Just like the most comfortable homes have certain essentials that make their floor plans shine — so do gyms.
From gym design to gym equipment, deciding where to put a basketball court in retrospect to the free weight rack can be tricky. The floor plan of a fitness club is one of the most important factors in the success of a business. If you get the floor plan right, you’ll empower members to get the most of the facility and encourage them to come back. If you get it wrong, members are likely to feel uncomfortable and discouraged from signing up for their next class, so it’s crucial you know how to increase gym membership sales for your plan. This is especially important as you begin to look at reopening guidelines for your business.
If you’re looking to update your fitness gym floor plan, the good news is you can start today. Little changes to a floor plan can make a big difference in the long run and contribute to the overall happiness of your clients.
If you have decided to change your floor plan, make sure to keep these four things in mind:
- Safety: Does this design give enough space for the fitness equipment to be used properly?
- Design: Does the design fit the aesthetic of the future gym I want to create?
- Convenience: Is this easy to use for my clients/
- Profitability: Am I able to create a profit or advertise this in order to generate more sales?
Now that you have these four principles in your toolbox, here are 6 essentials of a gym layout that will “wow” your customers and keep them coming back for more, here are 6 essentials of a gym layout that will “wow” your customers and keep them coming back for more.
Add Inspiration
When it comes to motivating clients, nothing does the trick like adding pieces of inspiration to your fitness gym floor plan. If you have a cycling or yoga fitness room with a full-length mirror, add a quote above it. This way, when gym clients look into the mirror, they’ll find inspiration. Search for quotes and sayings that have meaning — words of encouragement that will get your clients pumped up even on days when they’re feeling low. You can also sprinkle in inspiration with framed prints — of leaders in your fitness field or photographs of scenic spots. However you choose to add inspiration, your clients will appreciate the positive environment you’ve created.
Have a Hydration Area
Working out and proper hydration go hand-in-hand. As a fitness leader, you want to ensure that clients are hydrated both before and after their workout. Adding a hydration area to your fitness gym floor plan means you care — and make it easier for clients to take a break and bask in a water bottle refill after a strenuous class or set of weights. Adding a filtered water dispenser like the FloWater Refill Station makes hydration easy and ensures the healthiest and best tasting water for your clients. To jazz up a hydration area, you can even keep it stocked with infusions for water bottles, like sliced cucumbers or oranges. Make hydrating fun and your clients will feel better and have more energy.
Bring on the Light
Imagine the difference between walking into a dark room and a bright, light-filled room. Adding natural light to your fitness gym floor plan is uplifting for clients and makes their workout routine seem brighter and more positive. Go for open windows that offer a peek of the outdoors. Maybe a client has the pleasure of getting to see a palm tree out the window or looking toward a canopy of forest greenery. Wherever your gym is located, work to bring in natural elements that will add a bit of serenity to your clients’ workouts — when they leave, they’ll be happy, feeling healthy, and ready to tackle tomorrow’s workout.
Luxurious Locker Rooms
We all know the difference between a locker room that’s just so-so and a locker room that shines. When clients are working out, you want to reward them for a job well done and encourage them to keep coming back. Having a luxurious locker room means that clients can get ready for their workout in peace and take a relaxing shower post-workout before they venture home. Adding little bits of luxury to your fitness gym floor plan is easy in the locker room. Put out fresh flowers or use aromatherapy and candles to create a nice scent and a tranquil atmosphere. You can add soft music and make a point of having nice hand soaps, shampoos, and conditioners. All of these seemingly small details add up and make a big difference in the long run.
Make it Roomy
No one wants to exercise work out in super cramped quarters too close to their neighbors — that’s why the most stellar fitness gym floor plans are spacious and roomy. Even if you don’t have a large fitness space to begin with, you can make things roomy by foregoing the extra treadmill or adding in that tenth rowing machine. When clients have room to roam in the facility and aren’t too close to their fellow workout pals, they can be in their own world. Once they turn on their headphones, they’ll settle into a routine and not have to worry about anything else other than their workout.
Key Zones
When it comes to traditional gyms, most of the best floor plans create a handful of key zones for their clients. Often, these include a section of equipment for free-weights, cardio, resistance, and warm-up. You can work to create key zones even when you’re dealing with a simple floor space that’s entirely open. Try separating the zones with plants for some greenery or use signage to indicate where each zone is. This will help clients clear the clutter from their mind and will save time for your employees in the long run. After all, how many times do you really want to answer the question — where are the free weights? Key zones are key — and once you nail them down, your clients will love you for it.
Create the flow
Fitness gym floor plans that truly wow are all about the flow. It’s one of the more difficult parts of a floor plan to get right, but when you do, it shows. Creating the right flow in a fitness facility sometimes has to do with “living” in the space for a while. Sit at the front desk and jot notes when clients come in. Where do they go first? What do they run into along the way? Maybe once they leave the locker room, you notice they get caught up in the cardio area before venturing on to the right space for their warm-up. Once you get a feel for your current flow, you can work with team members to revamp it.
More Ideas
In addition to the 6 essentials above, these are some more ways to create the perfect fitness floor plan. They might come after you’ve already tackled the ideas above — but we love that in a gym, there’s always room to improve and keep your clients surprised and happy.
Kid Center
Adding a kid center to your floor plan not only helps parents out with childcare services, but it adds a bit of fun to a sometimes serious atmosphere. Decorate and design your kids’ area with artwork, bright colors, and prints that pop.
Shop
A shop, even a small one, is a great addition to your gym’s floor plan. You can sell everything from protein bars to reusable water bottles to yoga mats — to ensure that if your clients need anything at all, you’re there for them. It’s also a great place if gym owners need gift ideas for clients.
Smoothie Bar
If you have the ability to, adding a smoothie bar with fresh juices and wholesome, protein-packed smoothies will instantly make your fitness center stand out from the crowd. Workout out on an empty stomach is sometimes tough — so giving your clients a boost of energy with a smoothie or juice will be a welcomed addition. Alternatively, grab-and-go options like wraps make it easy to work out and head straight to work or class.
Outdoor Classes
One thing that people sometimes forget when it comes to fitness gym floor plans is their outdoor space. This doesn’t mean your gym has to be located beachside or near a park. You can take classes outside to the parking lot so guests can get some fresh air! If you do have access to a nice natural setting, opt for holding occasional classes somewhere locally and giving members the option to choose. This could be beneficial for something like pilates promotion, too!
Soundtrack
Music is key to your floor plan. Set up some surround sound and create a few playlists to get clients pumped and ready for their workout. Music doesn’t need to be so loud that it interferes — but it’s nice for guests to know it’s there if they leave their headphones at home. You can even have a music suggestion box, where clients can feel free to leave song suggestions to add to the group playlist.
Living Wall
Not only do living walls look incredible in gyms, homes, or anywhere with walls — but they offer the chance to take in deep breaths and breathe in the greenery. Next to your living wall, have a notecard wall where clients can write affirmations to others or themselves.
Whether you start with a living wall or a luxury locker room, every little step toward a beautiful fitness gym floor plan makes a big difference.
What are some of your favorite parts about your facility? Is there a kids’ area, a cool hydration spot, or tons of natural light? Feel free to share it with us in the comments below! We’d love to hear what sort of gym floor plan keeps you happy and coming back for another workout.
From all of us at FloWater, thanks for reading!
