How to choose the right lighting for your commercial gym

How important is lighting for gyms?

It’s certainly not the first thing that you’ll think about when setting up a commercial gym or fitness business. But lighting does have a surprisingly large effect on the experience inside your gym, shaping how the space looks, feels and functions.

At GymQuip we’ve spent over three decades helping commercial gyms to create premium, alluring and purposeful gym environments designed to attract and retain more members.

In this article we’ll reveal the often-overlooked power of commercial gym lighting design – not just how to illuminate a space, but how to ensure it looks great, feels right, performs well and reflects your brand.

The surprising importance of gym lighting

The importance of gym lighting seems self-evident – it ensures your members can see what they’re doing.

But cleverly designed fitness centre lighting solutions offer your gym and your members so much more than sight – they can create a more inviting and inspiring space, elevate mood and reduce the risk of injury:

• Mood and motivation: Peer-reviewed studies have found that when the right lighting is combined with exercise, it can elevate mood, even to the point where it offers relief of the symptoms of depression. Cool, bright tones can help to energise strength and cardio sessions, while warm, ambient lighting is ideal in yoga and recovery spaces.
• Performance and safety: A quality gym lighting layout gives your members a clear view of their form and technique, which can lead to better performance. This visual clarity also reduces the risk of accidents and injuries.
• Brand perception: Custom commercial gym lighting design can form a genuine point of difference for your fitness business. The strategic placement of LEDs that match your brand colours can help you to build a strong visual identity, and by making your space more Insta-worthy it can enhance your organic online reach.

Gym lighting is so much more than just a way for members to see what you’re doing. When done well, it can form a genuine USP – the type that can help drive more membership, more loyalty and more revenue.

Customising gym lighting by zone

Now that we understand the importance of lighting for gyms, how do you set up yours?

As noted above, different types of lighting will suit different parts of your gym, so you should carefully consider your lighting strategy in each training zone. Here are some very basic guidelines to get you started:

• Cardio areas: Choose bright, evenly diffused lighting to elevate member mood and motivation, and to ensure people can see what they’re doing.
• Strength zones: Install targeted downlighting that offers plenty of light where members need it most – on machines, in front of mirrors – allowing them to concentrate on form and technique.
• HIIT and functional zones: Go for dynamic lighting (dimmable, colour-changeable) so you can match the intensity and energy of any given session.
• Mind-body workouts: Workouts like yoga and pilates benefit from soft, warm lighting that can be dimmed during cool-downs and meditation.
• Reception and retail: Accent lighting can highlight products and create a warm welcome for anyone who enters your gym.

Another key consideration for all types of lighting is energy efficiency. It’s wise to incorporate smart controls and timers to automatically adjust your lighting at different times of the day, based on factors like natural light and member traffic.

A mixture of fixtures: creating your gym lighting system

The best gym lighting systems will combine a number of different light fixtures, each of which can bring something unique to the area in which it’s installed. Lighting options include:

• LED panels: Energy efficient, long-lasting, low-maintenance lights that are ideal for lighting large, open spaces.
• LED downlights: Also efficient and long-lasting, but offering a more targeted spotlight to highlight specific areas of your gym floor.
• Track lighting: Downlights placed on a track, enabling for their position to be adjusted, ideal for spaces where floorplans and layouts are changed regularly.
• Accent strips: Designed more for form than function, accent strips allow you to set the mood and add colour and style to your gym.
• Dimmable systems: Dimmer switches or app-controlled smart lights allow you to adjust your lighting based on the feel of the moment and mood of the room.
• Emergency lighting: A regulatory responsibility across Australia, emergency lighting ensures you comply with OH&S laws.
  

 

Installing gym lighting: new builds vs retrofits

How you install your gym lighting layout will depend on whether you’re completing a new build or you’re retrofitting your lighting system to an existing building.

 

If you’re building from scratch:

• Get lighting on the design table early. Your lighting system and your floor plan will inform each other, so it’s wise to attack both at the same time.
• Integrate your lighting system with other overlapping systems and design features, such as HVAC, mirrors, sound systems and signage. This ensures an efficient, effective and unified gym design.

 

If you’re retrofitting an existing gym:

• LED strips and plug-and-play track systems offer quick wins as they are simple to install.
• Swapping old fluoro lights with efficient LED panels can instantly modernise your space while cutting down your power bill and maintenance schedule.
• Smart accent lighting offers a cost-effective way to freshen up tired zones and areas, without the need for a major renovation.

GymQuip: commercial gym fit-out specialists

Lighting shapes the gym experience more than most fitness businesses probably realise. Smart commercial gym lighting design can improve performance, safety, brand perception and the overall vibe of the space.

If you’re looking for expert advice on exactly how to fit out your new gym – not just lighting, but layout, equipment, ongoing maintenance and more – the GymQuip team is here to help.

At GymQuip we boast over three decades of experience in fitting out commercial gyms. Beginning with a consulting session, we’ll design your floor plan; identify, deliver and install equipment; then provide all the ongoing service and support you need to keep your gym running smoothly.

Ready to make your commercial gym shine, and light your path to fitness business success? Get in touch with our friendly team today.