When it comes to designing a showroom floor for furniture, there are a lot of details to consider. Of course, you want the showroom to be inviting and easy to navigate for your customers. But you also have to display your merchandise according to why the customer is there in the first place and how they intend to use the products.
Besides all that, if you’re selling rustic style furniture and decor, you want to make sure that nothing clashes. Good taste is important and a well put together showroom will make all the difference in sales and customer loyalty.
If you’re new to retail or even if you’ve been doing it for years, there are always a few tips and tricks hidden in the layers of advice that you might get from other retailers. That’s why, in this article, we’re discussing five styling tips for your rustic furniture showroom. Keep reading to learn more.
Designing Your Furniture Showroom
Start with a well-designed plan. Don’t ever just think that you can get away with placing products where you think you’re customers will see them. Stick to your plan meticulously so that the end result displays your vision with pizazz.
There are a few different points of focus that you should hone in on when laying out your plan and furthermore your overall design.
Entrance
The entrance to your furniture showroom is the place where customers are transitioning from the outside world into your store atmosphere. This area should be warm and welcoming, with plenty of space so that your customers can decide what they wish to see first. Consider placing sale items here to draw the customer’s eye and get them engaged in your displays.
Lighting
Lighting is one of the most important aspects of any retail space. And, depending on the different types of furniture that you have on display in each area of your showroom may also depend on the type of lighting you use. You can also use different styles of fixtures to mix things up and display them according to the furniture on display in certain sections.
There are four different types of lighting:
Ambient
Ambient lighting is also known as general lighting. It’s the most basic of them all because it simply provides an area with overall illumination. Ambient lighting is comfortable with brightness levels that don’t glare.
You can create ambient lighting with chandeliers, track lights, or ceiling and wall-mount fixtures. Table and floor lamps also work well with this type of lighting.
Task
You probably won’t use much task lighting in a furniture showroom because it’s more used in specialty areas such as in the home for crafts, writing, sewing, reading, and so on. This type of lighting is often used in surgery or at the dentist’s office. You might, however, use this light at your kiosks and point of sale areas.
Accent
Accent lighting is used to draw the eye into or onto an object. You can use it to illuminate paintings and sculptures or other accent items on your showroom floor. Accent lights include track lighting, recessed lights, wall sconces, and even floodlights.
Decorative
Decorative lighting is thought of as the jewelry of a home because it’s primary purpose is to accessorize a space while adding a touch of light. This type of lighting is extremely important for a furniture showroom because it will highlight other accents and furniture on display.
Create decorative lighting with wall sconces or chandeliers. You can even try small desk lamps in areas of the store where it fits with the design of your furniture.
Catering to Impulse Buys
Catering to impulse buys is a neverending task in a furniture showroom because you need to continuously move things around the store so that your customers will find them.
Impulse items are those that the customer didn’t need or want before they entered your store, but realize when they see it that they do in fact want or need it. You can set up smaller items for this purpose, like lighting and small accent items.
Focal Points
You need to create eye-catching displays that will draw your customers in. Especially larger stores should include focal points in each department, like specific displays for each room in a home including the bedrooms and bathrooms. Smaller spaces can get away with one main display that engages the customer and leads them to other parts of your store.
Consider using televisions to display important information about your products. And, use neat, bright signage to direct customers where they want to be in your store.
Window Displays
If you have a window display, you should utilize the space to your fullest advantage. Windows deliver your merchandise to the outside world where customers can get to know what you have inside your furniture showroom.
Consider changing it up from month to month so that customers that have not visited your store will see more of what you have if they frequent your storefront. Use decorative lighting and soft colors that might engage customers to come inside. Don’t forget signs that indicate sales or other information that you want to convey to those that may already be interested but haven’t yet come in.
Final Thoughts
In the end, your furniture showroom should cater to your customers in so much that they feel welcome and comfortable as they browse. You might consider installing kiosks or POS systems throughout the store so that your sales staff and other employees can access key information for your customers more easily. Also, keep in mind that customers typically turn to the right upon entering a store so you might design your entrance to lead in that direction.
A furniture showroom is more than a retail location. It’s a place that should feel like home so that your customers can make the best decision about what they intend to purchase. The furniture will end up displayed in their homes based on your layouts, after all.
If you’re setting up a rustic style furniture showroom, or if you have questions, contact us. We stock everything cowhide.