Whether you’re a master yogi, barbell devotee, or are just getting started in your fitness journey, understanding how to set up a home gym using proper organization is key—and storage is the first place to start.

Home gyms aren’t just workout rooms. They’re also workout motivation rooms. When you step inside your home or garage gym, your environment should feel welcoming and open (a.k.a., no strewn weight plates, yoga blocks, or unrolled mats). The better your equipment storage, the easier your workout becomes. To create your master sweat studio, we’ve assembled the top storage tips for organizing fitness equipment using a variety of solutions, including:

• Optimal room layouts
• Floor storage
• Wall storage
• Containers
• All-in-one fitness equipment

Ready to revamp your workout space? Here’s our ultimate guide to home gym storage.

Before you start breaking some PR’s, you need the space to do it. Your home gym needs a room with enough floor space to welcome a workout, whether that’s a spare room, garage, or a living room.

Sometimes, it can be tough to find a comfy room (or even just a corner) for your daily sweat. But almost every home has a spot to accommodate your workout. Look for these qualities in your next home gym space:

• Open space – You don’t need a palace for your home gym. However, you do need enough floor space to move a little. Depending on your workouts, experts recommend designating anywhere from 20 to 200 square feet to your home gym.¹ Free weights and cardio equipment can stick to smaller areas, while multiple stations might need more room.
• Blank walls – A key component to efficient home gym equipment storage? Wall space. Any occupied walls take away from potential rack, hook, or shelf space. Aim for at least two blank walls into which you feel comfortable drilling storage units. Not to mention, blank walls mean you can hang your favorite motivational posters to push through that last set.
• Mirrors or windows – Every trainer and fitness professional will tell you the same—form matters. Keeping at least one full-body mirror in your home gym can significantly help your workouts. And to prevent a “dungeon” environment, clear windows can help brighten up the space.
• Hard floors – Plush carpeting is lovely, but it won’t help your workouts. Make sure your home gym has sturdy flooring that supports movement. Concrete works fine, but shock-absorbent materials are even better. Easily transform your garage floor into a joint-friendly space with fitness flooring squares, like our interlocking tiles.

Let’s start from the ground-up. After three sets of curtsy lunges, it’s all too easy to drop your weights at your feet. Standing shelves and racks are one of the safest and most accessible ways to store weights (and avoid floor damage). Consider a standing unit if you own several:

• Kettlebells
• Weight plates
• Dumbbells
• Weight bars

The best standing units offer maximum storage for minimum space. And above all, they must safely hold all the weights you own. Check out these free-weight storage units for your own home gym:

• Vertical racks – For a simple, yet effective solution, a standalone unit is the best way to store dumbbells at a reachable level. Look for an A-frame rack that’s lightweight yet sturdy, with enough space for your entire collection.
• Shelf racks – For kettlebells, dumbbells, or any other heavy item, a sturdy 3-tier dumbbell rack is a great multi-purpose storage solution. Seek out a commercial-grade steel or iron shelf unit, since those will hold up to the heaviest weights.²
• Plate bumper racks – With their rounded shape, storing weight plates can be a chore—but not with the right rack. A divided horizontal plate rack makes organizing your weight plates feel like loading a dishwasher. Just drop your weight into the slot, and you’re good to go.

For those on a space budget, the walls are your best friends. Think of your home gym’s walls as extra floors. With the right equipment, you can store countless items right at eye level, such as:

• Yoga mats
• Medicine balls
• Resistance bands
• Jump ropes
• Exercise clothing and accessories
• Headphones

Most wall storage can’t handle the heaviest items (plates, dumbbells, etc.). However, your walls are perfect for all the accessories, light equipment, and apparel your workout might require. Consider some of these wall units as part decor, part savvy storage:

