Do you sell colourful, fashionable and exquisite clothing in your boutique? If so, you certainly want to highlight the delicate beauty and uniqueness of every single piece. Boutique design will play an important role in accomplishing the goal.
Retail interior design in Singapore is heavily based on the specific nature of the shop. Selling furniture is not the same as selling clothes and accessories. As a result your interior design company working on your project will have to adopt a custom approach every single time.
The nature of the products and the specifics of the respective group of buyers will play a role in interior design decisions. As far as clothing boutiques are concerned, the interior design should be simple and stylish in order to highlight the items for sale.
Think of the Floor Plan First
The floor plan is one of the most important considerations in retail interior design to trigger a customer’s inner shopaholic!
Your interior design company will advise you on the best possibilities, based on the size and the layout of the available boutique space. There are three common possibilities that are used in retail but some of them would not apply well to a clothing boutique.
The grid floor plan, for example, is completely unsuitable. It typically features multiple shelves and sections for the purpose of stocking goods like books, cosmetics or groceries. Such a layout is best for larger spaces and for supermarkets.
Loop and free flow floor plans are a much better idea for a clothing boutique.
The loop floor plan leads the shopper along a certain way. Racks and sections may be utilised to direct the attention of the visitor. Loop floor plans are an excellent choice for small spaces.
A free flow floor plan typically features a few scattered racks or shelves. There is a lot of empty space, allowing for the products to shine. Free flow floor plans are used most often in upscale boutiques and high fashion retail venues.
If you have a few handmade items and expensive accessories that you want to display in your boutique, for example, you should definitely opt for a free flow floor plan. For less expensive clothes and boutiques that feature a bigger selection of items, the loop design will be a much better pick.
Maintaining Flow and Customer Interest
Retail interior design has one primary purpose – it maintains the engagement and the interest of the store visitor. People who spend enough time in the boutique will potentially discover something that they like. To maintain a good flow and customer interest, you will have to follow a couple of interior design principles.
The first one is the right hand rule.
Studies suggest that upon entering a boutique, most customers will turn unconsciously to the right. This is where you may want to place some of your most exquisite and distinctive items, as well as your best-sellers.
After people have made the turn to the right in your boutique, you will need to choose interior design solutions that will keep them exploring the rest of the store. Wide walkways and minimalist storage solutions are a good idea. They increase visibility and make it possible for the visitor to spot a dress or a beautiful handbag located across the room.
Beautifully arranged displays along the back wall are also a great choice. These should be noticeable from the entrance. Mannequins and decorations can be arranged strategically to display both clothes and accessories. Such displays visualise an entire outfit, which can increase the desire of the potential buyer to acquire the individual items.
Finally, customer interest can be maintained through the placement of smaller displays throughout the boutique. Give such merchandise some space. If the display is crowded, the visitor could potentially become overwhelmed and desire to exit the venue.
Fitting Room Design is Also Important
Every upscale clothing boutique should have a beautiful, spacious and functional fitting room. Fitting rooms should have excellent lighting. When trying new clothes on, people want to see every tiny detail. The warmth and the colour of the light are as important as the brightness. If you want to opt for an innovative solution, you may want to install motion detectors that will adjust the lights in the fitting room on as soon as somebody enters.
Area rugs and carpets are also a nice touch. Boutiques are all about sophistication. To try clothes on, customers will often need to take their shoes off. Being barefoot on a naked floor is far from the most comfortable experience on the face of the planet.
Finally, fitting rooms should create the feeling of privacy. While curtains are typically utilised, they aren’t the best option in terms of closing the changing space. Panels and doors are a much better pick. When privacy is encouraged, people will definitely feel comfortable spending more time in the fitting room and trying a bigger number of clothes on.
Think about the Practical Appeal of the Boutique Checkout Area
The final retail interior design consideration will focus on the boutique’s checkout area.
Singapore interior design experts believe that counter placement is often faulty in boutiques and clothing stores. Putting the checkout counter on the right, for example, is a serious mistake. A checkout counter that’s central can distract visitors from the shopping experience.
It’s best to place the checkout counter on the left and to have it clearly designated as the ending point of the shopping experience.
Since shopping baskets aren’t used in clothing boutiques, the counter should be wide enough for buyers to place all of their items on. It may even be a good idea for enough space to be available for the placement of a handbag on the checkout counter.
A compact POS system is a good choice in order to maximise the space at the checkout area. Even if you have a tiny boutique, there are still interior design and technology choices you can make to utilise every available centimetre of space.
Don’t neglect the details of shopping boutique design – buyers are very discerning and they will spot negligence. For best result, consider partnering up with experienced interior design professionals like the Home Guide team. We have extensive experience in the field of designing upscale boutiques. You can get more information by contacting us or exploring our portfolio.
