Setting Up a Home Gym: The Complete Guide (Even for Small Apartments)

Setting up a home gym doesn’t mean filling a whole room with machines. It means buying the two or three things you’ll still use in five years with the available space and budget. This guide takes you step by step through the decision, from a small two-room apartment to your own training room, and places every TWHEELS machine where it really fits.

Contents

• How much space and budget do you really need?
• Which cardio machine suits you?
• How do you cover strength training at home?
• Do you also need an office ergonomics corner?
• Which accessories are really worth it?
• Comparison: which device for which space and budget?
• Home gym in a small apartment: what’s possible?
• Which mistakes cost the most money?
• Frequently asked questions
• Conclusion

How much space and budget do you really need?

Before you buy any machine, measure your space and set a budget. It sounds obvious, but this is where most home gyms fail: people buy what looked good in a video, and then the equipment gets in the way or becomes a clothes rack.

Proceed in three steps:

• Measure your space. Not just the footprint, but also the movement area. A rowing machine only takes up about 2 meters in length, but you need clearance in front and behind it. A walking pad, on the other hand, can be tucked away under the sofa after training.
• Set your budget honestly. Don’t just calculate the cost of the machine, but also how often you’ll really use it. A 400 CHF machine you use daily is cheaper per session than a 150 CHF one that sits unused after three weeks.
• One goal per machine. Do you want to move more (cardio), get stronger (strength), or sit healthier (office)? Buy for the most important goal first, not all three at once.

A rough rule of thumb from experience: If you’re starting from zero, the best approach is a good cardio machine plus a flexible strength solution (adjustable dumbbell or weight vest). That covers 80 percent and costs a fraction of a full gym membership. You can find the full stack in the Fitness equipment from TWHEELS category.

Which cardio machine suits you?

The right cardio machine depends on your space, your favorite movement pattern, and your noise tolerance. There isn’t one best machine, but the best one for your home.

The four sensible options at TWHEELS:

• Walking Pad, if you want to stay active on the side, even while working or on the phone. It runs up to 6 km/h (up to 12 km/h with handle), folds flat to 13.5 cm, and is so quiet at a measured 45 dB that you can still clearly hear music at room volume. Supports up to 135 kg. More in the comparison Walking Pad vs. Treadmill.
• Water Rowing Machine, if you want full-body movement and a calm, smooth feeling. Resistance comes from real water (8 to 16 liters, 7 levels), supports up to 180 kg, and can be stored upright after training.
• Indoor Bike, if you’re looking for intense, joint-friendly interval training. 32 resistance levels via a hydraulic system, very quiet at around 35 dB, compact footprint.
• Sprinting Machine, the self-powered, curved treadmill without a motor, for those who want to sprint seriously and with maximum intensity. Weighing about 85 kg and over 1.4 m wide, this is not a living room device but for your own training room.

We tested all four in everyday use. The honest point about noise: Walking Pad and Indoor Bike are unproblematic in rental apartments, the rowing machine has a distinct water sound with every stroke (pleasant for many, but audible in thin-walled apartments at night), and the Sprinting Machine, due to weight and impact, doesn’t belong on the third floor above sensitive neighbors.

How do you cover strength training at home?

For strength training at home, you don’t need a wall of machines, but adjustable weight and some body tension. That’s the biggest leverage in a small space.

Three ways, depending on your goal and space:

• Adjustable dumbbell with wooden stand. Adjustable from 0.5 to 20 kg per setup, with spinlock collars and a walnut stand that doesn’t look like a garage piece. Covers biceps, shoulders, back, legs; one set replaces an entire dumbbell rack.
• Weight Vest. 5 kg (59 CHF) or 10 kg (79 CHF), adjustable for chest circumference 89 to 114 cm. Instantly makes push-ups, squats, and walks a tougher workout without extra space. The most affordable entry into added load.
• Mace Bell. Adjustable from 12 to 16 kg, powder-coated steel, for functional training of shoulders, core, and grip strength. More for advanced users who like swinging and rotational movements.

