How to Select the Right Lighting for a Home Gym

While purchasing high-quality equipment is essential, pay attention to other elements, such as lighting.

Building a home gym can be exciting. While purchasing high-quality equipment is essential, pay attention to other elements, such as lighting. Adequate lighting prevents injuries and makes the space more inviting.

Let's discuss different types of lighting and explain how to choose the right one for a home gym.

Why does lighting matter?

It's undeniable that natural lighting is the best lighting for any home gym. However, relying solely on natural lighting is almost impossible. Many people work out early in the morning before going to work or late at night, which means they can't enjoy natural daylight.

When there isn't enough light in a gym, people tend to feel less motivated to exercise, so installing proper lighting is vital.

More importantly, adequate lighting prevents injuries. For example, if a home gym doesn't have sufficient lighting, people can't see the equipment clearly and may fall or trip over it.

How to choose the right lighting in three easy steps:

Mimic sunlight

As mentioned, natural light is ideal. But since we can't always rely on natural light, it's best to find artificial lighting that mimics sunlight. So aim for lots of light from above, and choose an adequate color.

Old-school fluorescent lights are great but can be harsh on the eyes and affect one's focus while exercising. In addition, fluorescent lights have a shorter life span, often flicker, and don't have the right color temperature.

Consider LED lighting

LED lighting is an excellent choice for any home gym. It offers a combination of maximum lighting and minimal glare. Plus, LED lights are cost-effective and flexible.

Many homeowners must determine whether LED lights are worth it because of the higher initial cost. Compared to other lighting types, LED lighting has a heftier price tag. It's essential to consider both the initial and running costs. In the long run, LED lighting is a better option because it uses less electricity and lasts longer.

LED lights are helpful for overhead panels, floor bulbs, strip lighting, wall-mounted lights, and more.

Homeowners who want to take it further can invest in smart LED lighting. One can control these lights remotely via an app. Homeowners can adjust the color, brightness, and pulse to make their home gym look even better.

Calculate the square footage

When choosing the proper lighting for a home gym, it's vital to consider the square footage of the area. As a general rule, every 100 square feet needs around 2,000 lumens. A standard 10-watt LED bulb has approximately 800 lumens.

Call in the pros

Selecting adequate lighting for a home gym is much more than choosing the most visually appealing light fixtures. Homeowners must pay attention to sufficient brightness, the evenness of light distribution, and safety. Homeowners can contact a reliable electrical contracting company to get sound advice if they need help choosing the proper lighting for their home gym.


If you need a highly-reviewed, licensed electrician in the Phoenix Valley area, call Efficient Electric at 623-900-1461. We would love to hear from you!