Retail Lighting Design Advice And Mistakes to Avoid

Quality retail shop lighting is crucial to your customers’ shopping experience. With its ability to provide plenty of visibility and even enhance the mood of the customer, the importance of retail lighting cannot be overstated.

In this article, we’ll explore dos and don’ts along with tips and advice for getting retail and boutique lighting right.

Why is Retail Store Lighting Important?  

Store lighting design can do much more than make the environment a welcoming one. It can also be used to highlight the different items on display. LED shop lights can be used to clearly show the details of the products you are selling, which is important for independent shoppers. They need to be able to see the products clearly to determine whether or not they intend on buying them.

Your retail store layout can also be zoned with shop lighting. With spotlights on wall displays and over the checkout tills, you can lead the customer around the store with subtle visual cues.

The future of store lighting is shaped by the various types of lighting that you can incorporate into the space. Gone are the days where only overhead lights provide the illumination, so you can get creative with how your shop looks.

 

 

How To Balance Retail Lighting 

Layered lighting for retail shops can create a cohesive look and feel in the store. Layered lighting consists of three types: ambient, task and accent lighting.

Ambient light refers to the overall illumination cast around the store. It is important to have a solid foundation of ambient light to ensure the entire store is well lit. This main light helps set the overall mood and tone of the space and can be supplemented with other lights, such as task lighting.

Task lights will be the lights that put focus on certain elements. This type of light is used anywhere that activities take place beyond browsing the selection of items. Therefore, task lights will make it easier for customers and employees alike to complete various tasks, such as checking out or visiting the dressing rooms.

To top it all off, you can incorporate accent lighting. Creating focal points with lighting is done easily with this type of lighting. You can use it to draw attention to select products or even just to visually enhance one visual element of the shop’s design.

For an added touch, you can also install seasonal store lighting. This is especially useful during holidays when you want to create a festive mood. It is also useful for creating a sense of nostalgia and cosiness if that fits the brand of your shop. You can use this type of lighting to create a dramatic picture by carefully using shadows and light.

 

General Tips for Retail Lighting 

Here, you’ll find a few things to consider when planning your recessed lighting.

 

• HIGHLIGHT THE UNIQUENESS OF THE STORE – Your shop is bound to have some architectural element that makes it stand out from others. This is especially true if it is a boutique shop. Use accent lighting to draw attention to these areas.

 

• DRAW ATTENTION TO VARIOUS TEXTURES – If you have unique textures on the walls or ceiling, you can install lighting that will draw attention to them. Wall washing sconces are a good choice for this.

 

• USE PICTURE LIGHTING – Whether you want to display artwork, plaques or other decorations on the wall, you can do so using picture lights. They are designed to clearly show off the items being displayed without casting unwanted shadows.

 

• CREATE A FLATTERING DRESSING AREA – Be sure your customers feel confident in the way they look in the dressing area with appropriate lighting. Using warmer lights and not positioning them directly overhead can create more flattering illumination. If they like the way they look, they are more likely to purchase the clothes they are trying on.

 

How To Get Visual Merchandising Lighting Right 

Balanced light distribution is key in any retail environment. Where key products are concerned, lighting becomes even more important. Ensuring your merchandise is well lit involves strategic placement, careful planning and attention to detail.

Begin the process by truly understanding both the brand identity and the target customer. You will need to think about aesthetic design, the ambience you want to create and what your target customers will want to see. After having done this, you can begin to work towards your goals with a plan.

Choosing the right retail lighting fixtures is critical. You want fixtures that not only appeal to the shop’s design itself but are also effective at highlighting products. Consider colour temperature, colour rendering index, the angle of the beam and the light intensity when selecting fixtures.

With the right fixtures on your side, you can begin working on the actual store lighting. Accent key products and features in the shop, such as promotional items or hot-ticket products that you have on display. Using accent, ambient and task lighting, you can bring focus to specific areas of the shop while ensuring the rest is well lit.

In a similar vein, you can create what is known as “visual hierarchy” with retail shop lighting. This simply means putting more attention and focus on select areas than others. Doing so can guide customers not only to the items you want to sell the most; it can also guide them around the store to encourage interaction with more products in the shop on their way.

 

 

How To Effectively Illuminate Shop Window Displays 

The window displays in a shop are the first step towards getting customers into the store and off of the sidewalk. They allow you to showcase a snippet of what you have on sale to entice people to explore further.

A well-lit window display can make or break this goal. Above all, the idea is to make the display stand out. You can accomplish this with lighting that stands out from its surroundings and even against the backdrop of your shop.

