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Interior Design: The Importance of Store Lighting | February 14, 2023 (0 comments)
West Bloomfield, MI--Retail lighting design is essential to a successful jewelry store. There are several elements of lighting that will be the focus for your store.
First, understanding the main goal of retail lighting design in the jewelry store. Second, how decorative lighting can capture a clients’ attention. Third, how LED lightboxes can add significant value to your store.
Lighting makes all the difference to the store’s success, but too often, jewelry retailers forget its importance. Not only is lighting critical in setting the mood of your store and showcasing your merchandise, but it also must be one of the first items on your wish list. Having lighting inside the showcases can add sparkle and glitter to your merchandise. Proper lighting is a huge part of what defines your store’s image.
It is important to know the color of the lighting in your store. The light bulb color temperature lets us know what the look and feel of the light produced is called Kelvin. Kelvin temperatures for commercial and residential lighting applications fall somewhere. On a scale from 2000K to 6500 Kelvin.
With ceiling and in the jewelry in-case lighting, there are two Kelvin temperatures to be used: 5000K and 6000K. The 5000K is what we know as our white daylight and used the most. The 6000K is what daylight is with a cooler blue tone. Also, for gems: The “issue” with gems is that they likely look better under a 4000K but if they are in the same line as all the other cases you then want the same color light, or the case will stand out and look wrong. Therefore, a 5000K-5500k is the best choice color in the store. In my designs, I use a lot of recessed cans in the ceiling. The main reason I design that way is to keep the ceiling as subtle and simple looking as possible. The installation of the recessed lights with the ceiling does not create a busy look. The main goal in designing a technical lighting plan for a jewelry store is to keep the clients’ eyes looking at the jewelry cases and not at a busy ceiling. The other lighting advice is to keep the walkway a little dim to create a relaxing mood, while the lighting over the jewelry cases is bright to make the sparkles of the jewelry come alive. See picture of Lucido Fine Jewelry Rochester, MI., 5000K in jewelry cases, recess lights, chandelier, light boxes.
[Lucido Fine Jewlry Lighting Cases & Light Boxes Rochester. Photo credit: Leslie McGwire]
LED light technology is rapidly changing and it’s influencing how we light our world in a brighter and more economical way. Therefore, proper placement of lighting is essential to keep your consumers highly interested and increase sales in the jewelry store. A popular design element is to have a chandelier in the entry to set the stage for the style of the store’s interior. Another option is to use the best lighting: LED recessed cans. This will create a flood of light, keeping the entry bright without creating a focal point the minute you set foot in the store.
This all depends on where you want the customer’s eyes to go, as well as how the entry lighting fits with the overall store design. Simply changing out a chandelier or decorative light fixtures can greatly update the store in your remodel. Therefore, lighting is one of the most important features when it comes to designing your store. This is because the placement of each light is critical so all the jewelry will reflect the light and look more sparkly.
Chandeliers are a great statement and can add a big “wow factor.” Besides having perfect technical lighting over the jewelry cases, it is so important to have decorative chandeliers and sconces too. As a designer I view chandeliers as an accessory that gives the space look and elegance that is needed in every store. It reminds me of a beautiful broach or a stunning necklace that complements the overall looks. The Chandeliers do the same thing. As I have said many times, you need a WOW factor when clients enter your store. A chandelier can give customers wonderful and comfortable feelings as they enter. As I said before it is all about first impressions. As an interior designer I have told many clients for the past 35 years that the chandelier should look like a piece of art. Chandeliers are ideal for every store, with coordinating additional lighting throughout different areas. See picture of Chandelier near the Rolex area of Lucido Fine Jewelry Rochester, MI.
[Lucido chandelier and Rolex area. Photo credit: Leslie McGwire]
People often ask me, "Why should we use backlit lightboxes in our spaces?" My response is that light boxes add an inviting dimension to the store’s ambience. Let’s reflect over the basic reasons when and why you would want to use the LED light boxes instead of non-backlit signs or posters. For LED lightboxes the two kelvin temperatures usually use 5000K or 6000K as their goal is to make everything sparkle more for the effect in photos.
For 2023, large LED lightboxes images are essential to increase the stores sales and very in Trend. The bigger the image the better. Oversize lightboxes look is what is happening now in stores. Lightboxes tastefully distributed around the store do an amazing job of conveying important branding messages to the customers, which increases jewelry resonance and sales. This ability to activate emotional triggers in the customers is what jewelry stores need.
Leslie McGwire™ has over 35 years in business development, interior design, equipment, furniture sales and marketing services in retail and jewelry-based businesses. Leslie has won over 25 national design awards, including the prestigious Salon Today and INSTORE Jewelry Store awards. Leslie has a true passion for business, design for the jewelry and retail industries. Visit lesliemcgwire.com for more information.