5 home gym ideas that will still work in your tiny apartment

No room? No problem these at home gym ideas will work in the smallest of spaces

Ikea small gym ideas
(Image credit: Ikea)

Think that your tiny apartment doesn't have room for a home gym? Think again. As small home dwellers ourselves, we are determined to make sure we don't miss out on the whole bringing the gym into your home thing that's been happening since, well... actual gyms became a no go zone. Fear not, you can still get in your reps, complete your indoor marathon and shout the building down on your spin back (sorry neighbours we were in the zone), you just have to know what equipment to buy and how to store it in your your small space...

1. Pick foldable equipment 

It goes without saying that when it comes to choosing gym equipment for a small space you should go with pieces that fold. Yes, that's a thing and it's a game changer, you can almost half the size of your equipment so when not in use you can pop behind a door or lean against a wall so they won't take up any floor space. 

The most developed and popular equipment are foldable bikes – check out the Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Bike which is our top pick. 

2. Get your storage spot on

Of course, we had to turn to the storage gurus over on The Home Edit for this one. When creating a home gym in a small space, of course where you keep everything is going to be top priority – we don't have the luxury of being able to leave dumbbells lying around or skipping ropes across the floor! A compact set of budget-friendly shelves with clear boxes so you can see everything is all you need to clear away your gym accessories, 

3. Pick weights that look cute on display 

Target dumbbells

(Image credit: Target)

And if you have to keep your dumbbells out on show, you have to make them cute dumbbells! These colorful ones from Target wouldn't look out of place on your book shelves or stored on the floor of your living room. 

4. Make your space multifunctional 

Ikea small gym ideas

(Image credit: Ikea)

If you are creating a home gym in an open plan space, making the area feel separate can create the illusion you have a full on at home gym going on (when really you are just behind a room divider in your living room). This is a great set up, the room dividers work as storage space as well as a way to zone the room, the mirror makes it feel like more of a profession, permanent space and the bar across the windows? Genius.

5. Use your walls!

Ikea small gym ideas

(Image credit: Ikea)

Not only can a bar be great for stretches, barre classes and balance, they can double up as storage too. You can hang gym equipment from it, clip on your speakers and use it to keep some of your weights accessible while you work out. Plus it takes up zero floor space so ideal for creating an exercise space in a small apartment. 

Hebe Hatton

Hebe joined the Real Homes team in early 2018 as Staff Writer before moving to the Livingetc team in 2021 where she took on a role as Digital Editor. She loves boho and 70's style and is a big fan of Instagram as a source of interiors inspiration. When she isn't writing about interiors, she is renovating her own spaces – be it wallpapering a hallway, painting kitchen cupboards or converting a van.

SPONSORS