Apply These 6 Secret Techniques To Improve Gym Design
Think of design as function. A good design makes a product useful. In your case, your fitness facility needs to be inviting for your clients to want to use your space. Take a look at these top six techniques to improve your fitness design when starting to help you get members in the door.
Determine Your Fitness Dreams
This is the most important thing you will need to decide before you move forward with any design. What type of fitness facility do you want to create? Who will be your target audience, and what makes you unique in the competitive fitness space?
Fitness Center, Spin, Functional, Franchise, Country Club, Corporate Wellness, Personal Training Studio or Boutique Gym, Strength and Conditioning or Crossfit, Athletic Studio for Athletes, Group Fitness, Powerlifting, Gymnastics, Aerobic, Yoga Studio, or Pilates just to name a few.
Space
Space is a simple design element to understand—it refers to the physical boundaries of a building or space. However, unless you are building from scratch, you do not typically get to choose the dimensions of the facility you are designing, so you must find a way to use the area's existing space and layout to your advantage. Using the Blueprints to design can save you so much time upfront. So find them and keep them handy!
Do Your Research on Color Theory Emotions
Colors can literally transform any fitness space! Psychology indicates that colors impact our moods and attitudes, affecting both body and mind, so choosing the appropriate colors for your gym or fitness center should involve careful thought.
Consider: How do you want your customers to feel when they work out?
For Example:
Red
Red is a dynamic, powerful color that is very physical. But find balance as too much Red can cause over-aggressive behavior.
Orange
Orange is a combination of red’s power and energy and the friendliness and fun of yellow. Orange represents motivation, a positive attitude, and enthusiasm. But, once again, moderation, as any bright color, can be overwhelming.
Purple
Purple symbolizes power, nobility, luxury, and ambition. Its intensity can be a great motivator, but it can also be distracting and lead to a lack of concentration.
Blue
Blue is most often known for representing trust and stability. However, blue can also be perceived as distant or cold if used too much.
Texture & Pattern
As a design element, texture and pattern often work in conjunction with color. They are used to add life and interest to any space. Patterns and Textures are typically created by using repetitive designs in wall paint and ceilings and the flooring, upholstery, graphics on the walls, window moldings, and lighting fixtures.
Lighting
The six main types of gym lighting are general, natural, ambient, mood, task and accent. Different fitness environments may require unique lighting. Think of a spin club as a nightclub type of lighting. They rely heavily on lighting and music to create the right ambiance. The reason for this is to help spin goers tap into the inner strength and motivation needed to help push through psychological barriers.
Start From the Ground Up
It can feel like overwhelming to see an empty space with concrete floors and bare walls, but this could be ANYTHING you want it to be! Starting from the ground up allows you to customize and choose everything down to the very last detail. Think of literally the ground, what flooring would best work for different functionalities. Where do you want mirrors? Do you want open-concept or private spaces, etc?
All of these questions might take time and guidance, but that is why fitness professionals like me dedicate our lives to learning what makes gyms unique, successful, sustainable and stunning. Why go at it alone when you don’t have to? Instead, find people you trust and want to work with so they can help make your dreams become a reality.