Lighting a small store is very important because proper lighting can help make a space appear larger, highlight products, and ultimately increase sales. On the other hand, improper lighting can make a space appear smaller, dull, and dark. Because excellent and principled lighting plays an important role in increasing sales and attracting customers, you should pay special attention to it. In this article from EDC, we intend to discuss the principles of lighting a small store and provide practical tips for lighting these spaces as well as possible.
The Difference Between Small and Large Store Lighting
The first step in designing small store lighting is to understand its differences from large store lighting. Naturally, each has its own challenges and principles that you should pay attention to for principled lighting. For easier access, we have compiled the differences between small and large store lighting in the table below:
| Features | Small shop | Big shop |
| Choosing light | Focused and spot lights to highlight products | Uniform general lighting |
| The importance of showcase lighting | Very high, because the display window is the first thing customers see. | Medium |
| Use natural light | More challenging, due to limited space | Easier, because there are more windows |
| Light uniformity | Very important, because uneven lighting can make a space appear smaller. | Less important, because a larger space diffuses light better. |
| Shelf lighting | Essential for highlighting products and preventing shadowing | Less important, because there is more space for light to spread. |
| Light color temperature | Can help create a sense of space (e.g. warm lighting for intimate spaces) | The choice of light color temperature is more flexible. |
| Lighting cost | It is generally more cost-effective, as it requires fewer lamps and equipment. | Requires more lamps and equipment due to larger space |
Step-by-step tutorial on lighting a small store
With the above differences in mind, we can move on to the step-by-step tutorial on lighting a small store:
1. What is the purpose of lighting a store?
The first step is to determine your goal for lighting. Do you want to just light up the space? Do you want to highlight specific products? Or do you want to create a warm and inviting atmosphere?
If your goal is just to light up the store, you can use general lighting. This type of lighting is suitable for stores that have a high product variety and want all products to be seen equally.
If you want to draw customers’ attention to specific products, you should use focused lighting. This type of lighting is suitable for stores that want to showcase their new, discounted, or best-selling products.
If you want to create an intimate and pleasant atmosphere in your store, you should use warm lighting. Warm lighting is achieved using LED strip lights, low-voltage halogens, or low-color temperature (yellow or orange) LED bulbs.
2. Choose the type of lighting you want
Small store lighting falls into three main categories:
General lighting: This type of lighting is used to illuminate the overall space of the store and uses ceiling, panel, or halogen lights.
Focused lighting: This type of lighting is used to highlight specific products and uses spotlights, track lights, or projectors.
Decorative lighting: This type of lighting is used to create a beautiful and attractive space and uses LED strip lights, strings, decorative lights, or lampshades.
3. Choose the color of the light
The color temperature of the light can affect the feel and mood of the space. Warm lights (yellow and orange) create a warm and inviting atmosphere, while cool lights (white and blue) create a modern and stylish atmosphere.
4. Don’t neglect the lighting arrangement
The arrangement of lights in small shops is very important. Spread the lights evenly in the space and avoid creating too many shadows. To do this, install lights in different parts of the ceiling and walls to prevent creating too many shadows and darkness in some areas.
5. Use natural sunlight if possible
Use natural sunlight as much as possible. Keep windows open and use thin curtains to let light shine into the shop.
Small shop lighting and the right light for each section
For better guidance, the table below has compiled the recommended lights for different sections of the shop. To purchase a variety of lighting products, with high quality and unparalleled variety, you can visit the EDC store. In order to reassure customers, EDC products are provided with a 30+30 month warranty (30 month product replacement warranty, 30 month repair with quality company parts).
| Section | Suggested lights | Description |
| Shop ceiling lighting |
|
Uniform and shadow-free lighting – High CRI (Color Rendering Index) for natural color display – Low energy consumption |
| Small shop shelf lighting |
|
Highlighting products – attracting customer attention – variety of colors and models |
| Shop window lighting |
|
Better display of products – attracting the attention of passersby |
| Shop entrance lighting |
|
Sufficient lighting for clear vision – creating a warm and intimate atmosphere – attracting customers’ attention |
| Lighting outside the shop |
|
Sufficient lighting for security and night vision – Resistant to weather conditions – Beautiful and attractive exterior appearance |
| Peru Room (Clothing Stores) |
|
Realistic display of clothing colors – creating a relaxing atmosphere – helping customers choose clothing |
Lighting Tips for Small Stores
For better lighting, here are some tips you need to know for lighting a clothing store, shoe store, etc.:
Clothing Store Lighting
Use focused lighting to highlight the clothes and general lighting to illuminate the overall space. It is better to use lamps with a high CRI (color rendering index) so that the colors of the clothes are displayed naturally and realistically. Do not neglect the lighting of different spaces such as the women’s, men’s, children’s clothing sections, etc. You can also use lighting to draw attention to new or discounted clothes.
Small Shoe Store Lighting
You can use focused lighting to highlight the shoes and use general lighting to illuminate the shop floor.
Confectionery Lighting
Use general lighting using LED panels or LED bulbs with soft light and high CRI (color rendering index) for the overall illumination of the pastry space. This lighting should be such that all points of the pastry are evenly lit and there are no shadows.
Use focused lighting using LED spotlights or LED projectors with adjustable color temperature to highlight specific products such as cakes, pastries, breads and desserts. This lighting should be such that it draws customers’ attention directly to the desired products and showcases their beauty and elegance.
General tips for lighting small shops
Use light colors for walls and ceilings to make the space appear larger.
Use mirrors in the decoration of the shop to diffuse the light in the space.
Use natural plants in the decoration of the shop to make the space look fresher.
Regularly check the bulbs and replace them if they are damaged so that the shop lights are always bright and clear.
Hire a lighting specialist to design and implement the lighting for your small shop.
