For the days when you cannot make it to the gym, but still need to fit in a workout, enter the era of the spare-no-expense home gym. From streaming workouts online like celebrity favorite, The Tracy Anderson Method, to popping in your earbuds and following along to a Nike+ Run Club workout, there have never been more ways to get your workout in and keep it fresh. Fine tune your home gym now to keep the workout excuses at bay.

“The size of the gym space matters, but other important aspects that most people interested in a home gym sidestep are aspects such as natural light, overhead lighting, ceiling height, flooring, and even paint colors,” advises Paul Brune of Barrington’s Functional Fitness. Assisting in all levels of in-home gym design since 1995, Brune is an expert in his field. Rather than just an afterthought, the home gym should be inviting and incentivize you to work out. “Make it as attractive and motivational as possible, no one needs any more excuses to not work out,” states Brune.

Points to consider when selecting the space for your home gym, include “good ventilation, enough space for safe and effective body movements and floor work, more than one person training comfort, including space for trainers, and room for future equipment additions,” advises Brune. At the entry level, the Peloton bike and treadmill are two options for a home gym. For every type of workout and personality, Peloton brings the trainer into your home, where, as Peloton superstar trainer Olivia Amato shares, “we are doing the work right alongside you, cheering you on the entire time. There’s an intimacy to the experience that we create and it’s one of the reasons why Peloton is an industry leader, and also why I think our members are so engaged.”

Limited on space? Find a wall on which to secure The Mirror, and fire up a yoga, boxing or cardio class. Hang a TRX system in a secure spot and place free weights nearby. But to truly go the extra mile, that’s where Barrington interior designer Celeste Jackson of Celeste Jackson Interiors comes in. Working with Brune, Jackson ensures the color and lighting is motivating and inviting to the client.

“Colors such as red and yellow, have been proven effective for producing higher physical and brain energy,” says Brune. Other essential tools, according to Brune, include using “mirrors for biofeedback as a valuable tool to assist in proper alignment and mechanics.”

“Sturdy, flexible flooring is essential to the proper functionality of the space,” says Brune. “There are hundreds of choices of commercial grade rubberized flooring that are extremely durable, or place down an all hickory wood floor.”

Craig Ciaglia with Barrington’s Homes by Pinnacle often installs steam rooms in home gyms to round out the wellness experience. Up the ante with the much-ballyhooed infrared sauna, which emits infrared light absorbed as radiant heat by the skin as opposed to a traditional sauna which heats up the surrounding air. “We have installed numerous endless pools for clients who prefer swimming, but do not have the space for a full-length indoor lap pool,” says Ciaglia. A great option, the smaller endless pool’s jet creates resistance that the swimmer swims against in a static position.

“For some clients, adding in a water wall increases the wow factor and gives the space a true Zen-like feel. The homeowner now feels like they are at the Peninsula Hotel instead of at their ground floor gym,” says Jackson.

“Traditionally a minimum of two different types of cardiovascular pieces should be chosen to add variety for the brain, and an element of cross training for the muscles and joints. Cornerstones of the resistance collection should include: a two stack, functional cable trainer, a power rack for free weight and TRX-based exercises, a sturdy adjustable bench, an attractive rack of dumbbells with heavier weight increments than needed at purchase, and a collection of Spri strengthening bands,” explains Brune. “There are also endless arrays of higher end, more specialized pieces such as the Power Plate and the Precor glute extension which make for great additions.”

With so many options, you just may never need to repeat the same workout twice.

For more information, visit funcfit.net, celestejacksoninteriors.com, homesbypinnacle.com.