Ultimate Guide on Lighting a Showroom

Why Showroom Lighting Is Important 

Showroom lighting is a crucial part of the design of retail stores and showrooms. The products are responsible for selling themselves instead of product descriptions online doing the work for them. Without good showroom lights showcasing everything, it may be hard for customers to see the items while shopping, meaning you may miss sales.

You can also use modern showroom lighting to guide the customers around to certain products by highlighting key areas you would like them to visit. Doing so will naturally move them around the shop, which gives them more exposure to all of the products you have to offer.

Beyond that, showroom lights are also responsible for enhancing the overall customer experience. Lights can impact and influence mood, which can directly dictate how long a customer spends in a store. With a more comfortable environment to browse in, they are likely to shop for a longer period of time.

In a similar vein, quality showroom lights can help communicate the brand identity. Lighting helps maintain an atmosphere consistent with the brand personality throughout the entire area. This helps customers connect your brand with the vibe that the shop gives off.

 

Why LED Colour Temperature Is Important for a Showroom

Colour temperature, otherwise known as colour correlated temperature, is how to tell how cool or warm a light is. Colour temperature exists on a scale of 1,000 to 10,000 Kelvin, with cooler lights at the high end and warm lights at the low end.

LED showroom lighting has a number of different colour temperature options for you to choose from depending on what you wish to communicate. Perks of proper colour temperature include:

 

• GOOD COLOUR REPRESENTATION. Colour temperature will accurately reflect the way colours look in certain lighting conditions. Good LED showroom lights will provide a more accurate look at the products.

 

• BRANDING AND MOOD. Different colour temperatures bring with them different types of atmospheres. Cool lights are more energetic and invigorating, while warmer colours are cosy and inviting. You can set the tone of the shop and the brand identity in one using colour temperature.

 

• VISUAL COMFORT. Guests need to be comfortable in your shop, and lighting is one way to ensure that they are. Proper CCT will contribute to greater visual comfort by reducing glare and eye strain.

 

• AESTHETICS. Colour temperature can be used to show off the actual shop. If you have certain design elements or architectural features you want to highlight, you can alter the colour temperature in those areas to make them stand out.

 

• DYNAMIC EXPERIENCE. By having different showroom lighting levels in various areas throughout the shop, you can create a more visually interesting shop that customers will love to walk around in.

 

Why LED Lights Are the Best Option for Showroom Lights

Sustainable showroom lighting is a top priority for many retail shop owners. Energy saving LED lighting in your showroom brings with it many benefits above traditional lighting. First, it is the only lighting style that allows you to choose different colour temperatures. Halogen bulbs are always warm, so you can’t get a vibrant and cheerful look from them.

LED bulbs also provide eco-friendly lighting that you can feel good about. Since LED bulbs use 80 percent less energy than traditional bulbs, it puts less of a strain on electricity. Lessened energy usage can, in turn, lower your carbon footprint.

With their long life averaging tens of thousands of hours, LED bulbs will last much longer than halogen bulbs. Halogens tend to work for only 1,000 hours or so, and you’ll have to replace them more frequently than LEDs.

A combination of fewer replacements and lower electricity consumption means LED lights will ultimately cost you less money. Your light bills will be cheaper, and you will spend less money on new light bulbs.

Colour rendering is a huge perk of energy-efficient retail lighting. A high CRI, or colour rendering index, will reflect the true colours of the items in the showroom so guests can see exactly what they’re getting. Similarly, it offers directional lighting, so you can choose exactly how the light shines on the items.

A practically non-existent heat output is also good for showroom settings. Not only does lower heat emission make for a more comfortable showroom, but it also prevents the lights from damaging heat sensitive products.

What is Lux And What is Best For a Showroom?

Lux is a way to measure the intensity of a given light. It is simply a unit of illumination and varies in different settings. A good showroom lighting design would take the light levels and intensities into account when choosing the fixtures to be used.

The best lux levels for each setting will depend on the specific goals you want to achieve with your retail display lighting. Below, you can get an idea about what lux levels are best for various types of showrooms:

 

Car Showrooms

LED car showroom lights should total between 750 and 1000 lux. Higher lux levels allow the car showroom lighting to properly show off the colours and details of the vehicles, including any unique product features.

 

Jewellery Showrooms 

Jewellery shops require a lux level between 750 to 1000. Such high levels are critical to the visibility of jewelry displayed in cases.

