Gym decor - how to decorate a gym in eco way

Environmentalism has become one of the most prominent social movements of our time, one that we support and aim to integrate into a new territory - that of gyms, fitness facilities and yoga studios.

This has been made possible largely thanks to the growing awareness of our clients and customers who have started to question their own values and overall impact on their environment. 

This gave birth to our eco gym concept. 

Our eco friendly gyms take the environmental aspect of owning a gym very seriously, looking into every aspect of gym decor, and adjusting it for the “green” value system, from soaps in the bathrooms, to gym equipment suppliers, the type of gym flooring in use and so on.

If you considering the idea of owning a green gym too, and would like to know what the decor might look like then read on..!

synergy between gym decor & biophilia

Have you asked yourselves how a ‘normal’ gym might become an eco gym? What would that conversion process entail? 

What is a secret to the makeover?

Our answer is simple - biophilia and more specifically biophilic design, which can be integrated into every detail of exterior and interior design.

The objective of using biophilia in an indoor gym is to offer a powerful connection to nature and its health benefits, by using plants, toxin-free materials, imperfectly beautiful organic shapes as gym wall decor, a soothing palette of earthy tones - beiges, greens and browns, and so on. 

This kind of gym decor helps in creating an indoor environment that resembles the great outdoors, even when in a dense urban context where access to nature is limited. 

Gym decor that combines natural light and air-purifying plants 

You could say that natural light is the basis of achieving eco-friendly gym decor but as a supplement to that, there is also wellness or intelligent lighting that imitates natural light and in turn has an energizing effect when you exercise during the day, and a relaxing one at night so as not to disrupt sleep patterns. 

Another important aspect of this kind of gym decor is the air quality. In order to retain it, you can use air-purifying plants as well as natural scents in order to recreate the aromas of running and exercising in nature.

Also, when choosing scents and plants for your gym wall decor, or any other part of the gym - in order to create this forest aromatherapy vibe, try to pick plants and scents that are indigenous to connect the space to its’ location. 

Training equipment & its role in gym decor

If you wish to achieve a truly eco-friendly gym decor - forget about sterile, mechanical lines of treadmills, bikes and other high-tech gadgetry. The key to transforming your gym into a “green” one is low-tech equipment. 

This particular kind of equipment can be made of sustainable, natural materials, allowing you to introduce natural textures and a patterns into the gym decor. 

Also, the space need not be divided with walls when plants or a wood climbing wall can create a similar effect, invoking feelings of an indoor natural oasis. 

Gym equipment can also be energy efficient

Gym room decor is simply incomplete without equipment but that equipment can responsible for an unnecessary energy burden, so consider eco options that pump a modicum of energy back onto the grid or simply require no electricity at all.

Of course, while gym equipment, such as climbers, cycles and ellipticals, rowing machines, treadmills can all be sourced from eco manufacturers, you should definitely take cooling and heating systems into consideration too - for example could ventilation fans or even natural ventilation suffice in summer? 

Grass-like flooring - an obvious gym decor component

Speaking of tactile and visual stimuli, you can not go wrong with grass-like carpeting and textured panelling in a gym, at least in reception and corridors.

Since recycled materials for flooring have been an option for many years now, this is not entirely a new “green” idea but it is relatively unseen in gyms, at least beyond the now formulaic strip of astroturf with a pushing sled on it.

The floorings and carpets made of recycled or reused rubber are excellent choices because they extend the initial life cycle of the resource, since they are composed of entirely or previously used postconsumer material.

Either way, in addition of using recycled materials in your gym decor, you can also consider flooring made of rapidly renewable sources, such as bamboo or cork. Or, you can opt for commercial grade flooring that is made from recycled material and is, at the same time, low in volatile organic compounds.  

Whatever choice you opt for when it comes to the gym decor in the terms of flooring, do check the source of your material.

If you are interested in our insights on sustainable gym flooring see the dedicated page here.

Music to slow you down or pump yourself up

Yes, we believe music is another forgotten detail in many gyms!

Everything about this kind of gym decor, from the visuals to the soothing sounds that play in the background, allows you to slow down, reflect and focus on our well being, playing a key part in the overall experience.

It is proven that music in general has numerous benefits when it comes to picking us up emotionally or allowing us to chill out, so our Biofit playlists have been divided into Strength, Stamina, Movement and Mobility playlists according to the type or class or time of day.

green gym decor means green cleaning 

Have you considered cleaning supplies?

Well, gyms in general have to keep hygiene levels high but what kind of cleaning product should you use for this? Traditional cleaning agents likely contain chemicals that have no place in an eco gym as they pollute the air and go against our all natural philosophy.

In order for the fitness environment to be truly green in every detail, you will want eco-friendly cleaning products as part . of your standard operating procedures y gentle - options that reduce harmful toxins in your facility, at the same time keeping your members and employees healthy. 

To ensure this, try looking for cleaning products that are certified by trustworthy eco seals and that meet science-based environmental standards. 

If you have read our “how to” guide carefully, you will understand what decorating a gym in an eco-friendly way really implies. Creating a view of nature means to focus on the visual, tactile and experiential components together in order to achieve the most appealing nature gym decor possible, and in turn, evoke a green nature experience for the gym’s members.