Choose bright lighting to illuminate the items on display. You can do so from above with recessed lighting fixtures or from below with spotlights. The latter allows you to create intentional shadows to make the window display more complex and eye catching. This will require an understanding of lighting angles so you can determine whether you want to cast hard or soft shadows.

The colour temperature of the light in window displays should mirror the temperature inside the shop. Otherwise, you risk an unsightly visual clash. You can make the display stand out with the same colour temperature by choosing lights that are much brighter than the ones indoors. Similarly, choose a light with a high CRI rating to accurately display the details and colours of what’s in the window.

How To Get Display Cabinet Lighting Right 

Retail display lighting fixtures are crucial if you sell smaller items in your shop. Most commonly, display lights are used for showcasing jewellery and other expensive items locked inside a case. Since customers cannot take out and examine these products on their own, you’ll need to give them the clearest view possible from within the case.

Perhaps the most important element of display cabinet lighting is the CRI. This is especially true in jewellery sales where the colour of the gems and diamonds is a critical element for customers. Having a light with a high CRI will show the nature of the items clearly so customers know exactly what they’re walking out with.

Cool lighting is also generally preferred in display cases by providing brighter, crisper illumination, which is perfect for showcasing small, enclosed items. Cool, bright lights can also attract the eye of customers towards the display cabinets.

There are a variety of fixtures you can use in your display cabinets, including:

• LED strip lights
• Post lights
• Puck lights
• Recessed downlights

The best light for your cabinet will depend on the cabinet size, shape and available room within. Take these factors into account when selecting your display cabinet lighting.

 

How Retail Lighting Can Enhance Your Brand

One of the best things about in-person shopping is that it gives customers a chance to get more familiar with your company. You want to make sure you are using this opportunity to make a memorable impression on them.

Your retail lighting can reflect the brand itself along with its personality. Choosing warm or cool lights according to your brand’s image can help a retail space stand out in your customers’ minds. For example, trendy and youthful boutique shops tend to aim for cooler, brighter light for a vibrant and energetic feel. Luxury brands often go for dimmer, warmer lighting to create a sense of sophistication and elegance.

Lighting can also be used to highlight brand logos and other signage. Illuminated signage, logo signs or other key elements of branding in the store can help your customers remember its name long after they leave. Beyond that, good lighting can enhance the presentation of the products themselves, which may leave a positive impression on the customer.

You can make your shop and brand stand out among the competitors with a well-designed lighting scheme. By creating a pleasant ambiance with unique lighting elements, including creative lighting displays, you will set yourself apart from the others with a distinct and memorable look and atmosphere.

 

The Influence of Lighting on the Customer Experience 

As mentioned, retail lighting plays a rather large role in the overall shopping experience for the customer. A positive customer experience is crucial for ensuring sales and repeat business.

 

Emotional Influence

There are many ways that lighting can influence the experience of the customer. For one, lighting is known to influence people’s moods and experiences more than once believed. With the emotional influence that lights can have on people, good quality lighting that sets a comfortable atmosphere is sure to make the experience memorable in their minds.

You can use warmer lights to create a more relaxed atmosphere that promotes leisurely browsing. Conversely, you can employ cool white light to encourage a more energising shopping experience that prompts them to make quick decisions.

 

Ease of Navigation

Good lighting throughout the shop will help your customers actually move through the store with greater efficiency. Of course, this does mean they can move through the space without crashing into shelves, but there is more to it than that. Lighting can lead your customers through the store in a purposeful way. It can be used to draw attention to certain displays or other areas of interest you want them to note.

 

Seasonal Changes

One way to make your customer experience more engaging is to have the lights change for the season. By adjusting the brightness levels and colour temperatures according to the natural sunlight outdoors, you can create a consistently comfortable environment indoors all year long.

Beyond that, you can also change up the lighting to reflect the holidays as they come. By including festive lighting, customers may feel more excited to come into your shop and spend time shopping there.

 

 

Cost Savings through Energy Efficiency in Retail Lighting 

Retail shops tend to have a lot of lights turned on and for long periods of time. Energy consumption and the price of running them constantly can quickly begin to add up. Choosing energy-efficient lighting for retail shops is one way to control those costs and expenditures.

LED lighting is an energy efficient alternative to traditional halogen and incandescent bulbs; LED lights use up to 80 percent less energy than their traditional counterparts. This is because LEDs transform all of their energy into light instead of generating light through heat.

