When you have a retail store, you want to make sure that it looks attractive and inviting to your potential customers. Your retail store should have a unique look and not feel like every other store of its kind because it will make customers feel like they are somewhere different. You have to think about what approach your clientele will respond to the best. Faux stone has a lot of different color and design options that can help you find the right look for your customers, no matter your niche or industry. In this article, we will look at ten ways you can use faux stone in your retail store.
Why should I use faux stone in my retail store?
When you are designing your retail store’s look, you are probably doing so on a budget. While you might love the look and style of natural stone, it is expensive and requires the help of a professional mason. It is also heavy, so it cannot be put in some areas. Natural stone also tends to stick out, so it can eat into the space for your products, depending on where you put it.
Faux stone is significantly more affordable than natural stone, and you can DIY the installation in a few hours. It is also light, so it can go anywhere without issue, and it is thin, so it will not add a bunch of bulk to the space where you install it.
Whether you are looking for a vintage, boutique look or something sleek and modern, there are enough options out there for faux stone types that you can create the exact look and atmosphere that you are looking for.
1. Create Focal Points
You have certain areas of your retail store that you want to draw attention to, and you do that by creating certain focal points. Whether you have a wall or two that you tend to keep more important merchandise on or you have some important displays you move around, these are crucial focal points. You want to get creative with these focal points, and one great way to do that is to use faux stone. It is a different approach than your competition is using, and it will definitely help draw your customers’ attention.
When designing your focal points, make sure you use colors that are different from the color palette you use in the rest of your store so they stand out. Using height is also a good idea because people’s eyes tend to get pulled toward high points automatically. Also, consider using dramatic lighting with spotlights, uplighting, or contrast lighting.
2. Put faux stone in the restroom.
Want to make your customers feel like they are visiting a relaxing spa when they use the restroom at your store? Since faux stone is waterproof, it is a perfect backsplash for the sink in your retail store’s restroom. You can also apply it to the walls of the entire restroom to create an appealing and calming atmosphere, ensuring that your customers feel comfortable while using the restroom in your store.
3. Use faux stone for a window display.
If your retail store has big windows, that will let you create some eye-popping window displays. Your store’s exterior is one of the first places that it gets to make an impression, so you want it to be a good one. By installing faux stone as part of your window display, you can add some natural design elements to the display. It is a unique design strategy that your competition may not be utilizing.
4. Add stone veneer to the checkout counter.
If your checkout counter is solid and is not designed as a glass display case, installing faux stone can make the checkout counter look great and eye-catching. Since it is not bulky, it will not stick out too much and be in your customers’ way when they are checking out.
5. Add faux stone to moving displays.
You might have some displays that you like to move around or only pull out for certain products or sales. Since faux stone is so lightweight, you can install it on these displays because it will not make them too heavy to move around easily. They can help draw the eye when you need these displays out.
6. Install faux stone on your outdoor signage.
The signage outside of your store is just as important as the interior of the store itself. Instead of just having a piece of wood or metal holding your retail store’s sign, installing faux stone to it can give it a more professional look that stands out. It can be a good way to bring in new customers who see your sign from the road.
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7. Put faux stone on the ceiling.
Since the eye often goes up when looking around a store, why not make your ceiling into something that your customers can enjoy looking at? Installing faux stone can give customers something unique to look at, especially if you are trying to force their perspective to start higher up and move down.
8. Frame the doorways with faux stone.
You want to draw the eye in your store, and framing your doorways in faux stone can make them stand out. This can go on your exterior to help boost the curb appeal of your store, which is important. However, it can be helpful inside your store too. You can use it to frame doorways to help draw the eye and guide your customers throughout the store. It is a great way to help drive traffic if your retail store is big enough to encompass multiple rooms.
9. Decorate your support columns.
If there are support columns in your store or outside of it, sometimes they can be unsightly and feel like they are just in the way. Installing faux stone on them can make your columns and pillars stand out and draw the eye. Outside, they can help boost the curb appeal of your store, which will help you bring in new customers. Inside, they can look decorative and not like they are just there to hold up your ceiling.
If you do not want to cover the pillars completely in stone, you can complete wainscoting, where you only install faux stone on the bottom half of the pillars. This can be a classy and elegant look, or a vintage look, depending on what you are going for in your retail store.
10. Cover your foundation in stone veneer.
As we mentioned above, the look of your store exterior is just as important as the interior. The foundation of most buildings is unsightly concrete, and if yours is the same, why leave it that way? Instead, use stone veneer to cover up the foundation. It is just as easy to install outside as it is inside, and it will transform the look of your building.
If you want to go a little further with using faux stone outside of your building, you can easily install it as the siding of the entire building. It will take a little more time to replace your entire siding with faux stone, but it is worth it for the boost to your curb appeal.