A guide to building the perfect home gym

Singapore – Singaporean couple Othniel Indran and Janet Poh had one main criteria for their first home. That is, each has their own dedicated space.

Ms. Poe, a 32-year-old marketing and office manager, was looking for a study space to work in. Meanwhile, Othoniel, a 37-year-old security and operations manager, was desperate for a zone where he could exercise.

Today, anyone who steps into the 1,302 sq ft HDB apartment will see their respective wishes fulfilled.

Poe’s study is tucked away next to the master bedroom, while Othoniel’s home gym is just off the dining room. Step through the front door into the living room and you won’t want to miss it, thanks to its sleek glass walls and moody dark gray aesthetic.

The biggest feature is the multi-functional Smith machine. This is essentially a rack-mounted barbell that can be moved up and down along a vertical plane. This allows users to lift heavy weights without supervision. Smith also has other features such as a pull-up bar.

“I didn’t have a lot of space in my room to work out, and I needed a machine that would act as a one-stop shop to get the most out of my workout,” says Othoniel, who paid $3,000 to purchase the machine.

The gym also has adjustable dumbbells up to 40 kg, which were gifts from friends, as well as resistance bands and yoga mats. There is also a walking pad that Poe uses.

“Sometimes I just need my own space and time to work out by myself, and since this is my home, I can work out at my own pace with music playing without anyone rushing me or sharing equipment with anyone,” says Othoniel.

Poe admits, “When Othoniel came up with the idea for this gym, I wasn’t really into it. It just didn’t fit the aesthetic I was looking for.”

The rest of the home, which she oversaw design, follows a warmer, more inviting design style.

“But it makes sense that he has his own space in the house. Anyway, the walking pad makes it easy to track his daily steps,” she says.

Strength training is more popular than ever in Singapore, with Pilates and the fitness race Hylox joining spinning (indoor cycling) as the latest fad.

The SingaporeFitness community on message board website Reddit has around 12,000 members and receives around 60,000 visitors each week. ActiveSG has a website where you can check the crowd status of Kokumin Sports Club gyms in advance.

Not surprisingly, interest in home gym equipment is also growing, says Po Sheng, co-founder of fitness equipment retailer The Great Company.

“We’re seeing a broader shift in people wanting to make fitness more accessible, convenient and part of their daily lives,” he told The Straits Times.

“People are seeing workouts as part of their daily lives, not just tied to a commercial gym membership. Especially in Singapore, people are also much more conscious of space, noise and aesthetics, which is driving demand for equipment that is compact, versatile and easily integrated into the home.”

According to Poe, the retailer’s equipment offerings are extensive and can be summed up as space efficient and technologically driven.

These include adjustable dumbbells, multifunctional trainers, cable machines, walking pads, barbell racks, weight plates, and even plyometric boxes ranging from $199 to $4,998.

The company’s best-seller is Swedish brand Nuobell’s adjustable dumbbells (starting at $780).

“With a simple twist of the handle, you can adjust from 2kg to 40kg, so you can easily replace an entire rack of dumbbells in your gym with one pair,” says Poe.

This was the company’s first product when it was founded in 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Gyms in Singapore were closed during the circuit breaker and people, including us, were confined to their homes. At that point, we wanted to find something functional, space-saving and aesthetically pleasing for our home,” says Poh.

Six years later, the demand for such equipment is only increasing, and customers are becoming more discerning and cautious about the training equipment they invest in.

“They’re thinking more about what fits in their space, what can realistically be used long-term, and how to build a setup that feels sustainable rather than temporary,” Poe says.

Young people in their 20s and 30s form the key demographic, especially those who already have an active lifestyle and want more flexibility in their training methods.

This demographic includes first-time homeowners and young families planning a gym corner for their new crib.

To better serve these customers, the team behind The Great Company was also founded gym flooring.sgwhose services include installation of gymnasium flooring. Such flooring reduces noise from the training area and reduces nuisance to neighbors..

Prices start from $75 per square meter for 15mm thick rubber tiles, with options for different colors and sports and training types. You can choose a flooring material that resembles traditional laminate or vinyl found in bedrooms and living rooms.

“Flooring can also be installed without adhesives, so it can be easily removed if you need to convert the space into something else or if you sell your home,” Poe says.

Tan Chin Koon, designer and assistant creative manager at design firm Goodman Interiors, suggests those looking to start their own home gym: “Choose equipment that complements your lifestyle and matches the design of your home, and leave enough space to move around safely.”

In 2024, Tan worked with a Singaporean couple in their 30s to outfit their 900-square-foot custom-built apartment with a home gym. They wanted an easy way to exercise at home without having to go to the gym.

“This has made it easier to incorporate fitness into daily life, especially during busy work schedules and family time,” said Tan.

Equipment and flooring costs approximately $4,000.

Poe says building a basic home gym setup is as easy as investing in three or four key items.

“In Singapore housing, especially HDB apartments, a simpler set-up is usually more effective. Many people end up overbuying to begin with, but the truth is that adjustable dumbbells, benches, and suitable flooring already cover most training needs, making noise and impact easier to manage.”

These don’t have to burn a hole in your pocket. For example, a 40 kg adjustable dumbbell with plates that you can add or remove, as well as a free barbell and weight plates, is on sale for as low as $68.50 on e-commerce retailer Lazada.

“Ultimately, it’s about choosing equipment that is more flexible within a small space. Once you know what’s missing, you can always build it later,” says Poe. add. For those ready to upgrade their setup to a more elaborate system such as a multifunctional Smith machine, investing in quality flooring is a must.

“The $650 gym mat is a significant investment and we researched it carefully. We wanted to make sure it could withstand impact in case we accidentally dropped the weight plates,” says Othoniel.