• Hooks – Easy to install and endlessly versatile, hooks are the ultimate wall storage for all of your hangable equipment. Drill a few long handle hooks to your wall, and hang all the resistance bands, jump ropes, or even sweatbands that you use to work out. By keeping ropes in reach, you'll be 10 times more likely to grab them for that warm-up cardio.
• Shoe rack – If you're short on closet space, keep your athletic wear near your home gym—and that includes shoes! A shoe rack on the wall keeps your floors clean and lessens the load on your bedroom closet.
• Wall racks and shelves – Crumpling up your yoga mat and leaving it in the corner? Keep your mats, exercise balls, and more equipment safe by installing wall racks and shelves. Floating shelves give a particularly clean look to any home gym.
• Pegboards – If you like to switch things up, then a pegboard might be the most useful wall storage unit. With multiple holes, pegboards give you the versatility to shift storage space to fit your equipment needs. Make sure you have strong hooks, nails, or wooden pegs to secure any hangable items on the board.

Don't underestimate the value of a good old-fashioned storage bin. If you're short on wall space or simply prefer keeping all equipment in one collected area, then containers are your best friend.

The best part of using bins and boxes? They’re easily mobile. You can slip most of these units under equipment, furniture, or overhead on shelves. For all those seasonal or easily losable items, consider these home gym storage ideas for containers:  

• Under-storage bins – Working out right next to the living room couch? Maximize space by keeping all of your equipment underneath the sofa . From yoga mats to small neoprene dumbbells, thin plastic bins are the ultimate storage power player.
• Trunks – For storage that’s equally smart and stylish, add a trunk to your space! A sizable trunk can function as a momentary seat, footrest, or storage space in nearly any room. Just open the top whenever you need to grab those ankle weights.
• Storage benches – Part seat, part storage, these multi-use seats have it all. Standalone benches can come with built-in containers or storage space underneath. Or for a more permanent solution, a concave bench installed into your wall provides instant space below (perfect for shoes or free weights).
• Locker cabinets – If you have the space, a personal locker can make the difference between “I’ll do it tomorrow” and “Let’s start sweating.”Mini lockers can hold your workout clothes, shoes, and small equipment for on-the-go exercise. No need to run upstairs and sort through your closet for those comfy leggings.
• Stackable drawers – A budget and space saver, stackable drawers make the most out of container storage. Just stack however many you can fit in one corner, and store all of your equipment with ease. You can even keep free weights in the bottom drawer.

Home gym organization isn’t just about the containers and compartments—it’s also about the exercise equipment. The more compact your workout tools, the more room there is to exercise.

So how do you prevent equipment overload? Invest in multi-purpose units. If you’re only working with 50 square feet, you need functional equipment that spares you space. Start with these all-in-one equipment ideas to clear the room:

• Treadmills or bikes – They might be a little expensive, but a solid cardio machine is well worth the money. When you can’t rely on good weather every day (or every month), an indoor cardio machine like an air resistance exercise bike guarantees a good sweat. Even better, it stays in one corner of your home gym—no need to run sprints across your basement.
• Barbell rack combo – Want to bring the commercial gym to your home? Look no further than an all-in-one barbell unit, providing equipment and gym wall storage space in one easy piece. These types of gym wall storage systems can come equipped with a full barbell rack, vertical plate storage, and free weight shelves for every lifter’s needs.
• Multi-use bench – From circuits to weights, a solid exercise bench, whether it be a fid bench or ab bench, can transform your workout. Go with an adjustable model with dynamic features. Our Total Ab Adjustable Bench, for example, offers nine benched and six seated positions so that you can perform nearly any exercise on the stabilizing bench.

When it comes to home gyms, it’s all about personalization—what makes you want to work out? Organizing your space helps create that inner drive and motivation. With these small home gym storage ideas, any house can become an exercise haven.

Your workout is tough enough. Don’t let navigating your home gym add to the challenge. Make Tru Grit your at-home guide with our high-quality workout equipment. From pilates lovers to deadlift champions, we have your back (and keep it strong).

Bob Villa. Design a Home Gym. https://www.bobvila.com/articles/279-design-a-home-gym/

My Top Fitness. Top 11 Best Dumbell Racks for a Home Gym. lhttps://mytopfitness.com/dumbbell-racks/