Retail Lighting Guide
Lighting is a crucial factor in creating a unique shopping environment that attracts the buyer, contributes to the store’s personality, highlights the corporate image, and increases sales.
📋 Table of Contents
The Goals of Lighting a Store
The quantity and quality of lighting, the impression it creates for the products for sale, and the effect on the overall aesthetics of a store space are parameters that are considered in the process of successful lighting design.
A lighting designer should consider various characteristics, such as the luminaire’s life, performance, dimming over time, color rendering (CRI), natural light involvement, light distribution, cost, control capabilities, and flexibility.
Attract Customers
Attract them to the store and guide them inside safely and effectively
Promote the Brand
Give customers a first impression of the store’s image and product prices
Pleasant Environment
Provide a sense of comfort and well-being to the customer
Highlight Products
Showcase features, colors, shapes, and textures while avoiding glare
Increase Sales
Create buying desire and effectively promote products
Reduce Energy Consumption
Lower energy costs and reduce operating expenses
💡 Important Information
The customer who will be thrilled by their in-store experience will stay longer, spend more money, and will not only be more likely to return but look forward to returning!
✅ Pro Tip
A good and cost-effective lighting solution is the use of high contrast – creating brightly lit areas and low lighting areas that guide the customer’s attention, rather than increasing the overall lighting level.
Color – Reflections and Contrast
There are many factors to consider when lighting a store: the type of products for sale, the size and shape of the space, the target audience, and the message that the brand wants to promote.
🌡️ Correlated Color Temperature (CCT)
≤3000K
3500K-4000K
>4000K
Comfort & Relaxation
Color Balance
Sense of Spaciousness
📊 Color Rendering Index (CRI)
The CRI measures how faithfully a light source renders colors compared to a reference source. Values range from 0 to 100, with the sun (natural light source) and incandescent lamp (artificial light source) having CRI = 100.
🎯 CRI Guidelines
CRI >80: Required for reliable product presentation
CRI >90: Required for clothing, artwork, and products where color is a selection criterion
⚖️ Contrast
The key is to combine different types of lighting and use contrast throughout the space. There are four basic levels: general lighting, focal lighting, task lighting, and decorative lighting.
📋 Recommended Settings by Store Type
| Store Type | CRI | Color Temperature (K) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥩 Butcher Shop | >80 | 2500-3000K | Ideally TECHLUMEN LED lights for meat |
| 🐟 Fish Market | >80 | 4000-5000K | Silver/blue fish >5000K, red fish <4000K |
| 🥖 Bakery | >80 | 2500-3000K | Special LED lights for bread and pastry |
| 🥬 Greengrocer | >80 | 2700-4000K | Fruits: 2700-3000K, Vegetables: 4000K |
| 👗 Clothing / Fashion | >90 | 3500-4000K | High CRI for accurate color rendering |
| 🏃 Sports Equipment | >80 | 4000K | Energetic atmosphere |
| 👞 Shoes / Leather | >80 | 3000-4000K | Highlight leather materials |
| 💍 Jewelry | >80 | 2700-4000K | High contrast for sparkle |
| 💊 Pharmacies | >80 | 4000K | Clean, professional environment |
| 💇 Hairdressers | >90 | 4000K | Accurate hair color rendering |
| 🛋️ Furniture | >80 | 2700-4000K | Warm, homey atmosphere |
| 📚 Bookstores | >80 | 3500-4000K | Comfortable reading |
Lighting Systems
There are 4 lighting systems commonly used in shop lighting. The combination and balance of these types create an interesting visual effect and an attractive environment.
🌐 General Lighting
Ambient Lighting
The primary source of lighting for the store. This uniform, low-level lighting facilitates daily tasks and customer movement throughout the space.
Fixtures: Downlights, linear, panels, pendants
📝 Task Lighting
Work Lighting
Focused, local lighting for specific tasks. Ideal for cash desks, packaging areas, and product evaluation zones.
Ratio: 3:1 to ambient lighting
🎯 Focal Lighting
Accent/Highlight Lighting
Creates dramatic emphasis on merchandise. Adds depth, contrast, and makes products stand out from their surroundings.
Contrast: 5:1 to 30:1 for showcases
✨ Decorative Lighting
Aesthetic Lighting
Adds beauty, style, and visually upgrades the space. Reflects corporate identity and creates a welcoming atmosphere.
Fixtures: Pendants, sconces, chandeliers
💡 Placement Tips
Pendant lights: 2.5-3.5m above the floor
Above counters: 90-120cm above the counter
Wall sconces: Approximately 1.8m from the floor
Lighting in Store Areas
Smartly using lighting to flatter the merchandise and create a sense of well-being for the customer increases the tendency to make a purchase. TECHLUMEN LED luminaires offer a wide range of lighting products to improve a store’s merchandise appearance while reducing operating costs.
Shopfront / Window Display
The shop window is the first opportunity to stand out. Theatrical lighting effects attract the customer and create a connection with displayed goods.
💡 Tips
- Higher light levels during day due to natural light
- Use ceiling spots or track lights
- Contrast ratio 15:1 to 30:1 for jewelry
- Flexible control with DALI technology
Window Display – Night
During the night, a low level of general lighting and clever use of brightly targeted highlight lighting can provide the desired result.
💡 Tips
- Day/night differentiation
- Minimize glare
- Display products, not light sources
- Ignition and dimming scenarios
Shelves & Showcases
Use thin profile light sources, such as linear LEDs or LED strips, very close to displayed products but in non-visible places.
💡 Tips
- Brightness 3-5x higher than ambient
- Backlighting for attractive effect
- Avoid on mirror backs (glare)
- Correct color temperature per product
Stand & Rack Lighting
Stand or rack lighting attracts customers and allows easy evaluation of goods. The system should fully illuminate merchandise and display colors accurately.
💡 Tips
- Fully illuminate the merchandise
- Display colors and textures accurately
- Intensity 3-5x higher than ambient
- TECHLUMEN track lights for flexibility
Dressing Rooms
Quality lighting of the dressing room is necessary because most purchase decisions are made there. High CRI lighting provides texture and form to goods.
💡 Tips
- Same color temperature as salesroom
- Combine diffused and directional light
- High CRI for flattering light
- LED for less heat
Emergency Lighting
When there is a power outage, emergency lighting provides the necessary lighting and directs people to the store’s exit.
💡 Tips
- 3 hours of continuous operation
- Complete closing tasks
- TECHLUMEN LED with backup
- Emergency exit signage
Need Help with Your Store Lighting?
TECHLUMEN LED Lighting manufactures luminaires that cover every need for quality store lighting, with intelligent lighting management systems and excellent performance.
AFOI TSIOLAKI & SIA OE G.P.
Industrial Zone of Sindos, Thessaloniki
📞 +30 2310 798 335 | 📠 +30 2310 799 868
