What Is The Best Color For A Home Gym?
The global pandemic has shut down gyms, forcing us to come up with alternative means of staying fit. One such way is to build your very own home gym. Just because you work out at home, however, doesn’t mean it should look like the rest of the house—in fact, by using certain color motifs for your home gym, you can stay motivated to work out.
As a general rule, red works best if you engage in exercise that requires a lot of energy. Studies have shown that the color red inspires excitement. This is especially useful if you’re into weightlifting, or high-intensity workouts such as CrossFit.
Of course, this is just a rule of thumb. It pays to know about how colors affect behavior, if you want to make the most out of your home gym. Read on so we can dig deeper into how you can turn your home space into a gym that you will love to work out in!
Color Psychology, and how color affects performance
Color psychology delves into the effects of colors on human behavior, with applications over numerous fields such as marketing, mapmaking, and of course, sports.
Research by the University of Münster suggests that judges and spectators are more likely to view athletes wearing red favorably. Psychiatrist Kurt Goldstein also found that red and yellow were more likely to drive people to action.
While the impact of color on human emotion and behavior also has cultural roots, we can find consistent patterns from studies made in the past.
The meaning behind colors
Here are some interpretations of popular colors:
Blue – peace, tranquility, stability, and focusBlack – death, sophistication, eleganceRed – passion, aggression, loveOrange – flamboyance, enthusiasmYellow – joy, positivity, hopeWhite – minimalism, modernity, purity
Using Colors to Spruce up Your Home Gym
If you’re a purveyor of sporting gear such as clothes and shoes, you may find that colorways are based on color psychology—brands are looking to drive consumer behavior through design.
You can do this too for your home gym. Make the most out of your space by using a mix of design elements, such as color, lights, and décor to let your home gym bring out your desired energy.
Home gym color and design ideas
Feeling competitive? Go bold! Red and orange are associated with strength and endurance, making it popular among bodybuilders and professional athletes. If you need the extra mental push to exercise, consider adding these colors to your home gym.
For setups that require a lot of open space, such as dance studios, you can make use of a clean white wall with a dark wooden floor. This allows you to see yourself and your dance companions in plain view, without being overwhelmed by any eye-popping elements.
Simplicity can also be great. Using neutral tones such as gray or white can work, granting that you ensure that the space is well-lit.
Calming colors such as green, light blue, or even beige is perfect for exercises that involve focus and breathing, such as yoga.
Not everything has to be in a single solid color, or in monochrome. You can add accents, mirrors, or motivational posters to balance out your color palette, while helping you work out.
What color light is best for working out?
Lighting is essential for exercise, as it can influence your energy levels. Your body adjusts its energy levels depending on how well-lit your surroundings are—if you’re in a dark space, it will take this as a cue to power down. On the other hand, if you are in a brightly lit area, your body will gear up for activity.
You can take advantage of natural light, or install lighting fixtures that emulates sunlight to complement your home gym.
Natural light – You can add big windows to allow sunlight to enter your gym space, giving it a warm and bright appearance during the daytime. According to research by the University of Colorado, soaking up sunlight regularly also facilitates a good sleeping pattern, as it lets your body adopt its natural circadian rhythm.
Bright overhead lights – If you are more of a night owl, you may prefer to be active at night or during the wee hours of the morning. Make use of bright white lights to induce energy and ensure that you can see your surroundings. As a rule of thumb, you will need 5,000 lumens to light up a 250 square foot space.
What colors bring positive energy?
Bright and light colors are best for injecting positive energy into any space. Make use of the following shades to give yourself and your guests a good vibe as they enter the room:
Yellow – Adding a splash of yellow to your home gym is a surefire way to inject happy hormones into anyone using your home gym.
Orange – This color adds some fire and spice, kicking the intensity up. This is perfect if you’re someone who keeps track of their personal best records, and is always looking to improve.
Neon Green – Using neon green hues gives your home gym a bright and energetic aesthetic that can accentuate dark-colored equipment.
Some Considerations When Designing your Home Gym
Of course, colors may work differently from person to person. Bright shades may inspire some to get moving, but this can be too overwhelming for others. At the end of the day, this is your home gym, and the best design is the one you’ll be happy with.
The exercise types you’re into will also heavily influence your choice of colors. If you want to make a yoga studio, consider choosing a color palette that is calming and lighter on the eyes. On the other hand, if you’re into high-intensity exercises, consider making use of bright and bold colors.
Pay attention to the equipment you’re making use of, too. If you plan on adding treadmills, exercise bikes, weights, and other equipment to your space, consider making use of contrasting colors to ensure that they stand out.
Final Thoughts
For you to make the most out of your home gym, it’s best to style it in a way that matches your taste and energy. Pay attention to colors, design elements, and others so that you can make a home gym that suits you best.
