A Guide to Optimising Lighting in Retail

Effective lighting can transform a retail space, enhancing the shopping experience. Leading brands are known for the comfort and atmosphere in their retail stores. Whether it’s the bright, reflective lighting of a car showroom or a high-end luxury boutique, a retail space’s lighting can shape customers’ feelings and behaviours and ultimately boost sales.

The Importance of Lighting in Retail Spaces

In today’s digital era, with online retail, apps and international brands at our fingertips – the in-store customer experience has become more important than ever. As experts in commercial lighting design and installation, we understand the importance of a retail space being inviting, guiding the customer journey and making their visit enjoyable.

Research conducted at Sheffield Hallam University and a study from the Architectural Lighting and Daylighting Research Group have shown that well-designed lighting can directly influence purchasing behaviour. By using strategic lighting to draw attention to specific areas and products, retailers can increase the time customers spend in-store and encourage more purchases.

Here’s some things to consider when optimising lighting in retail stores:

How your product(s) should be perceived
The atmosphere you want to create for customers
The visual appeal of your store from the outside

By carefully reviewing these elements you can draw in additional customers, encourage browsing, and increase sales.

Types of Lighting for Retail Spaces with Examples

Creating an inviting and effective retail environment requires a well-thought-out lighting plan. Different types of lighting serve various purposes in creating your desired atmosphere. Here are the primary types of lighting used in retail settings:

Ambient lighting

Ambient lighting provides general illumination for the entire store and sets the overall tone and atmosphere. Ambient lighting can come in the form of ceiling lights, wall sconces, and track lights.

Example of Ambient Lighting in Retail

Accent Lighting

Accent lighting is used to draw attention to specific products or areas of the store. It is mostly utilised in product displays and above counters to create focal points and draw customers attention. Typically, accent lighting consists of LED strips and track spotlights, which are perfect for emphasising key areas.

Example of Accent Lighting in a Car Showroom

Task Lighting

Task lighting is essential for specific activities within the retail environment that require focused illumination. For example, it is used to provide direct light at checkout counters, in fitting rooms, and at workstations or desks.

Example of Task Lighting in Retail Showroom

The Importance of Layering Lighting

Layering lighting is an important technique for creating an appealing retail environment. By combining different types of lighting, you can achieve balanced, flexible, and dynamic illumination that enhances the overall atmosphere.

Different products benefit from different lighting techniques. Layering allows you to tailor the lighting to suit various items, ensuring they look their best. For example, jewellery might need bright, focused lighting, while clothing could be highlighted with softer lighting.

Layering lighting not only adds depth and makes the space more visually interesting, but also influences the mood of customers and can be adapted to suit the desired effect. For example, dimming an accent light and allowing ambient lighting to shine can create a calm relaxed atmosphere while lifting decorative lighting can up the vibe considerably.

Additionally, layered lighting allows you to easily change the focus in the store when changing product positioning isn’t possible.

A well-designed layered lighting scheme can guide customers through your store, making it easier to find what they’re looking for. The right combination of lights can also create a comfortable and inviting atmosphere—all while allowing for adaptability.

Downlighting and Uplighting

The most common type of lighting in retail spaces is downlighting. Downlighting involves placing light fixtures above the desired area and directing light downwards. Downlighting not only provides the general lighting throughout the store but also provides the focal points and accents. They can be placed at different levels, inside displays and cabinets and vary in intensity to create depth and interest.

Example of Downlighting in Retail

Uplighting, on the other hand, is a much less common lighting technique within retail stores. It involves placing light fixtures low to the ground or on the floor and directing light upwards. This technique is often used to create a dramatic effect and add depth to the space. For example, uplights can be positioned low down to give a different, more unique perspective on products. Using uplighting outside your store can make it stand out and appear inviting and appealing to potential customers.

What Type of Lighting is Best for Retail?

When determining the best type of lighting for retail spaces, it is important to consider factors such as cost, durability, and the effect your choice may have on the environment. With these factors in mind, we would always recommend LED lighting.

Why Choose LED Lighting for Retail?

LED lighting stands out as the optimal choice for retail spaces due to its numerous advantages over traditional lighting options.

Energy Efficiency

Led lights are exceptionally energy-efficient, consuming 90% less energy than other types of lighting. This reduction in energy means you can save money on your retail store’s energy bills.

Longevity and Durability

One of the standout benefits of LED lighting is its long lifespan. LED lights can last 15,000 – 20,000 hours, compared to the 1,000 hours of a filament bulb, which means fewer replacements and less disruption to your retail store’s operation.

Enhanced Product Display

The light of an LED bulb is bright and crisp, perfect for highlighting your products. They have a high Colour Rendering Index (CRI), which displays colours accurately and vividly. LEDs can focus light precisely where needed, drawing attention to key products.

Minimal Heat Emission

LED lights emit very little heat compared to traditional incandescent or halogen bulbs. This is particularly important in a retail setting where excessive heat can pose a fire hazard, making LED lights a much safer option.

Environmental Impact

Considered as a ‘green technology’, LED lighting requires much smaller amounts of energy when compared to other types of lighting. Additionally, LED bulbs are recyclable and do not contain hazardous materials, making them a more sustainable choice.

Colour Temperature and Brightness

When choosing the colour temperature for your retail lighting, you must consider branding, customers, and products. For example, warm lighting is often associated with luxury, high-end brands. But if you sell fine jewellery, you need brightness to highlight the product.

Colour temperature is measured in Kelvin (K) and ranges from warm to cool tones.

Warm lighting (2000K-3000K): creates a cosy atmosphere. This is ideal for boutiques, high-end retail stores, and spaces where you want to evoke a sense of comfort and luxury.
Neutral Lighting (3500K-4500K): Neutral lighting offers a balance between warm and cool tones, providing a natural and clear view of products.
Cool Lighting (5000K-6500K): Cool lighting creates a bright environment, perfect for modern retail spaces, electronics stores, and areas where clarity and focus are needed.

Balancing brightness is equally important. Bright lighting is necessary for general areas and displays, while softer lighting tends to suit fitting rooms. Combining colour temperature and brightness effectively can tailor different store areas, such as using warm, dim lighting for a relaxing ambiance or cool, bright lighting to energise the space.

Additionally, consider the Colour Rendering Index (CRI), which measures the accuracy of colour representation. For products requiring precise colour visibility, aim for a CRI close to 100.

Integrate Natural Lighting

Natural lighting in retail stores has been proven to attract more footfall and increase sales.

Natural lighting has the perfect CRI. So, integrating natural light or achieving a CRI as close to it as possible will allow your customers to make informed choices whilst considering purchases. The more confident they feel in the accuracy, the more likely they are to buy!

Why Choose Akehurst

At Akehurst, we offer a full range of commercial lighting services for retail spaces. As experts in lighting solutions, our team will work alongside you to create a bespoke lighting design, tailored to your needs.

If you require a lighting upgrade to your current store, we understand the importance of minimal interruptions. If you are moving to a new premises, our team have experience in working alongside architects, interior designers and contractors. Whatever your commercial lighting needs, we have you covered.

Get in touch today for a free, itemised quote with a detailed breakdown of proposed work.