Tips for refurbishing a shop interior

If you’re finding business a bit slow, a shop floor makeover might be just the thing to brighten up the place and bring back customers.

Hire professionals to help with
your shop refurbishment

Whether you own and run a coffee lounge, cocktail bar, high street store or simply a local corner shop, there are times when you can be so busy tallying up numbers and sorting the books that you forget how important the interior décor of your property is. If business is a bit slow, a fresh new look might be just the thing your shop needs. Hiring an interior designer is always a helpful place to start, but before you dive into the deep end there are still a number of important things to consider.

Firstly, think about the extent of your refurbishment project and how much you want done; are you simply looking for some new furnishings, wallpaper and accessories; perhaps a lick of paint here and there? Or will extensive restructuring of the layout of your shop be necessary? Will you need to hire an electrician and/or plumber? Think carefully about your plans and draw up a realistic budget to help keep yourself in check. To get some ideas flowing, look through interior design magazines, or visit showrooms or friends shops that have recently been redecorated; think about your own personal preferences in colour, pattern, fabric and styles and what is best suited to the atmosphere you are looking for. Although an interior designer will be able to offer quality professional advice you don’t want to end up with a garish new room that doesn’t gel with the design most suitable in attracting customers.

If you are looking to restructure the layout of your shop, will you need to hire an architect? It sounds a little excessive, but they will be able to sort out all the necessary measurements, as well as provide fresh blueprints and detailed drawings and designs that should reflect how you envision your new shop interior. They are also trained to maximise use of light and space and recommend ways in which you can avoid extensive rewiring of the property. Once you have figured out the scope of your refurbishment and have some design ideas in mind, it’s time to start thinking more specifically about what interior furnishings you’re looking for:

• Lighting – there are a number of options here; if basic bulbs are a little too ordinary and dull, what about some spiralling, curvy fittings, or internally fitted halogen lights – which can also come with additional colour and/or optical effects. If you find traditional light too bright and glaring, what about lamps or sun-jars for a cosier, warming atmosphere?

• Flooring – although lino or laminate flooring would be your cheapest option, wooden floors provide a more authentic, rustic effect for a trendy pub or bar, while carpeting and additional rugs are more suitable for indoor, lounging areas – although you should make sure the latter is coarse and durable enough to cope with regular customer visits.

• Walls – paint is a cheap and obvious option and comes in a vast array of colours from which you can purchase stencils to make your own patterns – but it can look tacky and untidy compared to modern, stylish wallpaper. If you’re feeling adventurous you could even opt for a combination of the two.

• Furnishings and accessories – running a shop means you will need to think of the best way to go about stacking your merchandise; ‘bargain bins’ look cheap and unattractive compared to fancy, colourful displays which, as long as they complement the overall interior décor, draw the customer’s eye without looking too garish. If you need seating for customers, stools can make modern and trendy additions to your shop – but sofas and armchairs are certainly more comfortable and homely. You could always decorate the walls too – photographs, paintings or wall-art can help make or break any kind of atmosphere you are trying to achieve.

• Outdoors - it’s so obvious that it’s easy to miss, but the exterior signage of your shop is likely to be the main draw for potential customers walking down the street – so make sure yours is eye-popping, attention-grabbing enough without looking cheap and tacky. Even a simple but clear, articulate sign, perhaps with some soft lighting effects, is preferable to a bunch of indistinct shapes and colours. Don’t forget your window dressing too – stylish displays and fancy mannequins are another great way to entice potential shoppers.

How much does shop refurbishment cost?

If you have an interest in your shop refurbishment project it is always tempting to get stuck in yourself and do a bit of DIY – which is fine as long as you have the competence and necessary skills. If you are unsure about anything – right down to painting – you could always opt to hire contractors to do the job properly; you don’t want customers to be scared off by a drab and unprofessional finish to the shop décor.

The cost of your refurbishment will vary considerably depending on the scale of the makeover and how many different contractors you will need, but generally a simple paint and accessories job (no plumbing or rewiring) will cost between £5,000 and £15,000; while something more extensive can cost as much as £50,000. Either way, look upon the refurbishment as a necessary investment – within weeks your newly-branded shop should see a surge in customers and significant rise in sales – helping you reap the rewards of your hard work.