Tips for the Design and Decoration of Commercial Premises – Part II

In the first part of this special on the design and decoration of commercial premises, Marce Gallo and Cheko Pérez, decorators and partners of the interior design studio DECO Designers, shared some essential aspects to consider before starting any project. In this second part, our experts point out some of the benefits of hiring professional help to carry out this process and when remodeling is necessary.

Professional Help

Although many people have the talent and skills for interior design, Gallo and Pérez say that professional advice is a great help to save time and make the most of the space where a successful business will be developed.

“Having the advice of professionals is very helpful for businesses that are just starting out, because when you hire an interior design studio, the owner can rest assured that the project will be completely finished in two to four weeks, especially if it’s someone who rents the space, because time plays a crucial role there,” says Pérez.

“Opening any business is a risk; therefore, it is necessary to have good advice, which should be seen as an investment, because in the end it is something that will generate more profits. A person who is professionally dedicated to decoration can correctly distribute three or four durable elements and create a great impact on the future client,” adds Gallo.

Both designers concur that it is a multidisciplinary job that must be done as a team to save time and ensure that everything is carried out efficiently.

Feedback

According to Gallo and Pérez, once the project is completed and the business opens its doors, a feedback period is necessary, in which the different elements implemented in the design are analyzed to combine harmoniously.

“A period of six months is usually provided for the owner to analyze the needs of his business. Most of the cases are adjustments or complements to what you already have, but this does not mean that you have to redesign from scratch, rather they are issues that may not have been thought of, because sometimes the place exceeds the contemplated capacity of customers or products and it is necessary to add some other furniture,” explains Pérez.

“I consider that feedback period to be the most important phase because certain details are refined then, such as the rearrangement of some decorative elements to make them more attractive. Ultimately, the design must always be consumer-oriented, since they are the final judges, because the goal of the store is to make the customer feel comfortable with the brand and return regularly,” adds Gallo.

Remodeling

Gallo and Pérez agree that once the business has gained a certain degree of recognition for its design, it is advisable to avoid drastic changes in appearance, since these can cause confusion for the consumer.

“In reality, there is no set time, especially if the project has been well developed, because this is how the brand is positioned and people begin to relate to it through certain details such as the range of colors, its decorative elements or even its aromas. That is why good advice is important, because in addition to providing good space management, an expert knows the materials that are durable and will remain in place,” says Gallo.

“After the feedback stage, once you check that the design and product work well together, the only thing you have to do is preventive maintenance, so there is no need to redesign or buy new furniture in a short time, because the fact that the business changes its image in a constant or radical way, even if it retains the same name, can be confusing for consumers, who might wonder if it’s the same store, if the business line is different or if the owners have changed,” adds Pérez.

Ideal Design and Decoration

Before concluding our visit to DECO Designers, Gallo and Pérez mentioned that the ideal design and decoration project is one that manages to make a connection between the product and the space where it is presented, with balanced elements.

“Basically, it is about matching all the elements to achieve a balance that combines the tastes of the owners, covers the needs of the space, represents what is offered and is attractive to those who are going to buy,” Gallo concludes.

“There must definitely be a balance between the brand, the product and the space, with the idea of the design respecting and enhancing the essence of the product so that it is pleasing to customers and they want to come back more frequently,” concludes Pérez.