If you want to start completely without equipment, that’s totally legitimate and often the best first step. How far you can get with just your own body weight is explained in the guide Bodyweight Training, the Effective Training Without Equipment. The weight vest is the natural next level because it makes this training harder. Those who plan strength training in detail will find everything in the guide Strength Training at Home with Weight Vest, Mace Bell, and Dumbbells.

Pilates is a world of its own: The Pilates Reformer (solid maple wood, 5 color-coded steel springs, supports up to 204 kg, foldable) combines strength, mobility, and core training in one device and is especially popular with women and in rehab. Those who want to try it out first can get the Pilates Essential Set for 99 CHF (ring, ball, bands). The full guide is in the article Pilates for Beginners: Mat, Set or Reformer.

Do you also need an office ergonomics corner?

If you work from home, the office corner is often the underestimated part of the home gym because you spend more hours there than training. Eight hours of slouching damages more than a missed workout session.

Two building blocks that pay off:

• Height-Adjustable Standing Desk. Electric from 66 to 131 cm, tabletop 140 by 80 cm, supports up to 125 kg, with 4 memory height settings. Working while standing is the easiest way to add more movement to your day, and combined with the Walking Pad, it becomes a true walking desk.
• Ergonomic Office Chair ProActive. Air mesh back, adjustable lumbar support, 3D armrests, synchro mechanism, supports up to 135 kg. The most unspectacular purchase in the entire guide, but the one with the most direct effect on your back.

You can find the complete office setup in the category Office Equipment by TWHEELS. How to build an active setup from it is explained in the guide Ergonomic Office Chair and Active Home Office. Honest assessment: if your budget is tight and you don’t sit at a desk daily, this area comes last. But if you sit eight hours, it comes first.

Which accessories are really worth it?

When it comes to accessories: less is more, and you don’t need most of it. But two things really improve your training quality without taking up space.

• Balance board. Solid maple wood, handmade, supports up to 150 kg, costs 89 CHF. Trains core, balance, and coordination—the deep stabilizing muscles that no weight set reaches. Disappears behind the cabinet.
• Weight vest, see above under strength. It’s the accessory with the best price-to-effect ratio because it makes every existing workout harder instead of requiring a new one.

What you can save on at the start: ten different band sets, special mats, vibration plates, and anything that targets only one muscle. A good cardio machine plus adjustable weights plus a balance board covers more than most fully equipped basement studios.

Comparison: which device for which space and budget?

The short answer: for a small apartment with a small budget, the Walking Pad wins; for your own space with a big budget, the Sprinting Machine or the Reformer. The table ranks all main devices by actual footprint, price, and suitability. All prices are current shop prices as of this article.

Device	Category	Footprint / storable?	Supports up to	Price (CHF)	For whom
Walking Pad	Cardio	folds to 13.5 cm, fits under the sofa	135 kg	399	small apartment, home office, beginner
Weight vest	Strength / accessories	hangs on a hook, zero footprint	adjustable 89 to 114 cm	from 59	for everyone, cheapest resistance entry
Balance board	Accessories	behind the cabinet	150 kg	89	Core, balance, rehab
ProActive office chair	Office	already at the desk anyway	135 kg	419	Home office, back
Standing Desk	Office	fixed spot, 140 by 80 cm	125 kg resistance	469	Home office, walking desk combo
Water rowing machine	Cardio	stores upright, ~2.1 m during training	180 kg	869	Full body, low-impact training
Indoor Bike	Cardio	compact footprint, ~35 dB quiet	120 kg	1225	Intervals, joint-friendly
Pilates Reformer	Strength / mobility	foldable, ~2.5 m set up	204 kg	1549	Pilates, core, rehab
Our recommendation to start	Cardio + resistance	both storable	up to 135 / 180 kg	from ~460	Walking Pad + weight vest, covers 80%

The highlighted line isn’t a sales trick but what we actually recommend to people without prior experience: a cardio machine that doesn’t get in the way, plus the most affordable way to add resistance. This keeps you going for months before you invest in more expensive equipment.

Home gym in a small apartment: what’s possible?

