New Trends in Store Design

Hi-Tech

LED screens displaying the collection on the runway, tablets in the stores for customers to browse products and interactive window displays are just some of the technologies used in store designs by forward looking brands. Brands who want to survive need to integrate digital strategies with their brick-and-mortar stores, not only to avoid "show rooming" but to create a consistent brand image across all channels, drive in-store sales, and promote brand loyalty.

Pop-Up Stores

More and more brands are using pop-up store designs, as this is a very effective way to create a buzz. This is achieved by implementing conceptual or creative, eye-catching design elements that are sometimes not practical for retail stores. Pop-up stores are also a very cost-effective way to test out new territories or launch new product collections, since the financial investment is kept to a limit.

Back To Nature / Sustainability

Many brands like Aesop or Starbucks are making sustainability or authenticity of materials the key philosophy of their store design concept. This trend of using natural materials, textures, or a natural/nature theme for the concept is observed in a broad range of special retailers and food and beverage chains.

Futuristic Displays

To create a more futuristic and trendy store design, luxury brands and medium-positioned retailers are opting for unique shapes such as curvy or streamlined customized fixtures for clothing rails as well as product display cabinets for shoes and bags.

Warm Colour Palettes / Femininity

In the past years, many retail spaces looked a bit cold because of their combination of neutral white lighting, white walls and other cool colour tones. Recently, a number of brands are (finally!) realizing that the majority of their customers are women and that in order to have them stay in the store and try on products, a warm and feminine atmosphere is required. Besides an adjustment of the colour scheme, soft furnishings and textures are tools that can be applied to achieve a warm store design concept.

The New Metal – Copper

Copper seems to be the metal that is slowly replacing gold or silver. Retail brands can include this rosy ashy metal into their store design with clothing fixtures, pendant lamps, product display tables or even wallpaper designs. Having touches of copper on a white backdrop, with grey furniture accents and wood flooring can make a store feel luxurious and modern.

Touch Of Luxury: Marble Effect

Many luxury brands are using artistic painting techniques to create a marble pattern effect on walls, floor tiles and even onto counter surfaces. This in turn makes the store chic, modern and trendy. Retailers on a budget can use real marble on a few selected surfaces, tiles, wallpaper or rugs to obtain this effect.

Industrial Style

Going back to basics with monochrome colours, exposed steel beams, big windows and concrete flooring create a sense of depth and communicates a certain authenticity of the brand. In addition, products usually stand out well with an industrial background.

Click here to view a video that explains the visual trends in 2021.