What Is Commercial Interior Design?

In recent years, the importance of thoughtful commercial interior design has gained widespread recognition as businesses increasingly understand its potential to influence employee well-being, customer satisfaction, and overall success. From cutting-edge corporate offices and innovative retail spaces to welcoming hospitality venues, each commercial project presents a unique opportunity to shape the commercial landscape in which it entails.

It’s no surprise that the commercial interior design industry is lucrative; as quoted by IBISWorld, the market size (measured by revenue) of the Interior Design Activities industry was £1.5bn in 2023. However, how does this compare to residential interior design, and what skillsets are involved?

Defining the Term “Commercial Interior Design” - Key Considerations

Commercial interior design as a practice is self-explanatory for what it involves; it is strictly interested in transforming commercial spaces as opposed to residential interiors. This therefore means that several different considerations are unique to commercial interior design, and the skillset that applies to these also deviates from other forms of interior design. These considerations involve the following;

• Functionality
• Branding/Image
• Aesthetics
• User Experience
• Compliance
• Space Planning
• Furniture & Fixture Selection
• Sustainability
• Technology Integration

Functionality

The functionality of commercial interior design is perhaps the most important component as commercial spaces need to be practical in order to serve their function. Designers will prioritise the functionality of space to ensure that it fits the specific needs and workflow requirements of the business. Typical factors associated with functionality include space utilisation, furniture layout, and the overall flow of the interior.

Aesthetics

While functionality is key, aesthetics also plays a significant role in commercial interior design. Creating visually appealing and cohesive designs helps create a positive and memorable impression on visitors and employees, particularly important for commercial design in comparison to residential design. 

Branding/Image

When designing an interior space, reflecting the brand identity and image of the business is important to stay consistent. Typical elements that are incorporated include colour schemes, logos, and designs that align with the business’ values. An interior that represents business identity is a well-designed space, so communication on how to reflect these identities is integral.

User Experience

Another consideration that’s imperative for the success of a commercially-designed interior is the user experience; enhancing the experience of employees, clients, or customers. Factors such as lighting, acoustics, and ergonomics need to be considered to create a positive and productive overall experience.

Compliance

From a legal standpoint, compliance with commercial interior design is a must. Designers need to be knowledgeable about safety regulations, accessibility standards, and building codes, ensuring that the spaces are compliant with legal requirements. Health and safety factors such as fire escapes need to be incorporated within the practicality of the design, to maximise compliance.

Space Planning

This consideration is closely connected to the functionality of an interior but with more of an emphasis on the organisation and efficiency of space. For example, if the space involves lots of computers in an office, furniture must be carefully planned so that electronics are near sockets in walls, and that computer chairs and desks fit within the allocated space.

Selecting Furniture and Fixtures

Commercial interior designers can be involved in the selection process of any furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E), aiming to meet functional needs and contribute to the overall design theme and atmosphere of the space. 

Sustainability

Sustainability is a key factor within the wider theme of architecture, so it is no surprise that it has great importance within commercial interior design. There is a greater emphasis on incorporating sustainable and eco-friendly materials, energy-efficient lighting, and other environmentally-friendly design principles. 

Technology Integration

Interior designers are always looking for innovative ways of using technology to benefit an interior space. With the rapid advancement of technology, commercial interior designers may integrate technology solutions into the design, such as smart lighting systems, audiovisual equipment, and other tech-driven elements.

Do Residential Interior Designers and Commercial Interior Designers Require Different Skill Sets?

Both residential and commercial interior designers share similarities in skill sets, although there are also some differences in these too, alongside the processes they follow. Residential interiors have contrasting motives compared to commercial interiors, meaning that the reasoning behind design choices varies greatly. One example of variation in skills and processes is through user experience; for commercial design, there is a focus on user experience, contrasting with residential where there is a focus on enhancing the quality of home life. Another difference is scale, where commercial design generally works on a larger scale and bigger budget, compared to residential where budgets may be more constrained and the project is on a smaller scale.

Essentially, residential design requires more of a personal, specific, and small-scale approach; a residential interior designer may prefer to work in that field compared to commercial because of the consistent set of challenges that residential interiors bring, compared to the diversity of commercial. Residential interior designers will be familiar with residential products (such as home furniture) and will optimise space for different needs compared to commercial designs. On the other hand, those working with commercial clients will need to understand various industries that they could be working in, such as healthcare, hospitality and so on, taking those different needs into consideration. However, many designers will be adept at working in both fields, combining skill sets, gaining knowledge of commercial products, and working on larger budgets.

How Can Vinyl Wraps Be Utilised to Add Impact and Reduce Costs?

Interior vinyl wraps come in different forms, depending on your intended purpose. Architectural textured films are often used for furniture and door wraps, as well as for striking feature walls. They come in a wide range of highly durable finishes, including wood grain, concrete, marble and other patterned and plain finishes. These finishes are a great 5-10 year, mid-term solution for spaces that need a visual lift without ripping out perfectly good furniture and doors! 

Interior vinyl wraps also offer a cost-effective and impactful solution for transforming interior spaces without the need for extensive renovations or costly materials, saving landfills and avoiding the disruption of traditional refurbishments. The cost for replacing a fire door can be over £1,000 per door, once you consider the cost to remove and dispose, as well as the time to refit the new door. With interior film, you can renovate a door in under 2 doors, from as little as £185+VAT per door!

Whether applied to walls, furniture, or other surfaces, vinyl wraps provide a versatile and customisable option for creating visually appealing and branded environments. 

Examples of common vinyl wrapping solutions for commercial interior spaces include murals, custom signage, furniture and fixture wraps, office partitions, colourful lockers, and corridor wraps . Spaces can be transformed to fit the needs of the client where applicable, suiting the general identity of a commercial space. 

At Complete Graphics, we can use vinyl wrapping to emulate natural materials, enhancing a wide range of commercial interior spaces such as Cricklade Dental Practice in Swindon, Dapper Street in Witney and the new Seymour Taylor office in High Wycombe. We have over 1,500 realistic textures and patterns, representing the diverse range of ways in which interior spaces can be reimagined; hyper-realistic textures look and feel like the real materials they emulate. 

Are You Looking to Transform a Commercial Interior Space?

Based in Oxfordshire, we are leading experts in architectural vinyl wrap installation. We provide a broad range of services to meet the specific needs of each of our clients.

To request a free quote or for a no-obligation chat, contact us today. We would love to hear from you.