Retail Lighting Do’s And Don’ts

· Do think about what you are trying to achieve with lighting – more than the obvious of ‘lighting the shop’.

· Do know the difference between floodlights and spotlights.

· Do have lighting that allows customers to examine goods – the lighting should be near the point of display.

· Do remember that older customers need different lighting to younger customers.

· Do make lights inside cabinets with glass doors, for instance freezers, brighter than the light outside to prevent reflections.

· Do position lights so as not to cause reflections off glass display cases.

Don’t

· Don’t use too many different types of lighting – using too many different types of lighting ‘overloads’ the customer’s senses.

· Don’t think that designing retail lighting is easy – seek advice.

· Don’t forget the practical aspects of lighting – lighting has a job to do; lighting must be practical as well as pleasing to the eye.

· Don’t use too many different colours, or shades, of lighting – can overload customer’s senses.

· Don’t forget to use natural lighting (sunlight).

· Don’t light retail areas at the same level throughout the day – people are used to different levels of light at different times of the day.

· Don’t light all produce at the same level – light some products at different brightness levels to emphasise the product.

· Don’t ‘over illuminate’ – too much illumination can be annoying.

Links

This webpage provides short tips about retail lighting by means of a list of ‘do’s and don’ts’ for retail lighting.

· Do think about where you place lights – create an orderly layout.