 

Cosmetics and Beauty Product Showrooms

For beauty products on display, 500 to 750 lux will do the trick. This level allows customers to see the true colors and other important details of cosmetics, so they can choose the products that are best for them.

 

Art Galleries and Museums

Modern track lighting and spotlights in museums and galleries should be between 150 to 300 lux for general lighting. Lower lighting levels promote a more relaxing and contemplative atmosphere so guests can appreciate the art to the fullest.

 

Apparel and Fashion Showrooms

Retail display lighting should have a lux level between 500 and 750. This provides plenty of illumination to accurately communicate the colours of the clothing.

 

Electronics and Technology Showrooms

Retail lighting for electronics shops also needs between 500 and 750 lux. This will provide a better look at the details and features of the products while eliminating the risk of glare.

 

Furniture and Home Décor Showrooms

Home décor and furniture shops need around 300 to 500 lux to create balanced illumination. This ensures the details of the items are visible without overwhelming the shop with light.

 

Showroom Lighting Strategies 

Retail lighting strategies are put in place to help make the most out of your retail shop and the customer experience. There are some foolproof ways to implement certain strategies, including:

 

• HIGHLIGHT IMPORTANT AREAS. Using fixtures such as track lighting, you can draw attention to certain areas in the shop. This is particularly good for directing customers towards product displays and promotional areas to grab their attention more easily. Track lights, spotlights, pendant lights and wall lights are good towards this effect.

 

• LEAD GUESTS THROUGH THE SHOP. The human eye is naturally drawn toward light. When guests see lights placed along a natural path, they are more likely to follow it. This can get guests close to certain products that you want to sell and increase the likelihood of sales in general.

 

• DIRECTIONAL LIGHTING. Take advantage of the directional lighting that LED lights provide and point their beams exactly where you want them. You can draw attention to areas of interest or certain products with a beam of light shining in the correct direction.

 

• WINDOW DISPLAYS. One of the most effective uses of showroom ceiling lighting is window displays. Hanging lights above the products on display in the window will draw the attention of customers passing by and encourage them to come inside.

 

• DIMMABLE LIGHTING. Lights that you can dim in certain areas and brighten in others can go a long way for your shop. Smart lighting controls can be incorporated to help you stay in control of the brightness. Controls can also be used for setting timers to have the lights turn on and off automatically.

 

• LAYER THE LIGHTING. Be sure you have ambient, task and mood lighting in the shop. Ambient light refers to the general lighting throughout the space and is usually accomplished by ceiling lights. Task lighting is found above cashier stations and inside dressing rooms. Accent and mood lighting can be incorporated throughout the store using pendant lights and sconces to enhance the atmosphere.

 

Trends in Showroom Lighting Design 

If you want to make your showroom the best it can be, choose some trendy design styles. Take a look at the following showroom lighting ideas to get inspired.

 

Biophilic Lighting

Biophilic lighting is the process of incorporating natural elements like wood, plants and stone into the lighting design. It creates a more welcoming, natural look, which can make guests feel calm and relaxed. Relaxed customers are more likely to spend longer periods of time in your shop.

 

Statement Lighting

Use your lighting as an element of décor itself with a statement light. Oftentimes, statement lights are pendant light fixtures. They tend to be oversized and dramatic, standing out from the rest of the shop.

 

Vintage Lighting

Vintage and retro lights are great for communicating certain brand identities. Retro fixtures can enhance the aesthetics of the showroom while also bringing out its character. Lights that take inspiration from styles from the 1960s and before are the most popular.

 

Industrial Lighting

Create an ultra-modern, urban look in your showroom with industrial lighting. This is characterized by an unfinished and raw look using metal, heavy wood and exposed bulbs. Matte black finishes are commonplace in this design style.

 

Theatrical Lighting

Create a dynamic showroom by way of theatrical lighting. Using spotlights and wall lights, you can create depth through intentional shadows. A bold setting like this is sure to make the shop more attractive to customers and will draw them in.

 

Bold Lighting

Choosing light fixtures with an eye-catching style or vibrant colour finish can bring out the charm of your retail shop. Whimsical, playful light styles throughout the store can give it a refreshed, youthful look.

Understanding the Psychology of Showroom Lighting

Tailored showroom lighting is intentional and purposeful. Its design is meant to influence the mood and feelings of customers in the shop. The future of retail lighting comes down to the psychology of it all. Read on to understand how lights can affect the customers.

