Home vs Apartment Building Gym: Pros & Cons + Tips

If you're looking to get fit, stay healthy, and decompress with some exercise, you need a convenient gym option to stay motivated. Renters have the advantage of choosing an apartment building gym so there’s always a place to work out, although a home gym is also a great option, depending on your goals and personal preference. If you're undecided on which one you should choose, here's a breakdown of the pros and cons of a home vs. apartment building gym.

Pros & Cons of Home Gyms

Consider some of these pros of setting up a home gym in your apartment.

Pro: Ultimate Convenience

We've all heard our alarm go off before dawn and hit snooze a dozen times before finally getting up. By that point, we don't have time to get to the gym before showering, getting dressed, and getting to work. If you struggle to get out the door, the home gym is the ultimate convenience. Walk to your living room and get out your workout gear or stream your favorite fitness influencer to get to work.

Pro: Might Increase Your Use

Your excuses of not having time to work out are nearly eliminated when you create a home gym in your apartment. It's always there waiting for you to squeeze in some exercise, which is ideal for renters who work remotely. Lift some weights or grab your resistance bands for a 20-minute workout on your lunch break before tidying up the apartment and eating lunch.

Pro: No Social Pressure

Even fit workout enthusiasts can feel the burn when it comes to societal pressure at the gym. Whether you have social anxiety about performing in front of others or can't help but compare your progress to others, the pressure can keep you from getting to the gym. When you work out at home, there's no one to see you except your furry friends or roommates. You can also set up a home gym right in your bedroom for ultimate privacy.

Pro: Is Cheaper than the Alternatives

You can start a home gym for free and still get in a workout with exercises like push-ups, stretches, lunges, or anything else that uses bodyweight exclusively. Even if you invest in some fitness equipment for your apartment, it's a one-time investment. You only pay it once but can use it indefinitely while avoiding gym fees.

Con: Less Motivating

Despite the convenience and privacy home gyms offer, they aren’t very motivating. It's easy to make excuses that you'll get to your workout later because it's so convenient. There are also tons of distractions around your apartment, whereas that societal pressure at the gym could keep your focus on performing.

Con: Takes Up Precious Space

Unless you scored a vast, open loft apartment, your home gym is going to take up precious space. Studio apartments are especially challenging for setting up home gyms when you're trying to keep everything uncluttered and roomier. It can still be done, but you're restricted to the gym equipment you can use and realistically store in your apartment.

Con: Space Limitations

Beyond taking up space in your apartment, you're also limited to the area you have to work out. Large equipment like treadmills and complete weight sets are likely out of the question if you live in a standard-sized apartment or studio. When considering space limitations, you can still find a way to get fit with limited space, but you're unlikely to get the workout you really want.

Pros & Cons of Apartment Building Gyms

Now that you have a better sense of what to expect from an at-home gym, here's what to consider from apartment building gyms.

Pro: Meet New People

An apartment building gym is a convenient way to meet new people and connect with your neighbors. If you don't have Friday night plans, you're likely to find someone working out in your apartment building to chat with and turn the workout into social interaction.

Pro: No Monthly Fees

Some renters strategize their apartment search and wish list of amenities around an on-site gym. The average cost of an annual gym membership is $500, though that cost can go up if you live in an expensive city like New York or Boston. Or you can skip the monthly gym fees and still have a place to work out without leaving your apartment complex.

Pro: Convenience

Even if you're not looking to save on gym membership fees, the convenience of an on-site apartment complex is huge. On your way home from work, you can go straight to the gym and get in a workout before you have a chance to crash. You also never have to worry about the cold, heat, wind, or rain when you can take the elevator downstairs to work out and back to your apartment without stepping foot outside.

Con: Limited Equipment

Apartment building gyms don’t often have high-end, state-of-the-art fitness equipment. You're likely to find a handful of treadmills, weight stations, and nautilus machines. The limited round-up may work fine if you're just looking to get in some daily exercise, but may not suit your needs if you're looking for a challenge. The limited amount of equipment can also lead to neighbors standing around waiting for their turn and cutting your workout short.

Con: Not Necessary

Is an apartment building gym really necessary for your needs? You may decide you're okay with an at-home set-up or riding your bike to work. However, that on-site fitness center may mean higher rent than nearby properties. You may also find it a pain point to navigate when trying to get your mail or head to the pool or courtyard garden.

