Pilates Home Studio Ideas: Designing a Home Pilates Studio

So much of the ethos of workout culture is grounded in the idea of taking back control of your life and promoting good habits. Well, there’s no better way to boss up than to build your own workout studio.

While a home gym is a good way to get in most workouts, it’s hard to make up for the vast selection of equipment that a professional gym offers.

On the other hand, a Pilates reformer gives you virtually everything you need for a fully stocked home Pilates studio. With all of the equipment you need to conduct a full-body workout on a single machine, these versatile machines save you money in the long run and give you the flexibility to work out when you want.

If you’re interested in taking control of your workouts and saving money, we’re here to provide you with all the Pilates home studio ideas you need. And if you’re still on the fence about investing in a home Pilates studio, we’ve listed a few benefits below to help make the decision a little easier. 

7 Benefits of a Home Pilates Studio

1. Flexible Schedules

As much as we all love yoga or Pilates class, balancing work with our workouts is difficult. In addition, lots of research suggests that morning workouts burn the most fat and give us the most energy.

Unfortunately, many Pilates classes are held in crowded studios after work and at night, which often makes the appeal of working out after the work day unappealing.

Thankfully, with a home Pilates studio, you can work out on your time whenever you want. Squeeze in a morning workout before heading to the office or on your break if you work at home. Not only does this flexibility make scheduling workouts easier, and it also makes you more likely to stick with exercising. 

2. Choose Your Own Equipment

Chances are, if you’ve been to a professional studio, you have experienced working out with different pieces of Pilates equipment. Well, with a home Pilates studio, you have the complete freedom to choose what equipment you want to incorporate into your studio.

So whether you like your workouts on a mat, chair, box, or reformer, you have the freedom to choose and be your own boss. 

3. Save Money

While a Pilates reformer could run you thousands of dollars in cost, they could save you money in the long run. With single classes ranging anywhere from $25-$50 and monthly memberships as much as $100, Pilates studio memberships are often a lot more expensive than your average gym membership.

For this reason, it may only take as little as a year for a Pilates reformer machine to pay for itself. Not to mention, you’ll save money on gas from commutes, especially if you live far enough away from a professional studio.

4. Get In-Home Instruction with an App

Unfortunately, the one main drawback of a home Pilates studio is eliminating that professional or one-on-one instruction you get from a professional instructor. However, technology has found ways to bridge this gap and bring Pilates instruction straight into your home.

For example, plenty of Pilates apps provide one-on-one instruction or group class settings where you can follow along with a professional instructor. In fact, an at-home app or DVD may give you better instruction than your local class, depending on the skill level of either instructor.

5. Gain Practice

We know what you may be thinking; these perks are all fine for people who know what they’re doing, but what about newbies? Well, having your own Pilates reformer or home equipment gives you ample time to practice various exercises and learn more about your device.

In fact, by practicing at home on your own device, you can advance to more intermediate and advanced-level exercises faster than at a professional studio. And with the help of an app or virtual instructor, you can still get that one-on-one training on your own time to help you master your device.

6. Feel Comfortable

Gyms like Planet Fitness in the US and others worldwide have marketed themselves as judgment free-zones. Yet, the fear of being judged is the number one thing that holds most people back from the gym or a professional Pilates studio.

We all understand the feeling of not feeling our best when we go to the gym. Plus, if you're new to Pilates, using a reformer machine can feel intimidating or embarrassing when you have no idea what you’re doing.

However, your Pilates home studio can be your safe sanctuary away from judgment, where you can truly be yourself. You can dress how you want, work out at your own pace, and even play your own music! As a result, you’ll build your confidence in no time and look forward to those workouts like you never did before. 

7. Build Your Own Community

Finally, a home Pilates studio is a great way to spend time with friends and family and build your own Pilates community. Whether you use your home studio for personal or commercial use, hosting private Pilates sessions with a few close friends is a great way to boost your workouts, form stronger relationships, and enjoy working out without judgment.

With these amazing benefits in mind, let’s help you get everything you need to build a home Pilates studio.

5 Tips for Building a Pilates Home Studio

1. Finding the Space

The first step to building a Pilates home studio is finding the right space. Ideally, you should have enough space for the reformer and several extra feet of room to navigate around equipment and work out without fear of bumping up against anything in your room.

In addition, you should consider extra space if you plan to have multiple pieces of equipment or numerous people working out.

However, space is not the only factor, and there are a few other considerations we recommend when building a home Pilates studio.

• Wood Floors: Wood floors won’t stain like carpet and can soak up sweat and other liquids. 
• Mirrors: Large standing mirrors help you see yourself as you workout to determine whether or not you are making the correct movements on your reformer. 
• Good Lighting: Not only does good lighting help you see clearly while making large range movements, but it also sets a good ambiance. We generally recommend a room with lots of natural light. 
• Air Quality-Ventilation: Consider an air purifier or a room with good ventilation to breathe properly and relax.

However, even if you are limited with space, lots of equipment, like the AeroPilates reformer, are great space savers and offer easy storage. That’s why when we mention flexibility, we don’t just mean time.

2. Selecting the Right Equipment

This leads us to our second tip—selecting the right equipment. The equipment you select will depend on a number of factors, including:

• The physical amount of space
• Your skill/knowledge level
• Budget
• Workout routine

While everyone should have a mat, advanced equipment like a Wunda Chair or a full reformer machine will give you access to professional studio equipment that can greatly expand your workouts. Research different products and even experiment with some at a professional studio to see which products are your favorite. The choice is yours!

3. Gaining Instruction

As previously mentioned, it’s incredibly easy to get one-on-one or professional instruction from the comfort of your home. And whether you’re new to Pilates or experienced, it pays to follow a professional instructor or workout routine. Consider signing up for an app or purchasing a cheap DVD to follow along with your workouts. 

4. Creating the Right Environment

Pilates is that perfect blend between traditional weight lifting, cardio, and yoga. Often called a cortisol conscious workout, Pilates is as much about proper breathing and relaxation as building and stretching muscle fibers.

For this reason, creating a serene or calm environment for home Pilates workouts is critical. So here are a few tips to help you build a relaxing home Pilates studio:

• Aromatherapy: Light some candles, incense, or an essential oil diffuser.
• Hang Artwork: Calming or serene art can be something nice to focus on during exercises visually. 
• Natural Light: As previously mentioned, natural light can create a good ambiance, and sunlight has a whole host of nutritional benefits. 
• Music: Calming music is a great way to get the body and mind to relax and focus on your workouts. 

5. Invest in Cleaning Supplies

Finally, you’ll want to invest in a few cleaning supplies if you plan to build a home Pilates studio. Essentials like antibacterial wipes/spray, paper towels, towels, hand soaps, a duster, and floor cleaning supplies will ensure your home studio is clean and that you won’t get sick. 

Conclusion

Not only does a home Pilates studio allow you to take control of your life, but also your wallet. By eliminating commutes or scheduled classes, you can work out on your own time, in the comfort of your home, for free.

If you want to build a home Pilates studio, but don’t know what equipment to get, we’re here to help. We offer a wide selection of home Pilates equipment, from reformers to chairs, to help you build out your own home studio. Search through our inventory or talk to a representative to find the perfect machine for your home today!