Even if you had the best of workout intentions at the start of the year, you may now find yourself making up excuses as to why you don’t have time to hop on the treadmill or ride your spin bike. However, once you take the time to make your home gym a bit more welcoming, you may be surprised at how eager you are to spend time there.

“Like other spaces in your home, a home gym should reflect your style and the vibe you want to feel when you’re in it,” says Molly Hirsch, the founder of Molly Hirsch Interiors. “Often, people don’t take the time to design their home gym, thinking it’s unnecessary, but they miss out on a huge opportunity. The more you love a space, the more apt you are to spend time there.” 

And the great news is that you do not need to shell out tons of cash in the process of giving your gym a bit of a glow up. Keep reading for four savvy secondhand solutions designers recommend. 

Create a Welcoming Home Gym with Vintage Furniture and Smart Design Tips

Utilize a Vintage Armoire and Mirror 

No need to toss your gym equipment into a bland basket at the end of a workout—why not store everything in a beautiful armoire instead? 

“For a zen-like space where yoga or pilates will be practiced, a beautiful armoire can be used to store mats, weights, and bands,” Hirsch says. “Add a large vintage mirror and some comfortable seating, and you have a multifunctional space.” 

Mackenzie Collier, the founder of Mackenzie Collier Interiors, agrees, noting, “A thrifted bookshelf or vintage cabinet keeps weights, bands, and props organized while adding character.” 

Make a Statement

Your gym is more than just a practical space; it should also reflect you. 

“For true home gyms with a lot of equipment, I love to add some kind of strong statement piece to balance the space visually,” Hirsch says. “This can be done in many ways: oversized graphic art, an interesting industrial piece of furniture for storage, or an oversized metal console that can be used for both storage and visual interest.” 

Just be sure to opt for something with a bit of character. “Instead of cliché word art, use framed photography or vintage posters that inspire movement and adventure,” Collier suggests. 

Again, you can really think outside the box here. As Hirsch adds, “Old metal or industrial pieces can be used as you find them or given a new life with a coat of paint. Body shops are a great resource for bringing old items to life.” 

Go Green

Even if you are working-out indoors, you can still bring the outside in. Why not incorporate some plant friends into the gym? 

“They keep the air fresh and make the space feel more inviting and energizing,” Collier says. 

Shop for planters secondhand and you will be amazed at the variety—there is so much more out there than simple terra cotta vessels. 

Shop for Chic Lighting

As with any other room in the home, you will not want to rely solely on the “big light” in the gym. 

Jen Klein, lead designer at O’Hara Interiors, suggests installing wall sconces along the mirrors in a home gym instead of opting for fluorescent overhead lighting. 

“For ceiling lights, I’d recommend flush mount or semi flush mount for ceiling lights, because you don’t want to lose space overhead if you’re running on a treadmill or lifting weights above your head,” Klein says. 

Written by:

Sarah Lyon

February 25, 2025     Updated 06:02 AM

Sarah Lyon is a Washington, DC, native living in New York City. As a freelancer, she frequently covers pieces pertaining to interior design, travel, and other lifestyle topics. Her pieces have appeared in outlets including Apartment Therapy, Architectural Digest, MyDomaine, the Washington Post, the New York Times, and more. When she isn't writing, Sarah works with designers to help them style spaces for photo shoots (and can't stop rearranging and redecorating her own apartment, either!). She has a penchant for shopping secondhand and loves giving preloved pieces new life. Sarah’s own spaces have appeared on Apartment Therapy, The Everygirl, Houzz, and Washingtonian.com. Her Dupont Circle apartment was featured in both the spring 2019 print edition of Small Space Decorating and the January 2019 print edition of Washingtonian Magazine.

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