There are certain instances when and where tiny and compact retail stalls are the very essence of cute, cosy and character-filled. In other instances however, they just look and feel…well, small! It’s all well and good if you have the kind of cash available to move to larger premises, but for about 99% of smaller businesses, this just isn’t an option.
Which in turn means it’s a case of making the best of what’s available to you. The good news being that even in the case of the very tiniest stores, there is still plenty that can be done to at least make them look and feel bigger than they actually are.
So for those looking to create the illusion of space where space really is at a premium, here’s a quick overview of just a few helpful tips from the experts:
1. First of all, it’s a good idea to be mindful when it comes to the colours you choose for the interior walls of your retail space. Generally speaking, lighter colours have a tendency to make interior spaces look and feel much bigger than darker colours. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to limit yourself to white, but do be aware of the fact that dark colours may lead to the space feeling smaller.
2. One of the oldest tricks in the book when it comes to making interior spaces look bigger is to strategically position mirrors around the place. The most effective approach of all being that of installing larger-sized wall-mounted mirrors, which can make the whole place feel as if it is considerably more open than it actually is.
3. Something else that has a huge bearing on perceived space is lighting. In this instance, the closer you can get to replicating natural light, the brighter and more spacious your store will appear. By contrast, insufficient light or excessive artificial lighting can make the whole place feel confined and cramped.
4. Think carefully about exactly how much merchandise you need on your shelves at any one time. Consider following the example of the world’s most exclusive designer boutiques, where just one or two examples of the products are made available for customers to look at, with the actual items for sale being kept elsewhere.
5. Also in terms of merchandise, you might want to think about the efficiency of the shelving systems you currently have in place. In stores that do not have a particularly large amount of available space, it is a good idea to think vertically and to choose storage solutions that take up as little floor space as possible.
6. Take a walk around your store and make a note of anything and everything currently present that does not serve any important purpose. Those ornaments and decorative furnishings you have about the place may look nice, but anything superfluous will only add to the cramped and cluttered ambience.
7. Last but not least, be mindful when it comes to whatever you decide to adorn your walls with. From decorative touches to marketing materials to pictures and so on, a distinct lack of open wall space will almost always work against your efforts to make your store look and feel bigger than it actually is.
