10+ home gym ideas in The garden

Getting out of bed and going to the local gym when it is pouring down rain and completely packed, not to mention smelling like an old sock you threw away three years ago last week, is not fun.

That’s why having a garden gym so close to home is something totally different and also totally life-changing. You could also add a garden hot tub to make it complete.

Want a quick starter kit to get rolling? Check this compact garden gym starter set.

This article is well worth a read, because we’ll be going through the basics step by step of how to get your own garden workout place which endures, looks good, costs a fraction of what fitness clubs charge.

No matter whether you want to build high-tech, add an outdoor pool or go rustic, I’ve got all the ideas for garden gyms that you need to make it so.

My Favorite Home Garden Gym Inspo

This OKOPOD setup is basically the Rolls Royce of garden pods. It’s sleek, sustainable, and honestly, if I had this, I’d probably just move in there and tell my family I’ve gone off the grid to become a professional weightlifter.

Eden Garden Rooms really nailed the “bespoke” vibe here. I love how the insulation means you aren’t freezing your toes off in January – because let’s face it, if it’s cold, I’m staying on the couch with a tea instead of doing squats.

This one is just pure tranquility. Look at those hanging lights!

Okay, I have a soft spot for this DIY shed rebuild. It reminds me of my cousin Mike who tried to build a “power shed” last summer. He ended up hitting his thumb with a hammer twice and the door doesn’t quite close right, but hey, it has character! This one, however, looks way more professional than Mike’s attempt.

Don’t think you need a massive estate to make this work. These small backyard ideas prove that you can cram a whole lot of fitness into a tiny footprint if you’re smart about the layout.

Compact workout rooms are the way to go if you’re tight on space.

Now, the garage gym DIY setup is a classic for a reason. You get that raw, “Rocky Balboa” feeling when you’re training in a garage, plus you can just slide the door open when it gets too sweaty in there.

More small backyard inspo because you guys always ask for it! This one is super clean and minimal.

Imagine doing your morning yoga on this patio. I tried doing a sun salutation on my deck once and accidentally scared a squirrel so badly it dropped its nut – I felt guilty for like a week, but the view was worth it.

A simple, effective space for getting those gains.

The “livable shed” concept is so smart because it can double as an office or a hangout spot when you aren’t busy trying to beat your 5k record.

Having your exercise bike right by the back door is genius for air flow. Nobody likes a stuffy gym smell, especially in your own garden.

This small shed with the middle-opening doors is just adorable. It’s like a little fitness cabinet!

If you’re into that moody, “Black Edition” aesthetic, this is the one for you. It looks incredibly expensive and high-end, perfect for a modern garden.

Proof that even the smallest shed can become a powerhouse.

This video tour gives you a much better sense of the scale and how it actually feels to stand inside one of these things. It’s roomier than it looks!

Saving the best for last – a Zen gym right over a pond. Can you imagine the sound of the water while you’re stretching? It’s basically like being at a five-star spa, except you’re actually burning calories instead of just lying there with cucumber slices on your eyes.

Why is a garden gym better than a regular gym membership?

The reason a garden gym is better than a traditional gym membership is something important to ask yourself if you’re going to get yourself some fitness equipment.

Truly, the biggest win for a garden gym is freedom. No longer do you need to wait with some guy (yet he might be scrolling on his mobile phone) sitting on the very rack you’ll need to use after him!

When you have your private gym that’s just a few steps outside your back door, your fitness routine becomes increasingly enjoyable.

There’s no more commuting, no awkward conversations and no longer just a drain on your bank account in the form of those regular membership fees.

It’s increasingly popular that people seem more and more to be converting their garden sheds or garages into a total cult of holiness for their own physical-development projects.

Here, though, it’s about feeling. In your own home gym you choose the soundtrack, set the temperature and look after air quality.

If you live in a small home, just having one dumbbell or a mat isn’t enough. If you build all this stuff out into an outdoor gym then you can have a genuinely pro-quality garden fitness workout zone. 

Can you really turn a basic shed into a legit home gym?

You bet! A straightforward garden shed will do nicely if you’re just getting started, no need any fancy pod.

In fact, converting a shed is proven to be one of those cool, creative outdoor gym ideas that is both fun and fulfilling.

So you may want to get your broom and spider repellent and see how much floor space you actually have.

Even if it’s only a little shed, you can maximise the space you have by planning properly where to place your workout equipment. 

The main thing is getting your structure workable and fit for purpose. When you first started, maybe a standard timber shed will seem flimsy, but after adding some DIY magic it can become like a sanctuary garden gym room.

You need to consider that if you’re going to be doing heavy weights, you’ll need to reinforce the floor.

It might look like a shed from the outside, but once you’ve got your gym mats down and your rack up, you’ve got yourself a top quality gym environment.

What gym ideas work best for a modern garden room?

If you want to cultivate more luxurious living habits, then look no further than a dedicated garden room.

Essentially high-end extensions of your home that just happen to be in your garden. You get tons of natural light, which is fantastic for maintaining strong energy levels during a tough workout.

For those who are hardcore into yoga or pilates, these rooms are just right because they stay warm and quiet, unlike a coach house.

In thinking of gym ideas for larger outdoor spaces, you can offer a range of different zones. Perhaps one corner is for cardio, maybe with a treadmill, while the other side is for weightlifting.

You could even opt for large bifold doors that open out into a patio, so when good weather comes you are effectively training in an outdoor gym.

It is all about creating the perfect garden setup that will actually make you want to work out every single day.

Do you need planning permission for an outdoor gym?

This is the part everyone dreads, but it usually isn’t that bad!

Most times you won’t need planning permission for the garden gym building since it falls under “permitted development.” Especially true if you keep roof height below 2.5 meters. 

