Low-cost locker rooms: five cost-effective strategies for updating locker rooms.(Bottom Line)

If you're thinking of putting off locker room renovations for another year, think again. While visitors will politely screen pool conditions and other areas of the building, a final decision about whether to spend time and money in a recreational facility could be made after a tour of the locker room.

Start small, if necessary, and replace broken fixtures or accessories. Replacing towel dispensers with hand dryers to eliminate paper waste and create a cleaner locker room, for example, can go a long way toward providing better locker room facilities.

For bigger projects, an architect that specializes in aquatics or fitness facilities together with locker room product manufacturers can help create a workable plan. But even if completely rehabbing each locker room from floor to ceiling is not in your budget, there are some relatively easy, cost-effective ways to upgrade. Here are five tips for doing just that.

1 Improve Lighting

Simply providing better lighting in locker rooms will make them seem more inviting and help visitors feel comfortable. Use recessed lights over vanity areas, for example, rather than harsh fluorescent light strips. Energy-efficient lamps and lighting controls should also be considered.

Bringing in natural light or indirect light is another option, albeit more expensive, says architect Todd Johnson, AIA, of The Zimmerman Design Group in Milwaukee. Installing skylights or clerestory windows can give restrooms a more natural feel, but there are several things to keep in mind.

"Privacy is an issue and windows should be provided with obscure or opaque glazing," says Johnson. "Moisture and humidity which can cause condensation could be another, and upgrading HVAC systems to address these environmental conditions could be necessary."