A guide to commercial lighting options for retail

Lighting is one of the most overlooked but influential elements in a retail space.

The right commercial lighting design doesn’t just highlight products, it can enhance the customer experience, shape brand perception, and even increase sales. In contrast, poor lighting choices can leave stores feeling cold, disjointed or uninviting and can actually have a major impact on sales, customer satisfaction and employee wellbeing.

If you’re planning a shop fit-out or redesign, this guide will walk you through the best commercial lighting options for retail settings, explain why lighting matters so much, and help you avoid costly design mistakes.

Your store’s lighting helps define the customer’s emotional response. A brightly lit space with a warm glow can feel welcoming and comfortable, while a dark or overly harsh environment can make customers feel uneasy and lead to a shorter visit. First impressions count, and lighting is often the first sensory cue people respond to, so it can massively determine whether or not they even enter your store.

Good lighting helps customers see products clearly, but studies also show that well-lit spaces can encourage customers to spend more time browsing, feel more confident about product quality, and ultimately make more purchases.

Lighting plays a role in creating a consistent brand image. For example, a high-end fashion retailer might opt for sleek, minimalist lighting to complement a luxury aesthetic, while an outdoor or adventure brand might prefer natural tones and rugged fixtures to reinforce their identity. This, combined with your branding and signature style, works together to create a space which promotes a core brand identity.

Well-planned lighting can subtly guide customers through your store, drawing attention to featured displays or directing foot traffic to specific areas. Strategic use of light helps define zones, improve visibility, and enhance the overall flow of the space, ensuring that your customers are getting a smooth, enjoyable experience.

There are several different types of lighting used in commercial retail environments, and the one you choose can depend on a number of factors, including how your store is built and laid out, what you have in the store, your brand style and what fits your personal budget. Here are the key options available when looking at retail lighting and the different options you have to build your desired approach.

Ambient lighting (general lighting): This is your primary source of light, used to brighten the entire shop floor. It creates the base level of illumination and sets the overall tone. Examples and solution of this include ceiling-mounted LEDS, recessed fixtures and suspended lighting panels.

Accent lighting: Accent lighting draws attention to specific features, such as product displays, mannequins, or promotional areas. It adds depth and contrast, helping key items stand out. This can be achieved through adjustable spotlights, track lighting and under-shelf LEDS.

Task lighting: This is functional lighting used in specific areas like tills, fitting rooms, and customer service desks. It ensures good visibility where precision or interaction is needed and can benefit both the customer and staff. For example, desk lamps, counter lighting and focused ceiling spots.

Decorative lighting: Decorative lighting serves more of an aesthetic purpose and is mainly added to create a sense of style, reinforce your brand identity, or create a focal feature in the space. Many high-end companies may invest in decorative lighting in order to add a sense of luxury and innovation to their space using designs such as pendant lighting, chandeliers, neon signs and lightboxes.

LED lighting: LED technology is now the standard in modern commercial lighting due to its energy efficiency, long lifespan, and range of customisation options. Providing energy savings solutions, low maintenance, and flexible design, LED systems allow you to adjust brightness or colour temperature depending on the time of day or seasonal promotions, allowing businesses to really personalise their space.

Even with high-quality fixtures, poor planning or common mistakes can undermine the effectiveness of your retail lighting. So, whether you’re kitting out a small store or a high department store, here are some of the mistakes you should be avoiding…