Interior Design for Commercial Spaces

March 27, 2017

Interior Design for Commercial Spaces

Interior Design for Commercial Spaces

Is your brick and mortar store missing something? Is it getting increasingly difficult to get new customers in the door, or are you even losing your existing customers? Maybe it's time to reevaluate your interior design and invest in rehabbing and revitalizing your space. No matter the size of your store or office, interior design is a key component in retaining and attracting customers. How do your customers "feel" when they enter your store? Do you want them to feel inspired and upbeat? Or comfortable and relaxed? You can help create and control that emotion through design. The same way interior design for homes influences how people feel, it is also important for commercial spaces. Color, furniture, layout, space management, and positioning directly affects how customers see your business.

So, to help you get started on planning a facelift on your brick and mortar business, we have 3 tips that will help get you headed in the right direction.

Interior Design For Commercial Spaces

1) Style (theme):

The first step is to decide on the theme of your commercial space. What are you selling? Think about the products or services you offer and identify your customer. Create a customer profile and do a character study. It is crucial that you know who you are selling to as this will influence your theme and the tools you use to decorate your space. For example, you may sell women's clothing for women between 20-30 years old. Your store should embody a modern and feminine design. Or what if you sell fishing and camping gear? Well, for starters, you wouldn't want that same look as the women's clothing store, but it doesn't necessarily have to be a boring old bait and tackle shop either. Create an environment that supports your theme. How about a tropical forest with a river? Can you see yourself getting inspired by the authentic natural surroundings of an immersive environment? After you choose a theme, it will dictate everything else and drive the direction of the design. The theme will not only capture your customer’s attention, it will create a feeling and a lasting impression.

2) Lighting and Color:

After locking in on your theme, you'll want to select the color(s) and lighting for your environment. Choose color carefully because colors can not only set a tone and create a mood, but can also influence decision-making and conversion. In the example above for the women's clothing store, an easy choice for the color theme could be pink. Pink is a very feminine color associated with sweetness and playfulness, and is also very romantic and charming. So when you choose wall colors and furniture, think within a spectrum spanning from white to dark pink. Everything in this range will keep a consistent feeling without compromising the theme. Think about your customer experience. Loud colors create frenzied excitement. Reds and yellows for instance are high energy and may create some quick turnarounds, but if you offer a product or service that requires instruction and attention to detail, you may want to favor a softer, more soothing color like cool blues and greens that create a comfortable environment.

3) Space:

This is an important part of interior design. Whether you have a large or small space, there are always ways to better utilize your design for optimal flow. For small spaces, the challenge is keeping things from getting to cluttered. Think vertically. Expand sightlines into a vertical plane and place shelves on a higher level. Don't lose sight of the details - this isn't merely an excuse to move product out of the way. This new plane has to be an extension of the design itself to utilize unused space and draw attention to your new high rise merchandising solutions. Large spaces can have unforeseen issues in their own right. Vast spaces can feel empty and cavernous. Look to fill the space, but do it wisely. No one wants to feel trapped. Consider the flow of your shop and where customers will travel when they are walking through the store. Place valued merchandise or information at every pivotal point in that journey.

These simple tips will help you reassess your interior design and implement some changes that can go a long way in controlling your customer's experience. Don’t lose sight of who you are as a brand, as a culture, but don't be afraid of change! Reinventing your look can restore the atmosphere of your store and even attract some new attention.