With less energy being used, the costs of keeping the lights on will go down. You will also be able to enjoy these lights for tens of thousands of hours as opposed to the 1,000 hours that traditional bulbs offer. In this way, you will spend less on upfront costs of replacements as well.

LED lighting for stores offers more perks than just energy efficiency, though. They are also highly versatile, with many colour temperatures and brightness levels to choose from. This allows you total control over the style and look of the light that influences the shop itself.

 

Why Is Lighting Important in Clothing Store Changing Rooms?

Fitting rooms are one of the biggest perks of shopping in person as opposed to the more convenient route of simply shopping online. Having a fitting room lets customers get an accurate look at what the clothing will look like on their unique bodies instead of having to guess, making them more likely to purchase the items if they like what they see.

That is the key idea: making sure they like what they see. If you do not have the right lighting in a fitting room, it will not provide the most flattering light. Poor lighting will create shadows on the customers, which may make the clothing look unflattering when, in normal lighting, it looks just fine. Lighting that is too bright may also make one’s skin and hair appear a bit lifeless, which can impact the opinion of the customers as they look at themselves in the clothing.

Another common mistake is having the wrong colour lighting. It is generally best to have a clean, fresh white light of around 4000k. This will make the appearance of the items genuine without being too harsh and unattractive. Positioning your lighting in the front instead of overhead will also provide a more flattering look, as it will reduce the appearance of uneven skin tones and reduce the look of dark circles under the eyes. Generally, light that shines straight on is just more flattering than light that shines from overhead.

 

Tips On Lighting A Clothing Store

To sell more items in your clothing store, you need to consider the lighting. Read on to learn a few tips for doing this effectively:

 

• BEGIN WITH DECORATIVE LIGHTING. When you use decorative lighting, especially in window displays, you can make the store seem more fun and vibrant. LED light boxes are a good choice since they can be decorative lighting that is also good at showcasing accessories for clothing.

• USE ACCENT LIGHTING. Using lights like LED track lighting can highlight specific products you want to draw attention to. This is true for both window displays and in the shop itself. Track lighting is well suited for lighting wall displays, racks of clothing and other areas with a specific beam of light directed right onto them.
  

• PLACE BRIGHT LIGHTS CAREFULLY. Bright lights should be used only in the entrance areas, checkouts and dressing areas but not in places where people would be just wandering around and browsing.

• CREATE A MOOD. Some shops look better with warm, low, inviting lights, while others do best with bluish-white, cool colours. Determine the mood and the point of your shop and work from there.

• UNDER-SHELF LIGHTING. Choose lights that shine up from below the shelves to accent items without casting shadows. This creates a cleaner, more modern look and eliminates the risk of customers bumping into the lighting.

• USE NATURAL LIGHTING TO YOUR ADVANTAGE. If your store has an outward-facing front, take advantage of the light that is naturally provided. Where possible, this light will give customers a more accurate look at how the products will appear in the real world. It will also make the store feel more open and comfortable.

 

 

Quick Reference Summary of Dos and Don’ts With Shop Light Design

 

DO:

 

1. Do include layered lighting.

Layering lights is the process of adding ambient, accent and task lighting to a space. When these three combine, they create a well-lit, balanced look.

Ambient lighting provides the main level of illumination and is accomplished using shop ceiling lights, such as recessed lights or pendant lights. Task lighting provides focused illumination to areas where tasks are performed. This includes fitting rooms, checkout counters, and display lights in cabinets that need some extra detail.

Finally, accent lighting highlights certain details in the shop you want to draw attention to. Shop window lights, shop front lights, signage lights and special display lights are achieved through strip lights, spotlights, or track lights.

 

2. Do choose the appropriate colour temperature.

Colour temperature is the metric that discusses how warm or cool a light looks to be. It is measured in Kelvin units on a spectrum between 1,000K and 10,000K. The top of the spectrum has the cooler lights, where the lower end of the spectrum has the warmer lights.

The lighting you choose for your retail shop will depend on the vibe you are going for. Warmer lights between 2700K and 3300K are good for creating a moodier feeling with a more relaxed and intimate atmosphere.Cooler lights between 4000K and 5000K, on the other hand, offer a brighter, more modern feel. Cool colour temperatures are better for showroom lights, electronics stores, or anywhere that needs a minimalistic design.

 

3. Do take advantage of accent lighting.
   

Accent lighting can be a key player in your LED shop lighting. Take advantage of it for creating special displays and end caps, or for promotional items and new arrivals. Using accent lighting strategically, you can guide customers through the shop in a natural way. This will promote thorough browsing of your products and could encourage more purchases.

