Designing a locker room may seem overwhelming because of the many aspects one should consider. From the basics to the additional elements for a stylish appearance, a smart approach to each step in part will make the most of such an intention. Regardless of the facility, be it a school, gym, or even a fitness center, most aspects are quite the same. We came up with an ultimate guide on designing a locker room and would like to share it with you for a result that feels functional yet not devoid of style, starting with the lockers, which, more or less, are the defining features of this space.
Choosing the lockers
Even the name itself “locker room” leads to the idea that lockers are among the main elements of this room, or, let’s put it this way: regardless of what other things find themselves here, which may differ from case to case, lockers will always be there. For choosing the best lockers, one should consider particular aspects in terms of material, color, and, not least, style.
Locker material
The quality of products, first of all, depends on the material. What should you pay attention to? You should definitely consider durability, visual appearance, and, of course, cost. Undoubtedly, the best decision is to opt for durability and avoid any soon replacements when we speak about such spaces. Let’s tackle the available material options!
Plastic lockers
Not that it matters the most, but let’s put it straight from the start: plastic lockers are not low-cost. Still, the benefits they come with will not make you spend money while using these lockers since they prevail in durability, being corrosion, rust, and water-resistant.
As an alternative, you can consider plastic laminate, which can be made from a wide range of materials, working best for humid spaces. What’s more – plastic laminate comes in different finishes, including glossy, matte, textured, or even wood.
Another bonus is the quietness of opening and closing the locker. That’s not all! While some may think that plastic lockers can be easily broken, we hasten to assure you that their structure makes them harder to break, even in contrast with metal pieces of this kind.
Wood lockers
If the appearance of your lockers plays an essential role, consider wood since it is the most elegant of all materials. Mostly used in country clubs or high-level athletic rooms, wood lockers achieve impressive results in terms of appearance.
Still, this is your go-to choice if there are no external factors to influence the quality of wood lockers. If we speak about locker rooms for saunas, pools, or the ones with showers, they can be easily damaged by water. They can even reach the level of falling apart after being exposed to direct contact with water. Furthermore, this material can house odors and bacteria.
All in all, wood lockers are the first choice if their appearance matters to you and you don’t have to worry about the mentioned problems.
Metal lockers
This is the most popular material manufacturers use to produce lockers. What it really prevails in is the price, which is very affordable. What you have to worry about is its high-maintenance feature.
For a start, one should consider that metal lockers are of medium durability since they are not water and corrosion-resistant. You will also have to repaint them regularly to hide the scrapes that show easily and prevent rust.
Another factor to consider is that such lockers usually arrive as a set of separate parts and bolts that you have to put together. Additionally, the range of color options is quite limited.
Still, all things considered, locker manufacturers have been improving the quality of these lockers lately, starting to offer a larger array of shades. Furthermore, not a single material from the mentioned ones compares with its sturdiness and affordability. In a few words, if your locker room does not interact with water directly and the lockers are used carefully, you can still make the most of this cheap alternative.
- Secure storage. You don’t have to worry about the safety of your belongings as long as they find themselves in a metal locker;
- Durability. Yes, we mentioned that metal lockers are prone to rust. Still, with an anti-rust finish, you can prolong the use of the lockers, additionally to the fact that this material is sturdy;
- Affordability. Cost-effectiveness is surely about these lockers. There is a bit of maintenance, but this is a one-time purchase at an affordable price;
- Sustainability. Unlike other materials, lockers made of steel are recyclable and will not end up in a landfill. Metal lockers may not be resistant to water, but they are surely resistant to bacteria and chemicals.
- They can be personalized. Metal lockers can be customized to each preference in part. The current production of such lockers already offers a wider range of designs and structures that can be easily restructured or even enhanced, for instance, by integrating sound-absorbing materials to make the experience of using such lockers better.
Locker color
Don’t underestimate the locker color since this factor plays an essential role in the overall appearance of your locker room. You should not consider pre-made lockers. Their color should reflect your brand or theme, depending on what facility we refer to. The best decision is to opt for customized units that will surely meet your expectations. You can safely go with your brand colors and underline the personality of the locker room.
One thing is the color, and another one is the finish, which should also match your brand, or, to be precise, the environment replicated within your brand. If we speak about a fitness center, don’t hesitate to opt for colored plastic laminate. In the case of country clubs, go with glossy wood finishes to preserve elegance and light or natural wood finishes for university or college lockers.
Locker size and number
Depending on the demographics and the specific facility, one can easily determine what type of lockers are required and how many are appropriate. To perfectly match the clients’ needs, a locker room should have a mix of locker types of different sizes to accommodate everybody.
The same goes for the number of lockers, which depends on the number of guests. Still, one should not risk the overall layout or sacrifice the locker room size by opting for more lockers than appropriate.
In this context, we would like to mention the handicap-accessible lockers that should mandatorily be installed in any locker room. These lockers should comply with the ADA (the Americans with Disabilities Act). You should go through the ADA guidelines and get acquainted with all aspects referring to the locker room. What you should consider primarily:
- 5% of lockers must comply with the ADA;
- Lockers must find themselves no more than 15” (380mm) off the floor;
- There must be a surrounding clear space of 30” x 48” (760mm x 1220mm) at least;
- Storage spaces must be located at a height from 9” (230mm) to 48” (1220mm).
Locker security
In this respect, you should put the emphasis on either security or convenience. If all that concerns you is maximum security, there is no better option than considering padlock hasp locks. At the same time, if your guests’ convenience is equally important, go with keyless locks.
Next come such features as the permanent and temporary use. Permanent locks are for clients that regularly use the same locker, including padlock hasp locks, combination locks, and card reader locks, among the most prominent, while temporary locks work for temporary clients so that the same locker can be used by many guests one after the other. Subsequently, every person comes with their code of access by using such locks as programmable push button locks, programmable keypad locks, or multi-user combination locks.
Don’t forget the handicap-accessible lockers that require special locks, which can be used with one hand and don’t require a force of more than 5lb to operate the structure.
Now that you know everything about lockers, we can get to the other parts that contribute to the interior design of the locker room. We will comprehensively reveal the main aspects to consider regarding other elements in this space.
Seating
It depends on what the locker room is used for. From a general perspective, a locker room requires seating so that the guests can rest, tie their shoes, or wait to take a shower if there is such a possibility.
Regarding the material, you can choose from a wide range of options: plastic laminate, wood, stainless steel, or aluminum. You can also choose the bench material repeating the locker design for a coherent look or go with a different one if it does not overwhelm the interior.
Amenities, bathrooms, and showers
Offer your guests privacy and clean experiences with quality materials if you plan on adding bathrooms and showers to the locker room. Stick to the overall design and even opt for similar materials and colors like for the lockers and benches. Don’t forget about a few hooks and additional seatings in the shower area so that the clients can place their belongings there.
Additionally, you can consider such amenities as vending machines if there is any need, but, again, it all depends on the facility that hosts the locker room.
Putting all pieces together
Now that you know everything piece by piece, it is time you put all parts together and unite them under a single style and approach to design. Once again, make sure that you integrate ADA compliant units into your locker room. Put the accent on quality, particularly when speaking about lockers, and, not least, bring everything together through functional ties that replicate the same sense of style.
