In this day and age, being busy is most people’s default position. The problem is, when you’re always on the go—whether physically or mentally—it can be challenging (and, honestly, daunting) to take the time to organize. The bigger issue, though, is that when piles start to build up and clutter begins to take over your home, you’re at a greater risk of becoming distracted, stressed, and even depressed. The opposite is true of an uncluttered space. It’s so uplifting and appealing to people, in fact, that there’s even a corner of the social media universe dedicated solely to oddly-satisfying content about organizing, cleaning, and re-stocking common, everyday spaces like the kitchen, bathrooms, and bedroom. But after a serious deep dive, it became clear that there was a serious lack of good advice on how to organize your home gym.
After all, working out is supposed to be the ultimate mood boost, but if the space in your home where you go to sweat is a chaotic mess, it can be anything but. With that in mind, we chatted with none other than The Home Edit’s Joanna Teplin and Clea Shearer to uncover their top tips for tidying up your home gym (whether it’s a full room or a cozy corner).
For dedicated workout spaces
If you’ve been stressing over how to organize your home gym equipment, you’re not alone. That said, there’s not one specific way to get the job done, as it all depends on your space. “If you have a dedicated gym area in your home, then shelving and bins are the best options,” Teplin says. Don’t just throw everything on a shelf and into random bins and call it a day, though.
Instead, take The Home Edit’s classic approach and begin your home gym transformation by editing down your equipment. As with any space, Shearer and Teplin recommend physically going through and assessing each individual item. Not sure what to keep and what to toss? Ask yourself this: If you didn’t own it, would you buy it again? If not, it doesn’t deserve a place in your home gym.
Once you edit down your equipment, it’s time to categorize and sort. “You’ll want to contain everything by category and label it, making the system as simple as possible,” Shearer says. When doing so, think about how your mind operates. Are you an out-of-sight, out-of-mind person? If so, you’ll want to opt for clear bins instead so that you don’t overlook gym equipment you may want to use during your sweat sesh.
On the other hand, if visible equipment makes you feel stressed, you can contain your weights, bands, foam rollers, and other props in opaque bins, woven baskets, or a chic storage cabinet.
The Home Edit Stackable Drawer (Large) — $40.00
Honey-Can-Do Nesting Banana Leaf Baskets, Multisize (3-Pack) — $32.00
For multi-purposes spaces
Not enough room for a full workout room or even a dedicated corner? For a more portable system, Teplin and Shearer swear by a rolling cart. “Just being able to store all your things in one designated place is a game-changer,” Teplin says. “Roll it out when you need it and store it in a closet when you’re done.”
If square footage is hard to come by because you live in a tiny home or apartment, Shearer recommends an over-the-door rack. Another option? Peg-board storage, which is becoming increasingly popular on Pinterest.
Mythinglogic Home Gym Storage Racke — $150.00
The Home Edit By IDesign Clear Rolling Cart — $130.00
Lenwi Over the Door Organizer — $38.00
Peg Board Shelf Set — $36.00
Extra organizational elements
Once you’ve figured out the containment, you’ll want to add a label to boxes or shevles so that you know exactly where all your favorite fitness gear goes. While you can absolutely use a marker and a piece of tape, for a more streamlined approach, consider using a label maker like the old-school Dymo LetraTag Handheld Label Maker. Or, if you’re feeling fancy or prefer a certain level of personalization, invest in a Cricut Joy Machine. It’s more expensive, but it lets you customize fonts and does so much more than just label making.
DYMO LetraTag 100H Handheld Label Maker — $18.00
Cricut Joy Cutting and Writing Machine — $129.00
If you’re looking for ways to make it even more conveniently contained—and ultimately make it an even more motivational space within your home—Shearer and Teplin suggest storing your water and supplements (their go-to is NatureMade’s Wellblends gummie vitamins) near your fitness gear so that you can stack healthy habits together.
Put your newly-organized fitness equipment to good use with this upper-body workout that only takes 11 minutes:
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