Retail Store Lighting Ideas

People often associate dim lights with “setting a romantic mood.” Many workplaces will also turn off the overhead fluorescents in favor of lamp light. Who hasn’t cursed lousy lighting on a first date or even considered buying a light-up case for their cell phone? 

There’s no question — lighting makes a difference and sets the tone.

So, how can a retail store take advantage of lighting and colors for a more memorable — not to mention profitable — customer experience? 

Keep reading for retail store lighting ideas and display color schemes that will have customers shopping and you on the path to record sales.

The Importance of Lighting in Retail Stores

Light shapes what we see, feel and do from the moment we wake each day. So, it’s no surprise that retail store lighting affects customers’ moods, decisions and behavior! Here are some reasons why good lighting in retail stores is essential:

• Beautifies spaces: Decorative lighting, such as holiday lights or colorful lighting, can create a beautiful, distinctive and memorable impression.
• Welcomes shoppers: A well-lit store is more inviting to enter and helps passersby notice displays from outside. 
• Allows inspection: Sufficient lighting helps customers inspect products and read signs and labels, which can be crucial to their buying process.
• Attracts attention: Strategic accent lighting draws in the eyes of shoppers and leads them to notice the products on display.
• Lifts moods: People are more able to enjoy positive emotions in brighter environments than dim ones. Use ambient light for positive customer experiences.
• Aids safety: Adequate lighting is essential to promote safety by minimizing customer and staff accidents.
• Boosts functionality: Task lighting improves visibility in storage spots, sign locations and fitting rooms where customers and staff need to see more clearly. This benefits employee productivity and enhances the customer experience.
• Guides choices: Tactical accent lighting can influence buying decisions by molding consumer preferences and attracting customers to specific sections of the store.

What Is the Best Lighting for a Retail Store?

The best lighting for a retail store depends on the products. However, we can share some helpful guidelines to “illuminate” your options for bulbs, fixtures and colors. We’ll also offer tips for decorative and sustainable lighting.

All About That Bulb

Looking for the best lighting for a retail store? Start with the bulbs themselves. 

Incandescent bulbs may be cheap, but they burn out the fastest, cluttering aisles with employees constantly replacing them on ladders. Do yourself a favor and don’t shop by price alone. Check out these reliable alternatives instead:

• Halogen lights: Halogen bulbs are a more efficient version of incandescent bulbs. They are usually associated with task lighting and are typically placed where shoppers check out, collect orders or try on clothing.
• Fluorescent lights: Fluorescent light bulbs have a reputation for being ultra-bright, but they’re cost-efficient and can also be bought in tubes, not just bulbs. The solution? Invest in a dimmer to create an ambient, relaxing retail atmosphere!
• LED lights: LED lights may be the new kids on the block, but they’re perfect for decorative and accent lighting. They’re super-efficient, and they also cast a gorgeous glow on items you want to call extra attention to — like your freestanding custom corrugated cardboard displays and even small countertop displays. 

Fixture Types

Your choice of fixture does more than hold bulbs in place. Fixtures affect the angle of light and how spread out or focused it is in a store. Here are a few of the most popular fixture types for retail and what they do best:

• Domes: Domes are mounted to the store ceiling and can provide welcoming ambient light.
• Track lighting: Track lighting suspends several lights from a track or bar and can create decorative effects or accent aisles.
• Pendants: Pendants are single suspended lights that can illuminate a display to grab attention.
• Chandeliers: Chandeliers hold a cluster of lights that create an ambient glow but can also accentuate the looks of higher-end products.
• Wall sconces: Wall sconces are wall-mounted and cast light vertically, which is perfect for multi-tiered product displays near store walls.

Getting Colorful

Sure, shoppers will always associate the color red with “Sale!” but the color theory of shopping goes way beyond that. It’s not just the lighting that matters, but also the color of store walls and even retail displays:

• If you’re going for a sleek look, we recommend a minimalist, white color with limited text. 
• For blues, the hue can make a big difference! Research shows that younger generations like bright and vibrant shades of blue. Older shoppers prefer a darker blue. 
• If you want to indicate eco-friendly products or packaging, go for green. 
• Though yellow may make us happy, research shows that too much of it can be a turn-off to shoppers — especially if it’s in a paler shade. 

And once you get your colors on point, be sure to showcase certain walls and displays with directed lighting. It will pay off.

Decorative Light Delights

Don’t forget that lighting can also be a form of store decor — and, of course, get shoppers to notice your best products in the process. 

Select your favorite custom displays and highlight them with your lighting displays. Just make sure the lighting you select fits with your in-store experience. You probably wouldn’t expect to see cheap string Christmas lights at a high-end clothing shop, just as you wouldn’t put a crystal chandelier in a pet shop!

Giving Sustainability the Green Light

Even if you’re not using green-colored lighting to promote eco-friendly products, you can still take a green approach to retail store lighting! Think sustainable lighting by:

• Investigating solar power to run store lighting on sunshine.
• Making the most of natural lighting through windows and skylights.
• Opting for LED bulbs, which use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs.
• Lighting up eco-friendly product displays to encourage sustainable shopping.

Build Brilliant Retail Displays With Creative Displays Now

Now that you’ve read our tips, you’re totally ready to let the light shine down on your products!

If you’d like to create product displays that brighten up your sales forecasts, partner with Creative Displays Now! We are the leader in high-quality point-of-purchase displays.

We design and manufacture product displays that are:

• Optimized to drive sales and build your brand.
• Customized to your size, style, color and graphic specs.
• Available in 100% sustainable designs.

Start your custom retail display project with Creative Displays Now. We’re ready to help with all your retail display needs!