for its fun color palette and industrial-style mirror trim.

by Your Favorite Room By Cathy Zaeske

Add to Ideabook

7. Zen yoga studio in Minnesota. For those who prefer to stretch their way to fitness, a soothing space for yoga could be the perfect new use for that spare room. Cork flooring, off-white walls, paper lanterns and beautiful door hardware all contribute to the soft and slightly exotic look here.

by John Kraemer & Sons

contemporary home gym by Graf Developments

Add to Ideabook

8. Attic workout space in Texas. Gyms often take up residence in basements, but this small home gym shows that they can find room in attics, too. Houzz users especially loved the ceiling fans, which can really make a difference in a stuffy attic space.

by Graf Developments

contemporary home gym by COOK ARCHITECTURAL Design Studio

Add to Ideabook

9. Light and bright Illinois gym. Surrounded by mirrors, the owners of this home gym won't be able to make a weight-lifting mistake. Crown molding makes sure that the room doesn't feel too bare and hints at the decor in the rest of the house.

by COOK ARCHITECTURAL Design Studio

traditional home gym by Pinnacle Mountain Homes

Add to Ideabook

10. Beautiful indoor lap pool in Colorado. An in-home lap pool may be the ultimate home gym luxury. For those who prefer water over land, this is a wonderful solution.

by Pinnacle Mountain Homes

Comments

schweetlife I think you'd have to live in quite a large house for the basketball courts/rooms but ideas from the other gyms can be scaled up/down to fit a wide variety of room sizes.

4 months ago · Like ·

astraea I have my treadmill in the finished basement, yoga mat & 3 sets of weights, and have been thinking of adding an eliptical down there too. But the idea of mirroring all the walls, like some of these home gyms?! Not sure the purpose of that; watch myself?

4 months ago · Like

Marcy Holmes @astraea, the mirrors are for weight lifting to check your form.

4 months ago · Like

amyinaustin I would be so interested to see how people fit exercise equipment into small homes where you can't dedicate a room to function solely as a gym. How do you hide/place your elliptical/rowing machine/treadmill?

4 months ago · Like

tlkusak The mirrors also will make a room feel larger than it really is.

4 months ago · Like

astraea Not sure having all mirrored walls behind weightlifting equipment is that smart. Most of these rooms are pretty large.

4 months ago · Like

frenchdecor We have Gym/entertainment/bar in a small house.Our's in former crawl space, not fancy, or up to date equipment, but It's about integrity. All our gathering ends up there for ping-pong tournament or dancing, playing. Some sports need mirrors, our daughters asked us to install them for Taekwondo and ballroom (classic too) dancing exercise, but it was out of our budget.

4 months ago · Like

pattimay Astraea, we did wide full length mirrors in our workout basement and we LOVE them. It's not to watch yourself as in being conceited but in watching yourself as to correct form. You'd be surprised how you think your performing an exercise correctly but you aren't. They also help to give that added push when you look in the mirror and say I can do one more.
Matter of fact we are moving, will be having a small room instead of a basement dedicated to equipment and they are immediately going up! As far as having mirrors behind equipment - your on a treadmill or lifting weights - not throwing them!! LOL!!!
To Amyinaustin - its your home, don't worry about what others think. Enjoy your space especially if it's for getting healthy!

4 months ago · Like

xavier24 Astraea, the mirrors are so you can make sure you have correct form when doing certain exercises. Like yoga for example.

4 months ago · Like