5 Tips for Lighting a Retail Store

Let’s talk about lighting a retail store.  There are so many things to consider when designing a retail space. Every little decision can have an effect on your sales during the design process. Paint color, flooring options, placement of items, and checkout spaces all need to be thoughtfully designed.

With so many decisions to make, it can be easy to forget about the little details that bring a space together, especially when you have to run a business at the same time. Your goal is to get the design done so you can open your doors and start selling.

One thing that often gets overlooked when designing a retail space is lighting. Many retail spaces have enough lighting to make everything visible, but that is just the bare minimum that can be done. There is so much more that you can do with well-designed lighting.

Don’t ignore the power of good lighting. It can help boost your sales and create a better experience for your customers. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you put together your perfect retail space.

5 Tips for Lighting a Retail Store

1. If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It

If you already have great fixtures installed in your retail space, you might just need to update the bulbs to the newest and most efficient technology: LEDs. These bulbs offer higher energy efficiency, and they last much longer.

They’ll save you money over time, and you won’t have to change them for years. Companies like ZLED offer LED retrofit kits for even the most complex of lighting fixtures.

However, if you’re starting from scratch in a brand new space, you can take advantage of new fixtures that make the best use of LED bulbs. If this is the case, you’ll need some help with lighting a retail store. 

2. Hire Professionals

Designing the perfect lighting for retail space is a science more than an art; there’s a lot of psychology that goes into it. People can be influenced to make a purchase with the right lighting, and if you do it yourself, you’re risking losing out on sales.

A professional designer will be able to help you light every area and product in the best way to maximize sales. Manufacturers and engineers understand the science behind the wiring and technology, but they don’t know the science of how people buy.

3. Choose the Right Temperature

Do you want your space to be bright and cool or dim and warm? Bright, cool lighting makes it easy to see everything in the store but difficult to highlight important items, and dim, warm light allows you to keep customers focused on certain things but also might make them too comfortable.

Comfort might be something you’re aiming for, but it tends to bring in more window shoppers rather than buyers. If you just need to fill the store with bodies to encourage more people to come in, this can be a positive.

However, dim lighting is typically used by established brands that have a large customer base already. Their focus has shifted from bringing people in, to improving customer experience. If you’re creating a new brand, you should provide plenty of lighting that shows off your goods and branding.

Above image: Cosmetic Store Design by Mindful Design Consulting.

4. Highlight Important Items

It might seem obvious, but you should guide your customers to items you want them to buy. If you have a sale, promotion, or something new that you want them to see, literally highlight it.

If you just have overhead lighting throughout the store, nothing will be special. There are many options for bringing attention to certain items and areas. Work with your professional designer to choose what you want to stand out.

5. Optimize Dressing Room Lighting

The lighting in your dressing rooms should do its best to make your customers look good. If you have terrible lighting that makes them look bad, they aren’t likely to buy your clothing or accessories.

This is where they make the final decision to buy from you, so you can’t neglect this space. Install lighting that highlights the person, not the room. They will be looking in the mirror, so install your lighting around the mirror and facing them.

It’s a good idea to do this anywhere there is a mirror. If you have mirrors dispersed around the store, install lights around them that face the viewer. If you’re worried about harshness, you can install sensors that turn the lights on when someone stands in front of the mirror.

This article is written by: Jennifer Bell is a freelance writer, blogger, dog-enthusiast and avid beachgoer operating out of Southern New Jersey.

Above image: Rumuer Store Design by Mindful Design Consulting.

For more ideas on how to choose your light fixtures for your interior commercial designs, read our article on 2020 lighting trends. 

Please take a look at our Before and After images of selected projects from 2018 HERE.

If you are thinking to open up a new business or in a process of rebranding and remodeling your existing business, contact us to get a free consultation from Mindful Design Consulting. Click HERE to price your project design.

Also, take a look at “Branding By Interior” e-book, the only book written on this subject at this time. It brings insight on how you can turn your business into a market-dominating competitor by using human cognitive responses.