Even in a two-room apartment, you can set up a full home gym if every device is either storable or already in the room. The trick isn’t less training, but less permanent footprint.

This is what a realistic setup on just a few square meters looks like:

• Cardio that disappears: The Walking Pad folds to 13.5 cm and fits under the sofa or bed. The water rowing machine stands upright in the corner after training, thanks to transport wheels without dragging.
• Strength without footprint: Weight vest on the hook, dumbbell set with wooden stand as furniture instead of garage look, balance board behind the cabinet.
• Dual use office: Standing Desk plus Walking Pad creates a Walking Desk—you train while you work without needing extra space.

Why wood is a real advantage here and not just about looks: A device made of solid oak or maple can stand in the living room without looking out of place, so it stays out and gets used instead of gathering dust in the basement. The full logic is explained in the guides Wooden Fitness Equipment for the Living Room and Wooden Fitness Equipment, Sustainability and Functionality.

Which mistakes cost the most money?

The most expensive mistake in a home gym isn’t buying a device that’s too expensive, but the wrong device in the wrong place. Here are the four we see most often:

• Don’t buy everything at once. Three devices at the same time means two will just be unused in the way. Buy one, use it for four weeks, then get the next.
• Underestimate space. The rowing machine needs more room during use than its footprint, and a device that’s in the way during setup won’t get set up.
• Ignore noise. Noise level is no small detail in an apartment. Walking Pad (45 dB) and Indoor Bike (35 dB) are unproblematic, heavy devices with impact are not.
• Don’t sacrifice looks. Sounds superficial, but it’s about behavior: An ugly device ends up in the basement, a beautiful one stays in the living room and gets used. That’s exactly why wood is worth it.

Movement works, no matter which device you use. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, which is just over 20 minutes a day. A device you use daily beats any expensive one gathering dust in the basement.

If you want to see which devices others start with most often, take a look at the Home Fitness Bestsellers.

Frequently asked questions

How much space do I need at minimum for a home gym?
A few square meters are enough for a sensible setup if you choose stowable devices. A Walking Pad needs about 1.2 m in use and then disappears completely, a weight vest takes no floor space. Having a dedicated room is nice but not a must.

What should I start with if I buy only one device?
With a cardio device that fits your apartment. For most, the Walking Pad is the safest first choice because it’s quiet, foldable, and usable alongside home office work. A weight vest as a second item then covers strength.

Are wooden fitness devices just decoration or functional too?
Both. The wood is load-bearing, not just cladding, the devices hold between 120 and 204 kg depending on the model. The real advantage is behavior: what can stand in the living room will also be used.

How loud are the devices for rental apartments?
Walking Pad about 45 dB, indoor bike about 35 dB, both unproblematic in normal apartments. The water rowing machine makes a noticeable sound with every stroke, the sprinting machine is not suitable for a noise-sensitive old building due to weight and impact.

Do I need many dumbbells for strength training?
No. An adjustable dumbbell from 0.5 to 20 kg replaces a whole rack and fits on a stand. If you want to save even more, start with a weight vest and your own body weight.

Is a Pilates Reformer worth it for home use?
If you regularly do Pilates or train core and mobility for rehab reasons, yes. It combines strength, flexibility, and stability in one foldable device. But to get started, the Pilates Essential Set for 99 CHF is enough.

What does a reasonable home gym cost overall?
A solid start (Walking Pad plus weight vest) costs under 500 CHF. An all-rounder with cardio, strength, and office use comes to around 1000 to 1500 CHF. A premium studio with reformer or sprinting machine starts at 2000 CHF and up.

Conclusion

Setting up a home gym is a matter of order, not money. First measure your space, set an honest budget, then buy a single device for your main goal and use it before getting the next one. For most, that means: a stowable cardio device plus a weight vest, and you have the solid base you’ll actually stick with.

Plain text: You don’t need a full basement, you need two or three things you enjoy using and that don’t get in the way. Choose the cardio type that fits your apartment, add a flexible weight, and only expand once the basics are set. You can browse the full selection under Fitness equipment from TWHEELS.