There is no other way to say it – how your retail store is designed has a direct impact on its success. But, creating an effective layout can be tricky. By following a few simple tips, you can give your business the edge it needs to thrive. In this blog post, we’ll discuss some basic principles of effective retail design and provide tips on how to apply them to your own business. So, whether you’re just starting out or you’re looking to redesign your existing space, read on for some valuable advice!

Be Mindful with the Color Schemes You Use

A well-designed store can do wonders for product discovery, sales, and cultivating the perfect customer experience. After all, humans are highly visual creatures — eighty percent of the sensory information the brain receives comes from our eyes, which means if you want to gain and keep people’s attention, you need to show them something visually attractive and stimulating. Thus, the colors that you select for your retail business’ décor (and how/where you place them) will have an enormous impact on keeping customers interested and ready-to-buy. This is largely due to color psychology; certain colors have the ability to evoke certain emotions. For example, red is often associated with feelings of excitement and energy, making it a great choice for active retail spaces such as sports stores or toy stores. Blue, on the other hand, is often associated with calmness and serenity, making it a good choice for retail businesses that want to promote relaxation, such as spas or home décor stores. Of course, these are just generalizations – it’s important to select colors that are appropriate for your specific business and brand identity.

In addition, how you use color in your business design also plays a critical role. Too much of one color can be overwhelming, so it’s important to create a color scheme that uses a variety of colors in different ways. For example, you might paint the walls a neutral color such as white or gray, and then use brighter accent colors for fixtures, furnishings, and signage. You can also use color to highlight certain areas of the retail space, such as product displays or sales areas.

Devise Floorplans that Slow Down Your Customers

Modern customers are always on the go, which can make shopping a rushed and stressful experience. One of the most effective ways to help create a relaxing, attractive environment for them to slow down and enjoy is through devising a strategic floor layout for your retail store. Creating a loop or herringbone layout, for example, encourages customers to meander through the store and browse products at their leisure. This not only helps to increase the amount of time spent in the store, but also makes it more likely that customers will find something new and unexpected.

Consider How Your Decompression Zone is Affecting Your Store’s Entrance

The decompression zone is, arguably, the most important space of your store aside from the cash register. In layman’s terms, it’s the first few feet of your store—aka, it’s the first thing your customers see when they walk into your business. And if there’s one thing we know about the retail industry, it’s that first impressions matter. 

Here are a few key elements we always consider when designing a successful decompression zone:

1. Space: The last thing you want customers to think about your store is that it looks “cramped” or “disorganized”. We recommend devoting at least ten to fifteen feet of space to your decompression zone to create a spacious, welcoming feeling to your store.
2. Lighting: The importance of using the right lighting in your decompression zone cannot be overstated. The right lighting can help to create a warm and inviting atmosphere, making customers feel more comfortable as they enter the store. In addition, carefully positioned lights can highlight special features or products in the decompression zone, helping to guide customers’ attention and creating a more enjoyable shopping experience.

Atlanta’s Premier Commercial Interior Designers

If you are looking for professional help in designing a retail space that is both beautiful and functional for your Atlanta business, our team of experienced and creative interior designers would be more than happy to assist you. Contact us today at 678.732.3946 or danderson@planning-interiors.com to get started!