It sounds like the perfect solution: no nasty direct debit gym memberships and no having to haul yourself from the couch to the gym on a wet and windy winter evening.

But breaking a sweat at home isn't always easy – not least when but don't have a clue where to start in terms of equipment.

In fact, if you don't choose your at-home workout stables carefully, you run the risk of wasting money on devices that are poorly designed, difficult to use or simply take up too much space. 

After all, how many machines end up as clothes racks after a month or so?

So here, SHEmazing! details three of the key things you need to consider before setting up your ultimate at-home workout area:

 

Available space

Some machines can take up a lot of space so you need to consider where to place it. Equipment varies in size so measure everything and double check it will fit – otherwise it will probably end up in the attic or shed.

 

Features

A clever thing to do is make a list of all the features you want your equipment to have. This way you won't be disappointed when it arrives and only has half of the things you want. Equally, forking out for fancy-pants stuff that boasts a load of advanced specifications you don't need or want is a waste. 

 

Budget

The best home-equipment is often expensive and you should think of it as an investment. Do keep in mind that quality matters – you will likely get a better workout from a more expensive, solidly built, and reliable machine that will hold up through daily use. Otherwise you run the risk of the machine breaking down early on.