Where To Put A Treadmill – Best Location In Your House Or Apartment
A treadmill is an excellent piece of equipment for both beginner and advanced runners. It makes running extremely convenient, and it’s ideal for those who may not have a lot of time to run on the road or the trails due to work or a busy life.
But what’s the best location in your house or apartment for your treadmill? While you can place it anywhere it fits, some spots are better than others.
Here’s our advice on where to put a treadmill so that you can get the best use out of it.
Why Is the Location of the Treadmill So Important?
A treadmill is an investment and it’s often a start to your fitness journey. But where you put your treadmill will play a vital role in how often you use it and how much enjoyment you get out of your workout.
You want to put your treadmill in a space that’s easily accessible, convenient, comfortable, and that will allow you to run effectively.
The space should also have a stable WiFi connection, especially if you’re going to use treadmill workout apps such as Peloton, Aaptiv, or other treadmill apps.
What to Consider When Placing a Treadmill
There are a few things to take into consideration when you’re deciding on the best place to put your treadmill.
The first thing is whether the room can accommodate the size of the treadmill. If you have a limited amount of space, you can get a foldable treadmill that you can easily store out of the way when it’s not in use.
You’d also need to take into consideration how many people in the household will be using the treadmill. For example, if a family member or roommate will be using the treadmill, you may want to place it in a comfortable, shared space like the living room.
Running on a treadmill can make a noise, with the whirring motor and the pounding of your feet on the belt! You may want to consider putting the treadmill in a room where family members or your neighbors won’t be bothered when you’re working out.
You’ll want to place your treadmill in a room that has plenty of natural light during the day, or has good lamps for night running. Not only does this help you run safely, but lighting can make all the difference to your exercise environment and can motivate you to keep going.
You’ll want to consider if the room is a space that you can work out in. For example, if you have a home office, would it be wise to put the treadmill there, and would you use it there?
You may find that the room has the space but that the treadmill interrupts your workflow during the day.
Let’s look at some specific rooms and weigh their pros and cons.
Room Options for Treadmills
Living Room
Pros
If you have space in your living room, then you’ll find that there are a number of benefits to putting your treadmill there.
Not only will you feel comfortable training in the living room, but you’ll be able to watch your favorite TV show. You can connect your laptop to the TV to do an online workout, which can make for a more exciting and immersive virtual run.
Most living rooms have views of the outdoors, so you can put your favorite music on and run while you enjoy the view.
The living room is also the best place to put a treadmill if your entire family will be using it.
Every time you go in or walk past your living room, you’ll see the treadmill. This will remind you of the goals you want to achieve and motivate you to use the treadmill regularly.
Cons
The sight of the treadmill in the living room may annoy you when you see it every day. It takes up space, and this may make the living room feel cramped, especially if you have guests.
Bedroom
Pros
If you prefer to work out on the treadmill in privacy, then the bedroom may be the best place for it. This will also give you some solitude as you can close the door behind you, which can help prevent interruptions by family members.
The treadmill will be the first thing that you see when you wake up in the morning. This can help motivate you to start your day with a run. You may even want to put your favorite running shoes within easy reach, so there are no excuses when you wake up.
If you have a TV in your room, you can catch up on the morning news, do an online HIIT workout, or listen to music to make the session fun.
You could even end your day off with a run in the evening, as long as it’s at least an hour before your bedtime. Recent studies have shown that you may find it easier to fall asleep and that you may experience better quality sleep after exercise.
Cons
Using the treadmill early in the morning or in the evening can conflict with your partner’s sleeping schedule.
If you don’t have a TV in the room, or a window that provides a view, you may find that room isn’t very pleasant to run in. The treadmill is also not the nicest thing to see first thing in the morning.
Basement/Garage
Pros
Either the basement or garage would be a great place to put the treadmill. Not only would the treadmill not take up space in living areas, but it’s out of the way of the hustle and bustle of family members.
You’ll have time to yourself where you can really work up a sweat without worrying about your workout being interrupted. The neighbors and your family members won’t be disturbed by the sound of the motor or your foot strikes on the belt.
While basements are often used to store things that aren’t being used, you can get creative and turn the basement into a small gym. Not only can you use the treadmill, but it will also give you space to put a yoga mat where you can do your warm-up.
You would need to put a fan in the basement to help keep you cool while running. If your treadmill is in the garage, then all you need to do is open the door for some fresh air.
Cons
Unfortunately, when the treadmill is in the garage or basement there’s no temperature control. Both can get very cold in the winters and extremely hot in the summers, and this can provide an excuse for you not to use the treadmill.
You may need to get a space heater or oscillating fan especially for the basement or garage, to help keep you motivated to keep using the treadmill.
The Importance of the Treadmill Position
You should look forward to running on your treadmill, which is why it’s important to carefully plan where you’re going to put it.
You’re going to need plenty of space above your head and around you. This will prevent you from feeling like you’re closed in and allow you the freedom to run naturally and without restriction.
The space will also help you access the treadmill easily when you need to clean the room or do maintenance on the treadmill.
If you have a folding treadmill, then you’ll want to be able to store it where it’s out of the way of family members, toddlers, pets, and where it’s not taking space away from living areas.
To keep yourself motivated, and to make your runs more fun, position the treadmill so that you have the best view of the TV, out of a window, or through an open door.
If you’re in the basement or the garage, you can put up a vision board or motivational posters or quotes to keep you inspired. If there’s enough space, you may even want to add some pot plants to liven up the surroundings.
Add all your favorite songs to a playlist that you can listen to while running, as music can put you in the right frame of mind to work out. You can even create different playlists for different treadmill workouts.
Keep the windows or door open, as this will let both natural light and air in. This will help to keep you more energetic and alert while running.
Accessories Which Might Come Handy
There are a few treadmill accessories that you may want to get, which can help keep your workouts fun and exciting.
A treadmill book holder is a fantastic accessory, especially on those days when you may want a quieter run without background noise. This will allow you to distract your mind while you run.
If your treadmill is going to be in a room that doesn’t have a TV, you may want to get a tablet holder. This will allow you to do virtual runs, HIIT workouts online, or watch your favorite show while you’re working out.
You should place your treadmill on a treadmill mat, as this will help to protect the treadmill from dust and debris. The mat will prevent the treadmill from slipping or leaving indentations on your floor, especially if they’re wooden.
The treadmill mat will also help reduce the noise from the motor and your footstrikes on the belt.
If you work from home or like to use the computer, then a treadmill desk may be a good option. Just be careful if you run vigorously, as it may be unstable.
While most treadmills come with a bottle holder and a fan, if you have a more entry-level treadmill, you may not have these. They’re worth investing in if your treadmill doesn’t already have them, to help keep you cool and hydrated.
A treadmill maintenance and care kit could also be a great idea to keep close by. Your treadmill should be oiled on a regular basis, but follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on keeping it maintained.
