Designing a home gym does not have to be a major expense, as with a few fitness "must haves", anyone can have an effective workout station in their own abode, a new report has claimed.

According to Forbes.com, fitness expert Ruth Tara of Home Gym Design says that rather than splashing out on a wide range of equipment, people looking to set up a home gym should concentrate on a handful of "essentials" that they can use for aerobic, strength, resistance and flexibility exercises.

These include a treadmill, stepper, exercise bike or elliptical cross trainer, all of which give a good aerobic workout.

For resistance and strength training, exercisers can pick from a number of low-cost options, such as stability balls or resistance bands.

A simple yoga mat or padded flooring can also help flexibility training by ensuring the body is cushioned from impacts during workouts, the site said.

It adds that fitness expert Neal Pire advises to start small with a home gym so it can grow "in tandem with your abilities" and try out equipment before they buy to ensure it meets their needs.

"The best equipment is equipment you"re going to use," he said.

Other popular home fitness equipment includes dumbbells, hand weights and vibration training machines like the Power Plate.

Totally Fitness: home fitness equipment that fits around you.