The layout you’ve chosen adapts to your needs, shaping the display space according to your customers’ tastes. Now it’s time to introduce your secret ally into the story – well-placed and strategically designed lighting that has the power to highlight your store first and then emphasize its specific aspects. Lighting becomes crucial for its role in facilitating shopping, drawing attention to selected products, and creating a positive impression of the store itself. Light has the power to guide visitors to key shelves and shape the overall atmosphere while influencing emotional reactions.
What types of lighting should you have at your retail object?
General, task, ambient, and decorative – these are four types of lighting that you can combine.
1. General Lighting
This is the main lighting of your space, serving as the foundation for all other subtypes you might combine. It should cover every, even the smallest, part of the store, making it a pleasant place to navigate. It’s essential that this light is evenly distributed, and the choice of warm or cool tones directly impacts the desired atmosphere.
2. Accent Lighting
When you want to highlight specific products, accent lighting comes into play. These products could be the latest or best-selling ones – the accent light will attract the customer’s attention to them and “speak” to their importance. The choice of accent lighting is broad – strips, recessed lamps, bulbs with hanging elements on the wall, etc.
3. Task Lighting
If placed above the part of the store where a specific activity occurs, task lighting will ease and make it more enjoyable, extending the time customers spend inside. It’s recommended to install it above the cash register and payment area, as well as inside fitting rooms.
4. Decorative Lighting
This type of light can be a detail to attract attention or create a special atmosphere in a specific part of the store. With decorative lighting, you have more freedom to use it in unusual ways and showcase creativity.
How to choose the type, the intensity, and the tone of the light?
Usually, there is a choice between fluorescent, halogen, metal halogen, and LED lights. Keep in mind LED bulbs are the most efficient source of light.
Fluorescent bulbs will last for 7-9 years (working hours) and will be the best in ambient and task light. However, more efficient lights are slowly replacing them. Halogen bulbs are usable for a shorter time and will last from 1 to 2 years. They are appropriate for accent, task, and decorative lighting, especially for spotlights. Metal halogen bulbs are intense and convenient for ambient light. They last as long as led bulbs. But, LED lights are great for all types of light and if your criteria are efficiency, technology, and quality. They work for a period between one and six years.
How bright should the light be? Note that light intensity is measured in lux. The required lux depends on the size of the space, the amount of natural light, the type of products, and the desired atmosphere. For retail spaces, an average of 500 to 1000 lux is usually needed.
Choose the tone of the light according to the products you sell. The color or light temperature can be warm white (yellowish, similar to the light emitted by old incandescent bulbs), natural white (closest to daylight), and cool white (bluish). Light color is expressed in kelvins (K).
Warm white ranges between 2600 and 3000K, pleasing to the eyes and commonly used in homes.
Natural white is between 3200 and 4000K, suitable for offices, bathrooms and kitchens.
Cool white is from 4200 and 6500K, often used for displays and work surfaces, being more energy-efficient that the previous two types.
Choose the light color in line with the atmosphere you want to create – warm light feels friendly and relaxing, while cool light adds better visibility and a sense of cleanliness. Consider the amount of natural light entering the space, wall color, and ceiling height.
Extra tips for the best lighting in your retail space:
- Test different types of bulbs and lighting before making a final decision.
- Install light dimmers to adjust indoor lighting to changes in natural light coming through windows.
- If the budget is limited and you have multiple types of lighting, it’s more cost-effective to invest in general lighting and spotlights that in the other two types.
Clearly, well-chosen and integrated lighting will enhance the first and every subsequent impression customers have of your establishment. Find out how to make the shopping experience even better for visitors in the new article. We’ll also discuss arranging seating areas, comfort zones, cabins, and other parts of the facility where customer satisfaction is crucial.
If you missed our previous blog on optimizing every part of the store for sales, you can read it HERE.