Con: Might Not Go

Just like an off-site gym, it's easy not to go to your apartment building gym. Soon you may completely ignore it and slip out the lobby door without giving it a second thought. The downside is that you might be paying more rent for access to the on-site gym that you're not even using.

Con: Are Always Working Out with Neighbors

If you're social with your neighbors, an on-site fitness center is a win. However, if you like privacy or aren't comfortable with neighbors watching you workout, you're going to dread your apartment building gym. You could end up with workout anxiety or avoid the gym altogether instead of trying to find a time when no one is around.

5 Things You'll Need for an At-Home Gym

If you want to explore an at-home gym option for your apartment, here are a few ways to get started.

1. Free Weights

Free weights help you get toned, build muscle, and are easy to tuck away in a storage bin or under the couch. Whether you want to warm up or push your muscles to the limits, you can choose from a variety of weights. You can also purchase water-filled free weights like barbells and dumbbells if you're tight on space. When you're done for the day, you can empty the water or freshen up your plants before storing them flat.

2. Resistance Bands

Studies show that workout bands can be as effective as weights, depending on how you use them. If free weights aren't your thing or you find them too difficult to store, resistance bands also offer impressive results. Choose from light to extra heavy and simulate lifts, kickbacks, lunges, and more with the benefit of resistance. When you’re done, you can roll them up and tuck them in your sock drawer.

3. Padded Flooring

If you're going to have weights in your apartment, padded flooring is a must. Accidentally dropping weights could damage your surfaces and risk your security deposit. Beyond protecting your floors, padded flooring also protects your body. It's unpleasant trying to do floor work, abdominal crunches, and stretches on hardwood floors or thin carpet. Padded floors can also be a decorative touch to your apartment or rest under an area rug, so your workout area is always ready to go.

4. Stream Fitness Videos

YouTube fitness content can be an effective, inexpensive, and engaging way to work out. You can mix up your workout, rotate through videos, and try something new every day of the week. Watching videos is free, and all you need to do is turn off your device and roll up your mat when you're done for easy clean-up and storage.

5. Make Sure You're Not Breaking Any Rules

Before you start working out in your apartment, make sure you're not breaking any rules in your lease. Getting exercise is probably fine, but it may be against the terms to keep heavy equipment or play loud videos and music during specific times. When in doubt, get in touch with your landlord and make sure to clear anything before making a big investment of time or money in your at-home workout.

4 Tips for Working Out at Home

Once you've decided what equipment and accessories you want for your home gym, you need a plan to stay motivated and stick to your fitness goals. Here are a few tips to keep the momentum going when working out at home.

1. Talk to Your Neighbors

Even if you're free to work out and do whatever you want in your apartment, it's a good idea to talk to your neighbors first. There's nothing worse than noisy neighbors blasting music and jumping around until the ceilings shake.

You'll stay on good terms and establish a reputation for being a good neighbor if you let the people directly around you know what you're doing. Let them know they're free to get in touch if it's too loud or ask if there are specific hours that they need ultimate quiet.

2. Stick to a Routine

Sticking to a routine at an off-site gym or your apartment building fitness center is a good tip, but it's even more critical if you work out at home. Distractions are lurking around every corner of your apartment.

Stick to a routine for your at-home workout that is easy to accommodate. Squeeze it in on a work break, first thing in the morning or shortly before bedtime, and honor your commitment to getting fit. Before you know it, working out will feel like second nature.

3. Make It Fun

If you're going to spend time working out in your apartment, you might as well make it fun. Mix up your routine with new fitness videos, listen to your favorite podcast, or watch a sitcom while on your treadmill or nautilus machine. You'll end up looking forward to your workout without feeling the burn of counting down the minutes before you’re done.

4. Keep Your Stuff Organized

Whether you live in a studio apartment or spacious loft, organization is essential when you have an at-home gym. Try sectioning off the area with room dividers, plants, rugs, or a curtain to give yourself some separation between the workout area and living space. If your gym equipment isn't too heavy, use a decorative trunk to store your items or slide under a bed or couch to keep them out of sight.

Final Thoughts

Both an apartment building gym and an at-home gym can help you get fit and get in your recommended exercise for a healthy lifestyle. Settle on which gym set-up is right for you and make a plan to stick to your goals and celebrate your progress.