Designing a commercial space is very different from designing a space for the home. Commercial interior design does not ignore style but does give more of a focus on the practicality of certain designs. However, aesthetics must be balanced with practicality, and the safety of customers must be front of mind. Because commercial buildings will likely have more people in them than a house, for example, building codes and safety elements are different as well. Some of these unique requirements include elevators and escalators, meeting rooms, and storerooms.
Each commercial building has different needs that its architecture needs to accommodate. Interesting composition of geometries and mixing of traditional architectural elements can play with a casual passerby’s expectations and cause them to take a second look, perhaps even create a sale. Customers are more likely to make a purchase if their store environment is positive and they feel good being in that space. When a customer enters into a business or other commercial or public area, some of the first elements they may notice are:
Best Elements Of Commercial Interior Design
· Space. Is it crowded? Is it sparse? A good design will make the space feel balanced.
· Lighting. Light sets the mood of a space. In restaurants, lightning may be dimmer mood lighting. Depending on the product that a business may sell, designers will aim for maximum efficiency in terms of showcasing that product. For stores, bright lights can help highlight products and make them look enticing.
· Color Palette. Color and materials can contribute to a business’s branding and are often chosen based on a company’s theme or logo. Various intensities and hues can contribute to the mood as well as show the business’s brand and unique identity.
· Lines/Alignments. Alignment in architectural elements, relationships, and proportions create flow. This applies to furniture and the decorative layer, adding dimension and activating the space.
With commercial architectural designs, architects are also challenged to create a fluid and seamless brand extension from the exterior of the building to the interior. Color, materials, and motifs can help extend a business’s brand from inside to outside, or other simple elements like decorative panels can tie it all together. Functionality can blend with style to highlight a particular brand.
The same energy that goes into home design should also go into commercial design. Each building is unique, and implementing a design that is specifically tailored for the space’s unique context and purpose will affect the experience of being in that space. In addition to making a sale, the true purpose of commercial buildings is to elevate the quality of the experiences of all those who occupy the building. And this is what will lead to financial success and gain.
