Designing a commercial building is a process that should include plenty of thought. Whether it is for your personal business use or to rent to others, business owners will always want the best layout in their commercial spaces. Here are some items you should consider when designing a space for commercial use.
The Space
The floor plan of your building will be the deciding factor for what kind of business will be able to use the space. Because of this, it is most cost efficient to make the space as multipurpose as possible. To accomplish this, place a large central space in the center of the building, that way business owners can separate sections how they choose using furniture like tables, dividers, and shelves.
Another good way to maximize the cost efficiency of designing a commercial building is by consolidating certain expenses like plumbing. By putting bathrooms near each other and having a kitchen sink on the other side of that wall, you can decrease your spending and have fewer areas where leaks and other water-based damages are liable to occur.
The floor plan of your building should be easy to navigate and have an efficient route from the first thing you want your customers to be doing to the last thing. For example, if a clothing store is using your commercial building you will want the entrance to be near the browsing area, have the browsing area lead to a space for trying the clothes on, and upon exiting the try on space the checkout should be in clear view across an unobstructed path. When designing to maximize this process of customers flowing through the space, keep in mind that people will usually go to their right upon entering a new space. This is a proven psychological phenomenon, leading into the next item to consider –
The Psychology of Commercial Businesses
First impressions are important for customers, and 62%-90% of first impressions are made based on aesthetics alone. So, if you are designing a commercial space for your own use, consider the target demographic and how the colors you are using relate to the business and its implications. For example, if you want people in your store to slow down and take a look around, using light blues and other relaxing tones will help you to achieve this. However, if you are designing a gym or other space where people need to be upbeat, consider using bold, warm colors like orange and red. Of course, if you are designing a commercial space to rent to other business owners, it would be best to find some sort of middle ground to maximize your customer base.
Finally, let’s talk about the decompression zone. This is the first 10-15 feet of space upon entering the business. For customers, this space is where the first impressions happen, and it is difficult to make first impressions when there is merchandise, decoration, or tables blocking their every move. For this reason, the decompression zone should be empty to allow the customers to enter and move slowly while they assess the place they have just entered. Consider the entrance to the building as a portal into a new area and this concept makes a lot of sense, especially when it is a new customer who is unfamiliar with the space.
The design of a commercial building can make or break a business, and hopefully these items have helped you to consider what will be best for your space, and for your customers.
