Introduction

While it may not seem like a priority for many gym or sports managers, the quality of time spent by athletes in the locker room reflects in the general evaluation of the gym. After the coronavirus pandemic, customers are increasingly attentive to the hygiene of the centres and give great importance to their personal space.

The gyms must take note of this, and when choosing the design of the changing room, the management of the spaces and the selection of the lockers must be done with care, taking into account several variables.

Why invest in the locker room?

After the fatigue accumulated during the training session, the client wants to find comfort in the locker room, but unfortunately, this is often not the case.

Every year, the managers of the gyms make large and small investments, focusing more on new equipment, perhaps even double ones for the weight room, or to improve the appearance of the reception; a few times, you think about investing in the changing rooms.

The advantage is that once the initial expense has been incurred, the investment in the locker room gives ample guarantees over time. So let’s find out how to choose the right type of lockers and their design.

How to choose locker cabinets?

You can see the quality of a gym in the attention to detail. When a customer has to choose which gym to join, a welcoming locker room with the correct choice of design and lockers makes the difference.

There are different types of lockers, each customisable and adaptable according to the needs of the gym. The main factors to consider to choose the right type are:

DESIGN	MATERIAL	DIMENSIONS	DEMOGRAPHY
Shape, size and colour are part of the cabinet design. Each changing room is unique and must be furnished according to your needs.	The lockers can be of different materials. Each material is more or less customisable; the most common are plastic, wood and metal. Each of them has its advantages and drawbacks.	There are various sizes of lockers. Depending on the clientele’s needs, you can have a dressing room with lockers of different sizes.	You should choose lockers according to the demographics of the gym. Who are your customers, and what do they need? What kind of items will they leave in the locker cabinets?

Design

Shape, size and colour are part of the cabinet design. Each changing room is unique and must be furnished according to your needs.

Material

The lockers can be of different materials. Each material is more or less customisable; the most common are plastic, wood and metal. Each of them has its advantages and drawbacks.

Dimensions

There are various sizes of lockers. Depending on the clientele’s needs, you can have a dressing room with lockers of different sizes.

Demography

You should choose lockers according to the demographics of the gym. Who are your customers, and what do they need? What kind of items will they leave in the locker cabinets?

Dimensions of the cabinets

The lockers must be suitable for each type of customer. You must study everything to prevent the changing room from becoming small and chaotic.

Gyms require lockers to be durable, as they reside in high-humidity and heavily trafficked areas; for this, you must choose materials resistant to the daily wear of the environment of the structure.

In general, locker cabinets measure 50cm in width, 40cm in depth and 180cm in height, but there are no standard dimensions to be respected.

The design and the suitable material are chosen according to the size of the locker room. For the correct type of lockers, it is necessary to look at the demographics and needs of the gym’s customers.

The cabinets with full-height compartments are suitable for changing rooms that must accommodate a limited number of people. To make the most of the space, you can opt for cabinets with two or three compartments or a combination of the two types.

You can fix the cabinets flush with the wall. Also, it’s essential to consider where the locker room benches will go. They mustn’t obstruct pathways.

Which material to use for the cabinets?

Quite often, entrepreneurs focus more on the aesthetic side, making bad decisions and installing cabinets made of unsuitable materials.

The lockers can be of different materials, and the cheapest and most popular are those in painted sheet metal, a metal that often represents the most practical and straightforward option. You can find locker cabinets in different colours and styles, which helps create a good design. Another metal option is the more expensive but indestructible layered laminate (HPL).

Then there are those in wood (usually resistant to humidity) also these in more colours, which make the environment more elegant and finally in plastic, certainly cheaper than those in wood, have the advantage of never rusting, but ‘are less resistant than other materials.

PLASTIC CABINETS	METAL CABINETS	WOODEN CABINETS
Plastic lockers are constructed of water-resistant materials. They are a great option when professional lockers are needed in high-humidity environments.	Metal lockers are constructed of 16-gauge steel and are available in any size. Widely used as employee lockers, school lockers, and of course, gyms.	Wood cabinets provide a professional look for any dressing room. They are built with durable materials and are available in different sizes.

Plastic cabinets

Plastic lockers are built of water-resistant materials. They are a great option when professional lockers are needed in high-humidity environments.

Metal cabinets

Metal lockers are constructed of 16-gauge steel and are available in any size. Widely used as employee lockers, school lockers, and of course, gyms.

Wooden cabinets

Wood cabinets provide a professional look for any dressing room. They are built with durable materials and are available in different sizes.

Different types of locks

We have seen that different lockers can vary in size and materials. Another customisable thing, according to your needs, is the type of lock.

The three most common locks are:

• Padlock – Perhaps the most common, the padlock is widely used due to its cheapness and simplicity. However, the customer has to carry the padlock key with him during training, and often, he has to force the locker to open due to losing the key.
• Digital combination – To eliminate the problem of losing the key, there are locks with numeric keypads for PIN combinations, which you can open by entering the code. The downside is that being a digital system, it has a shorter lifespan than analogue ones, and they will need maintenance – change  batteries from time to time.
• Electronic lock (RFID reader) – Increasingly popular, perhaps the most modern choice, the electronic lock with a ‘chip’ reader allows customers to open their locker through a card (membership), bracelet or key ring containing the signature of preset digital. The cons of this option are the necessity of changing the batteries.

Conclusion

Managers of gyms, sports centres, schools or anyone with a space for a changing room must take note of the historical period that our society is going through. We live in a moment of extreme attention to public health and hygiene. As a result, it becomes mandatory to invest in the locker room.

In 2022, to stand out among its competitors, the health club must be synonymous with cleanliness and attention to detail. Nowadays, when a new client has to choose which one to join, he gives a lot of importance to the care of the locker room and the hygiene of the club. A well-furnished changing room, therefore, becomes the most requested benefit for gyms.

The ability to choose and modify the locker cabinets according to your needs is the perfect way to create a changing room suitable for your customers. Knowing that you have a personal space where you can leave your clothes and valuables fosters trust within the structure, which creates an environment of well-being for everyone and, consequently, for the brand’s growth.

To comment on this article, please proceed to the LinkedIn post.

Disclaimer: The opinions and positions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and collaborators and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the professional fitness community.