The entryway to the exercise room in Tony Trantas' Foothills home also serves as a display for sports memorabilia he's collected over the years.

Photos by Ron Medvescek

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You've finally decided to exercise regularly at home. You're motivated; you've bought the equipment; you've made the time.

The next step is to create a place that makes working out easy, comfortable and fun.

Foothills resident Tony Trantas installed his equipment and weights in a room full of sports memorabilia that he's collected over the years.

Interior designer Barbara Schaefer used warm, neutral colors for a soothing atmosphere. And to Trantas' specifications, she incorporated a steam room, cabinets for towels and a health bar to make the area a complete fitness retreat.

The effort was worth it for Trantas, who can enjoy his collection during the three times a day when he uses the room, Schaefer says.

No matter how often one exercises at home, it's always best to make the workout room inviting.

"The more accessories that are of quality in that room, the longer you'll probably want to stay there," says Ron Holland, owner and master trainer at Strength Wellness Athletic Training, a company that provides personal trainers.

From floor to ceiling, Schaefer, who has designed several exercise rooms and areas, and Holland, who counsels clients on creating home exercise areas, offer advice on fitting a fitness place at home.

● Floor. Schaefer suggests using carpet instead of hard floors. Holland encourages the use of rubber pads under all equipment as a sound damper and to make it easy to clean up sweat.

● Walls. Both say soothing paint colors are best, naming such hues as warm taupe, soft gold and yellows, apricot, peach and light greens.

● Lighting. Holland likes fluorescent lighting because it doesn't heat a room like halogen does.

Place exercise equipment away from windows so that it doesn't heat the area where you're exercising and the sun doesn't get in your eyes, he says. Choose an exercise room or area with south- or north-facing windows.

● Storage. If you have a separate exercise room, then equipment need not be stored, Schaefer says. "You want to try to make everything where they're user-friendly," she says.

If exercising shares a room with other uses, find or create storage for small equipment such as free weights, stability balls and exercise tapes, and then bring them out when needed.

Stability balls can act as furniture in a shared room.

"You can use the stability ball to sit on and watch TV," Holland says.

● Entertainment. Install a television, visual media player and music player in your exercise area so they're ready when you are. Keep your remote controls near or on the machine you're using so that you don't interrupt your workout to locate them.

● Accessories. Live plants provide oxygen in the area, Holland says. Use a fan if you don't have air conditioning. Keep towels and wipes in the area, as well as a water cooler or small refrigerator stocked with water.