How to Design a Boutique

Design your boutique to tell a story.

The interior design of a boutique should match the style of merchandise stocked so that customers feel connected to the concept as a whole. No matter if you're opening a new boutique or going through a bit of a redesign, there are plenty of ways to customize your space to represent your offerings. From how you place items out for display to the types of accessories you use to decorate the window-scape, you'll find that the entire process should tell a story about the type of customer that comes in to visit.

Things You'll Need

• Paint
• Wallpaper
• Flooring
• Display cases
• Shelving
• Merchandise
• Accessories

Instructions

1. Narrow down an overall theme or concept. Envision the average customer you want to market to. Begin to create a story that shows the lifestyle and accessories needed to fulfill it. Take into account that, especially if you have large inventory and enough space, you can set up several vignettes within a variety of themes. For instance, for a clothing boutique, your customer may be interested in a luxury lifestyle filled with fine dining, art and music appreciation, so use those elements in your display throughout the store.

2. Begin with your interior design scheme. Select flooring like marble, wood, painted cement or carpeting to lay out throughout your space. Change the flooring color or style in sections to break up large areas. Paint the walls in colors that match your scheme, such as dark, smoky colors for an upscale urban threads clothing boutique or light, airy florals for a spa. Add fixtures, such as a chandelier in a trendy contemporary women's apparel boutique or low lighting in a specialty boutique like a cigar shop.

3. Add appropriate seating based on your boutique needs. Provide plenty of seating for clothing and shoe boutiques, where guests are likely to want to sit while trying something on or admiring multiple items. Place stools at a jewelry counter where guests will be peering at several items at once to make a decision on which to choose.

4. Use decorative elements on the wall, such as painted murals, word overlays and artwork. For a grunge men's clothing boutique, for instance, frame music posters on the wall and enlarge one dynamic print to use as a backdrop to the checkout counter. Hang wallpaper to create a focal point.

5. Finish your space using shelving and display cases to hold your merchandise. Arrange all of your items in an organized manner gathering like items. There are many alternatives in a clothing boutique, such as grouping like colors or folding only certain items, such as jeans and t-shirts. Make use of your wall space for hanging up items so you'll have as much space as you need to display most of your merchandise.

6. Add several accessories that match your theme, such as hanging guitars on the wall, parking a motorcycle at the entry or hanging televisions around the rear of the boutique for entertainment.

References

• Midwest Living: Decorating Secrets From Boutique Owners