Nonetheless, always double-check anyway if you live in a conservation area or your garden room is going to be super close to a neighbour.

You don’t want any issues down the line after spending a ton of cash already.

If you’re planning something massive that looks more like a guest house than a gym, then yeah, you might need to talk with the council.

It’s an important consideration since you want your outdoor garden gym to be completely legal.

Make sure there is enough headroom inside so you won’t hit your head on the ceiling while doing pull-ups. Usually, a quick check of local rules will help keep you out of trouble.

How do you choose the right gym floor for your garden gym building?

Of course, the floor is probably the most important component of the whole build. You can’t just throw some heavy equipment onto thin floorboards and hope it all works out.

A solid gym floor must be able to withstand being hit by a falling dumbbell and providing the hard impact required of a cardio session.

My recommendation to readers is always: opt for impact-resistant rubber flooring tiles. They are extremely durable as well as protecting the subfloor of your shed or garden room.

If you’re using free weights, put a hefty pad or two down where you lift. For yoga, a slightly softer tile or a dedicated mat that doesn’t move is recommended.

It’s important to keep in mind that the underneath of your building has the appropriate drainage.

If water accumulates beneath your floor, then the likelihood is very high indeed that your house with its rotting boards will become unpleasant and smelly.

Get a tough gym floor today, and you won’t have to replace it in two years out of sheer necessity because it’s all splitting and gross.

Why should you insulate your outdoor garden gym?

Trust me on this one. If you do not insulate the gym in winter, then it will not be used. It is like getting a workout in a refrigerator.

You need to insulate the walls, floor and roof in order to maintain a steady temperature. It also helps in hot weather; a well-insulated garden shed does not become an oven the second the sun comes out.

Use good quality insulation and then cover it with plywood or plasterboard to finish off that home gym look.

In addition to the temperature, insulation also has the benefit of sound. If you are still on weights and like to drop your heavy bells then neighbors of course will not want to hear you when you do it!

It is especially important if during a hiit circuit you are listening to such volume on your music that the walls and floor shake.

A well-insulated outdoor garden gym feels less like a temporary workout spot in somebody’s yard and more akin to being home permanently.

What garden gym equipment do you actually need?

You don’t need every machine under the sun to be healthy. This means that you should start with the basics: A reliable rack, some free weights, and perhaps a few resistance bands.

If you’re short on floor space, look for gym equipment that can fold up or be wall-mounted. 

Just a few gym mats for use on hardwood floors should do the trick. For your cardiovascular fix, a simple jump rope or compact bike will suffice in a garden gym.

All you need to do is to shop around and see which gym sets are best for you. 

For example, if you have space out in the garden, a dip station or monkey bars can be added. 

This leaves the inside of your shed completely uncluttered and dry for things that need to stay that way. 

Make sure whatever fitness equipment you buy is of high quality; you don’t want a dumbbell rusting away because of the damp.

A few metal lockers can also be added for keeping your towels and straps tidy.

How to build an outdoor home gym without breaking the bank?

Don’t panic, with a few tricks you can have a fully equipped garden fitness center in no time. You can buy a garden gym which is second-hand and then do the installing of the insulation yourself.

You can also get a lot of really good gym equipment on local marketplaces from people who stopped using it.

Don’t worry about the equipment for now; get the space laid out properly first. You can always upgrade to bigger or better gear in future.

One of the best home gym ideas for saving money is using floor tiles only where you really need them and using a cheaper gym mat for the rest of the floor.

Perhaps on the roof you could even add some solar panels to power lights and a small heater, which saves electricity bills.

Building an outdoor gym is an investment, but one that should not leave you broke. Just take it one step at a time and consider what gear your specific workout needs.

What do you need to consider for proper ventilation?

When working hard in a gym, all that sweat has to go somewhere. Proper ventilation would be required to keep up the air quality and saves your garden gym room from the bad odour.

It cannot be overstated enough. You should consider adding at least two vents to create a cross-flow of air.

In an outdoor gym, one doesn’t really want to feel light-headed when going for heavy sets.

Stale air can make that happen when walking around the garage or shed simply because it’s been there for so long.

Ventilation is an important part of protecting your gym equipment as well.

If the humidity becomes too much inside your shed, then your weightlifting bars will start rusting. Your floor tiles can also get slippery.

With more budget, you may wish to add a small extractor fan to keep the place dry. This is especially true in small spaces where air quickly becomes “thick”.

Keeping the atmosphere fresh will also help keep you stay motivated for your workout through to the end.

How to keep your garden fitness space tidy and fit for purpose?

When you are constantly having to step over dumbbells or trip over tangled ropes, it would would kill any motivation for working out. So in a garden gym, position is key.

Especially if you’re working within the confines of smaller floor space then you absolutely must keep your garden gym tidy and organized. 

For resistance bands, hook them up on the walls. As for your weights, get a sturdy rack to keep them in place.

This can help make home gyms feel less cluttered and certainly much more professional.

Besides which, it saves you time during workouts when everything is exactly where it should be.

Of course, there is a little bit of maintenance you have to do with your outdoor gym.

Regularly sweep the floor to get rid of all the dirt which you track in from your garden, and clean your exercise equipment every so often if anything gets on it.

If you are good to it, your garden workout spot will still serve well five years from now; it can be just as much fun for you then as today.

Whether you’re doing yoga, high-intensity interval training or heavy weightlifting, a tidy and uncluttered area is the perfect garden accessory for any fitness enthusiast.

Final Thoughts

Truth be told, building a gym in the backyard is probably the best favor you can do your health.

From the type of shed to buy right through building a tough exercise floor, each step taken for your garden gym has its rewards.

Always remember to insulate and waterproof it carefully, and buy gym equipment that matches up with your daily habits.

Now go to it! Build your own open air sports hall.