No more worrying about squeezing your exercise routine into your lunch hour, or having to miss sessions because it is blowing a blizzard. Just get up half an hour early and take your cup of coffee down to your gym and you’re on your way. Or work out at midnight if you prefer.

Our architects and builders at Martel Group have transformed many dark and dank Toronto basements into up-market gym and fitness areas with great sound and TV systems that inspire you to want to get fit and in shape. Over the years we have learned what you need to consider before you can decide on what your home gym will look like.

How much space do you need? Do you plan to work with free weights or with an all-in-one weight machine? Do you have a treadmill, stepper or stationery bike? How much floor space do you need for stretching, Pilates or yoga? Do you need a dance floor for Sumba, salsa or aerobics workouts?

Have you thought about combining your home gym with another basement use – such as a play room or home entertainment room? You can separate off the gym area with a solid glass wall and still be able to watch your kids or enjoy the movie while you work out.

Think about the floor. Rubber matting or sprung wood is the traditional gym flooring but these are not your only options. For a warmer feel underfoot you could put down carpeting with rubber mats only beneath your weight or fitness machines. This way you have comfortable flooring which also softens acoustics and a practical surface on which to spread a towel or mat for stretching exercises. Carpet can also be easily vacuum cleaned and is available in a wider range of colours.

You’re going to need more than adequate ventilation. If you’re working out correctly you are going to sweat which will soon make your basement smell bad unless it is adequately ventilated. A great option to keep the air circulating is to install a ceiling fan, if the walls are high enough. In any case, you need to be sure that your basement air keeps moving freely so that your basement stays fresh and well-aired.

Always have at least one large wall mirror. The only way to really see that you are working out correctly is to watch yourself in a mirror. In addition, installing a mirror opposite a window can double the appearance of the size of your room and make it lighter – always a good option in darker basements.

Think carefully about your lighting. It is important to have adequate artificial lighting in your gym area so that you can feel energized and more motivated while you work out. If you’re a yoga or Pilates fan, or even if you like to spend some time stretching or meditating you might like to consider installing a dimmer switch so that you can turn down the light when it’s time to cool down and relax.

If you would like to discuss your home gym and dance studio ideas with us, please contact us online with any of your questions. We will be pleased to send a team to inspect your site and to help you clarify the type of home gym you desire.

We can even put you in touch with our financing associates who this winter are offering loans interest free until 2015, and repayment plans starting as low as $99 per month.

Martel Group – we are Toronto’s professional, certified, basement transformation company. If you have any basement issues, get in touch with us and we will attend to it immediately. We are actively working in these locations: Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham, Thornhill, Newmarket.