Styling The Nature Lover’s Home Gym

It's no secret that being in nature comes with a host of benefits. If you've stepped outside after a long day inside, you’ve experienced firsthand the healing power of simply being outdoors. It's been said the immediate boost of serotonin, a chemical that boosts happiness, has less to do with being outside and more with breathing fresh oxygen-rich air. 

In this case, building a plant-centered home gym is a great way to reap some of the same health benefits found in nature. Whether you prefer to workout in the comfort of your own home or simply run a tight schedule, styling the nature lover's home gym can be achieved with LBE Design's six basic steps. 

1. Start with Houseplants

Just as plants saturate the air with plenty of oxygen outdoors, houseplants work on a smaller scale as natural air filters and can provide all the great benefits of exercising outside from your chic home gym. By absorbing toxins from surrounding air, increasing humidity, and releasing oxygen, houseplants are proven to boost creativity, concentration, and overall mood. Put simply, houseplants mimic the natural high we feel when surrounded by nature!

On top of providing great benefits for an at-home workout, houseplants can take a nature lover’s home gym to the next level. If you’re looking to add a little green and a lot of serotonin to your workout, follow along for a stress-free guide to styling your own home gym turned plant paradise. 

2. Choose A Room

To give your houseplants their best chance to thrive, choose a workout room with large windows or even a sliding door to maximize airflow and natural sunlight. Not only will your plants enjoy the extra breeze, you will too when leg day comes along. Wood, tile, and wall-to-wall low-pile carpeting are all great foundations for a functional workout space. 

3. Style The Basics

Floor to ceiling mirrors are a must in any home gym, and adding fun wallpaper or an accent pattern to the opposite wall creates dimension and even a cute photo op. If you're looking to fill empty wall-space, an LED sign can be a bold and unique choice with room for customization. 

Most workout enthusiasts like to plan their exercises or track their progress by using a whiteboard, but bringing in a bulky whiteboard stand can over-crowd the space. Instead, try writing directly on your mirror with dry-erase markers and go for a small floating cup holder to leave more room for other furniture and equipment. 

4. Include Furniture

When it comes to storage, practicality is everything, but you shouldn’t have to compromise on style -- try out some cool floating shelves on a bare wall or add simple metal shelving if you need extra space for all those dumbbells (or plants). Perfect for resting, incorporating into workouts and even storing potted plants, a bench will be the most versatile piece of furniture in your home gym! You can’t go wrong with sleek metal or natural-finish wood on this one. 

5. Collect Workout Staples

It goes without saying that you can’t have a home gym without workout equipment, but picking out equipment can be overwhelming if you don't know what to look for. Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of basics so that you don't have to:

•Exercise Mat - Make sure you have a large exercise mat that will stay put and accommodate any workout.

•Stationary Bike - If you love cardio, invest in a quality stationary bike from Peloton. 

•Resistance Bands - Resistance bands are incredibly versatile and great for strength training. Be sure to include a set in your home gym.

•Kettlebell - Perfect for toning key muscle groups, kettlebells are a great way to elevate your workout routine. 

•Dumbbells - A set of light to heavy dumbbells is a home gym staple. Incorporate these into almost any at-home workout. 

•A Jump Rope - If the thought of traditional cardio makes you want to avoid the gym altogether, jumping rope could be the perfect fit for you. This inexpensive piece of equipment yields amazing results and is a fun alternative to the treadmill or stationary bike.

Remember when selecting equipment you can opt for a uniform, monochromatic look or mix it up with a variety of fun colors. 

6. Curate Houseplant Ensembles

LBE Design planters in PeachyCotta and Blush both complement your houseplant and add a pop of color to your home gym. If you’re looking for a more neutral look White, Black, Gray, Speckle or Oatmeal are classic modern choices. Mix and match reversible stands to create interesting height variations and pair with your favorite houseplants. Remember when it comes to houseplants in the home gym that more is more.

Cover photo by Sarah Dorio/Flynnside Out Productions