Before anything else, the colour temperature of a light immediately sets the tone. Cooler lights create a more energetic setting, while warmer lights are cosier and more intimate. As soon as customers walk into the shop, they will be influenced in one way or the other by the colour temperature.

With quality lights that have a high colour rendering index, or CRI, you can enhance the perceived value of the products. High colour rendering will show all of the details and the accurate colours of the products on display, enhancing their quality and influencing the customer’s perception of their values.

You can also install lights strategically so they will draw the eye to certain products. Strategic light placement can provoke impulse buys and quick decision-making. Well-lit displays encourage customers to make spontaneous decisions and buy things they might have otherwise walked right past.

When you design your retail shop to keep guests there as long as possible, their comfort should be at the forefront. Installing lights that eliminate glare and eye strain will enhance their visual comfort, and they will be more likely to stay in the shop for longer.

 

Why Emergency Lighting Is Important for a Showroom

Emergency lighting is a crucial addition to any public space. In an emergency situation, people need to be able to get out safely and quickly. Since main light sources can and do often fail when there is a fire, you need backup lights to help customers evacuate efficiently.

Beyond that, it is also required by the British Standards of health and safety, or specifically, British Standard 5266-1. Emergency lights will ensure your store is compliant with the law to save you legal troubles down the line.

 

Different Types of Lighting to Use in a Showroom

There are many different kinds of lights that you can install in your showroom. Mix and match them to create a well-lit, layered lighting scheme in your shop.

 

Ambient Lighting

Ambient light refers to the overall illumination in a space. The general brightness is set by ambient lights, and they usually consist of ceiling lights, track lights, recessed lights and surface mounted lights.

 

Task Lighting

Task lights give focused illumination in areas that are task-heavy. These are commonly found in retail environments near cashier tills and in dressing rooms. They come in the form of pendant lights, under cabinet lights and table lights.

 

Display Case Lighting

Items such as jewellery within a display case can be hard to see without good lighting. Illuminate those smaller items using puck lights, track lights and LED lights. This will highlight the finer details of the items and make them more appealing to customers.

 

Track Lighting

Track lighting is directional lighting that shines on specific products or areas. Track lights and spotlights are the most common fixtures used for this purpose. It provides flexibility and adjustability, which is important for retail spaces that deal with changing inventory.

 

Pendant Lights

Pendant lights are suspended from the ceiling and give focused illumination right below the fixtures. Not only do they provide task and ambient lighting, but they also enhance the overall aesthetics of the shop.

 

Wall Lights

Also called sconces, wall lights are perfect for both ambient and accent lighting. Using up- and down-lighting, you can elevate the appearance of the shop.

 

Linear Lighting

Long, overhead hanging bar lights are a great way to provide ambient lighting in a modern industrial shop. They offer uniform illumination over a long stretch of space and are best used in larger shops.

 

Ideas for Showroom Lighting

 

1. LSP190 20 Watt LED Track Light Fitting

Draw attention to artwork, wall displays and beyond using the LSP190 20 Watt LED Track Light Fitting. This fitting generates 1600 lumens of your choice of either warm or cool light, shining at a narrow, 20-degree beam angle. The bulb is housed within an aluminium metal fixture that has a textured design and comes in black, white or silver. It measures a total size of 255 millimeters by 100 millimeters by 215 millimeters in size.

 

2. LDC367 3 Watt Black Triple Recessed Cabinet Display Spotlights

Show the details of your jewellery and other small display items with the LDC367 3 Watt Black Triple Recessed Cabinet Display Spotlights. These spotlights are designed to be installed on the ceiling of a display cabinet to shine 210 lumens of 6000k cool white light on the items below. The adjustable heads allow you to move the 30-degree beam angle anywhere you like it by tilting and turning them. A black finish on the aluminium prevents the light from distracting from the items you are highlighting. Overall, it measures 160 millimeters by 40 millimeters in size.

 

 

3. LDC322 36 Watt Dimmable Triple Modular LED Downlight

Draw attention to your retail displays with the LDC322 36 Watt Dimmable Triple Modular LED Downlight. The fixture features three light heads that you can pull out from the main fixture. Tilt them in any direction to direct the 38-degree beam angles exactly where you want them. The fitting emits an ultra-bright 2700 lumens of your choice between 3000k warm white light and 6000k cool white light. It is crafted out of aluminium and measures 460 millimeters by 153 millimeters by 148 millimeters in total.