All commercial spaces, be it offices, stores, museums, or exhibitions, are the economic backbone of a functioning society. It is thus imperative to have a functional layout of spaces and design their interiors as efficiently and vibrantly as possible. Commercial interior design is a facet of the design world that is layered and complex, often varying from regular residential interior design, as there are primarily two groups of people the space must speak to, the workers and the visitors. Striking the balance to satisfy all the various space users makes commercial interior design tricky, but when done right, it can lead to incredibly intricate, appealing, and harmonious spaces. The right interior design can attract potential customers, bring in more workforce, and make visitors return more frequently.
A solid design foundation: Mood boards and colour schemes.
A solid base through effective ideation is crucial before designing commercial interior spaces. This often starts with understanding the space for what it is and creating mood boards that best encapsulate its essence. A basic conception of the design can be brought out through trial and error. The next step is choosing a cohesive and appropriate colour pallet to define the space. A base colour scheme with an appropriate understanding of warm and cool tones is vital to balance the space. These colours are often brought out with paints and the materials used for the design. A good example is the warm and cool contrasts between concrete and wood, which, when used correctly, can create a more naturalistic colour balance within a space. Once a base colour scheme is fixed, it can guide the consequent patterns and textures that follow, creating the foundation for the interior design.
Personalising the space for the users.
Once a base foundation for the design is set, several layers are added to make the interior design more vibrant. To do so, a clear understanding of the users is crucial. Whether the given space is formal or informal, whether it is crowded or empty, and whether it is noisy or peaceful, all these factors are directly defined by the space users. The design thus facilitates the type of furniture in place, the textures and patterns used, the lighting, and even the music. As mentioned earlier, commercial interior designs vary from residential ones due to the different types of users and user groups the space must speak to. Thus, personalisation of the design is key to making the space profitable but, more importantly, enjoyable and acceptable for the people using it, creating a holistic design. Introducing plants and biophilia makes a space more relaxing and adds a calm texture to an often-rugged environment like office cubicles.
Versatile spaces that welcome evolution.
With the constant evolution of technology comes an increase in the demands that a particular space must cater to. Commercial projects are at the forefront of this evolution, with spaces that need to be designed with versatility to accommodate change. Furniture, lighting, and even walls can be designed to suit specific user needs at certain times. For example, a restaurant can transform from a breakfast café in the morning to a fine dining restaurant at night while retaining all its components but is rearranged according to the owner’s needs. This, in turn, caters to different types of people at different points in time while still retaining its core. Another example would be museums, which should now accommodate digital artworks and more sophisticated displays with projectors rather than just traditional paintings. The space must thus be free with the right focal points and seating arrangements.
Striking features and common elements.
It is best to unify the different design components through a common element to have a cohesive and defined commercial interior design aesthetic. These can be recurring shapes, patterns or colours that bind the project together, making it more defined and unique. While doing this, it is sometimes good practice to break up the common elements to avoid making it too monotonous. This can be done through striking features such as elements with vastly different jarring colour schemes, elements with uniquely bright lights, and even different types of furniture. These striking features not only help break up monotonicity but also creates balance and focal points that can guide customers and users across the space, making the design comprehensively hierarchical.
Sometimes less is more.
A common mistake in commercial interior designs is overcrowding a space with too many elements. This can make the design overwhelming and flustered, leading to lifeless spaces. Sometimes, let the space talk for itself, and the users define its purpose. It is crucial to understand that interior designers are mere facilitators of the space to express themselves and are not the creators of the space. Striking the balance in terms of the types and number of elements used is key to creating engaging commercial spaces that cater to everyone who visits or uses it. Interplaying with different types of textures and introducing biophilia is one of the more efficient ways to reduce the number of elements used and to allow the space to breathe. Textural differences and patterns can also guide the users in a space with lesser elements.
A cohesive process of layering.
Proficiency in mixing patterns, understanding bold schemes, dynamic elements, balance through textures, contextual aesthetic materiality, and interrelated focal points are some of the basic components of what makes a successful commercial interior design project. Designing interiors for commercial spaces is often daunting, considering its many layers that require the designer to understand the space deeply. It is often the hardest to make the space cohesive with its many different components and unite them through common elements. However, with patience and the right design approach, it is possible to create vibrant and visually engaging spaces that cater to and satisfy the requirements of all its users, creating a long-lasting experience.
References:
(No date) Mastering the fusion of ‘patterns’ and ‘textures’ in commercial … Available at: https://www.commercialdesignindia.com/insights/mastering-the-fusion-of-patterns-and-textures-in-commercial-interior-design (Accessed: 08 June 2023).
Lephare (2023) Commercial interior design: A guide for professional designers, Cedreo. Available at: https://cedreo.com/blog/commercial-interior-design/ (Accessed: 08 June 2023).
Commercial interior design ideas: 5 Rules for successful commercial interiors: Foyr (2021) Create Beautiful 3D Designs. Available at: https://foyr.com/learn/5-rules-for-successful-commercial-interior-design/ (Accessed: 08 June 2023).
Commercial interior design (no date) uni space. Available at: https://www.unispace.com/commercial-interior-design (Accessed: 08 June 2023).