 

4. Do use LED lighting.
   

LED lights for shop lighting design are a must. LED lights bring with them benefits that traditional halogen and incandescent bulbs do not. Perks of LED lighting include:

 

• ENERGY EFFICIENCY. LED bulbs use 80 percent less energy than halogen or incandescent bulbs. This is due to the fact that they do not need to produce heat first to generate illumination.
  

 

• ECO-FRIENDLINESS. Since LEDs use so much less energy, they are gentler on the environment as well. Using LED ceiling lights for shops, for example, instead of traditional bulbs, can lower your carbon footprint. This is ideal if you are working toward a greener workplace.

 

• LONG LIFE. LED lights for shop will last much longer than traditional bulbs. Where halogen and incandescent bulbs are rated to last only 1,000 hours, LED lights last for tens of thousands of hours.

 

• COST EFFECTIVENESS. With a reduction of energy use, you will see the price of your energy bills decrease over time. Furthermore, you won’t need to replace them nearly as often. The infrequent replacements will save you money on up front purchases through the years,

 

5. Do light vertical planes.
   

Take advantage of the natural pull of the human eye by lighting the vertical plane of your shop. Accomplish this by lighting the walls and bringing illumination from floor to ceiling.

DON’TS:

 

1. Don’t neglect lumen counts.
   

Lumen counts are the measure of an LED light’s brightness, similar to the way wattage measures the brightness of traditional bulbs. Different lights in the shop will require different brightness levels. For example, your task lighting should be much brighter than the ambient lights to create points of focus. Accent lighting, on the other hand, tends to be dimmer and softer.

 

2. Don’t forget about CRI.
   

CRI, or colour rendering index, depicts how accurately a light depicts the colours of whatever it shines upon. Lights with a high CRI are recommended for showcasing the true colours of your products.

This is especially important with areas like jewellery display lighting and other small, expensive items. Your customers will expect their jewellery to look the same out of the shop as it did in the case.

 

3. Don’t overdo the lighting.
   

While having a well-lit shop with quality shop light fittings is important, there is such a thing as too much light. Do not overwhelm your customers with too much lighting–especially not bright lights. Not only can this be distracting, but it can also be unpleasant. An unpleasant shopping environment may lead customers to depart the store faster than they ordinarily might, purchasing fewer items.

 

4. Don’t depend on singular controls.
   

While you might feel tempted to connect each light to a manual switch, this is not the most efficient way to do it. Incorporating things like occupancy sensors, smart lights on timers and even dimming systems can help improve the overall lighting environment and shopping experience. You can set routines,

 

Conclusion 

Retail shop lighting can make or break the customer experience in your store–which could positively or negatively affect sales as a result. By following the tips above, you can make the most out of your retail lighting and leave a lignering impression upon your customers.

 

Retail Shop Lighting Ideas

 

 

Light up windows and wall displays with the LSP228 16 Watt Slim Style LED Track Light. These slimline track lights are subtle and non-distracting with their thin design. They come in neutral colours of black or white to better blend into your shop decor. Ultra bright, these fixtures generate 1280 lumens of your choice of either warm or cool light at a 20 degree beam angle. They are built to last from premium aluminium.

 

 

Light up your display cases beautifully with the LSD017 2 Watt Black Twin LED Cabinet Display Spot Lights. These display lights are ideal for multiple tiers thanks to their slim and vertical design. They come with two lights that provide a combined total of 140 lumens. Their cool 6000K light colour is ideal for lighting jewellery displays especially. Tilt and twist the light heads to shine the 30 degree beam of light wherever you please. The light post itself measures 200 millimeters tall and is crafted out of premium aluminium.

 

Provide ample ambient lighting with the LDC703 15 Watt LED Dimmable Triple White Recessed commercial use Downlight. These recessed downlights output a total of 1290 lumens of light at a 24 degree beam angle. Adjust the direction of the light with the rotating gimbal that moves 350 degrees around. It is fashioned out of durable aluminium and comes in a clean white finish to suit any shop decor. Overall, the fixture measures 258 millimeters by 92 millimeters in size.

 

 

Light up your shop with the bright and modern LDC963 36 Watt Dimmable Triple Modular LED Downlight. This light features three bulbs that provide a combined 2700 lumens of light, making them ideal for the ambient light layer. Choose from either 3000K warm white light, or 6000K cool white depending on your needs. They shine at a 38 degree beam angle to provide focused lighting where you need it. The fixtures are fashioned out of premium aluminium finished in white with a stylish black internal reflector area.