Overview

In product display, products and brands are the center and soul of the store, and all equipment in the store serves these two centers. A good lighting environment can attract and guide foot traffic, and an excellent lighting design can save energy and control operating costs. A light source with good color rendering can showcase the high-quality materials, exquisite designs, and rich colors of clothing, becoming a catalyst for customers' purchasing decisions, acting as a silent salesperson.

In product display, good lighting design can attract consumers and guide foot traffic, clearly displaying the color and texture of products, creating a more relaxed and comfortable shopping environment, significantly saving electricity costs (not only saving energy consumption for lighting but also for air conditioning), and controlling operating costs.

1. Factors to Consider in Mall Lighting Design

Illuminance Analysis

For the lighting design of comprehensive large commercial centers, attention should be paid to overall illuminance, local illuminance, and the ratio of local to overall illuminance. Generally, the illuminance for supermarkets and premium malls is 500-750 lux, while other areas are 300-500 lux. The average illuminance for malls in major cities in China is generally 300-500-750 lux, with a recommended value of 500 lux. However, specialty stores for different products may vary. For example, high-value products, fashion, jewelry, etc., require relatively higher illuminance, while areas selling low-value goods, vegetables, and daily food may have slightly lower illuminance.

Color Temperature Analysis

Lighting colors can be divided into cool and warm tones, with various colors such as red, green, and blue. In mall lighting design, warm color temperatures (below 3300K) or intermediate color temperatures (3300-5300K) are usually preferred. However, for most malls at medium illuminance levels, a color temperature of around 3500-4000K is more suitable; generally, low color temperature with high illuminance can easily create a stuffy atmosphere, while high color temperature with low illuminance can create a cold atmosphere.

Color Rendering Index

Most products require good color representation. According to the CIE "Indoor Lighting Guide," the color rendering index for mall lighting should be at least level 1B (i.e., 90 > Ra ≥ 80). This is essential for customers to accurately distinguish product colors and textures and select products that meet their desires. If the color rendering index of the light source is too low, the products will lose their true colors and characteristics.

2. Key Functional Area Lighting Design Guidelines

Entrance

The entrance is the main thoroughfare of the commercial space and the first impression consumers have of the mall's grade and positioning. Good entrance lighting should be guiding, interesting, and display the mall's grade, evoking consumers' awareness of spending. A bright space also gives consumers a sense of security. Since entrances generally have a large flow of people, for safety reasons, the basic lighting at the entrance should be relatively brighter than other areas, making the light feel comfortable when entering the lobby. Installing some floor lamps can better guide consumers.

Atrium

The atrium is the focal point of the shopping center. It serves not only practical functions such as guiding sightlines, resting, displaying, and performing but also acts as an important spatial indicator. The atrium has a unique spatial characteristic that attracts shoppers' attention and helps them understand their position in the space. Additionally, the atrium is an excellent place to shape the corporate image, as it is usually a junction point for shopping routes and also the endpoint of shopping paths.

Therefore, the lighting design of the atrium should have a certain artistic quality, decorating the space and creating a comfortable light environment. The design should consider natural lighting, and artificial lighting is needed for nighttime operations. For higher atrium ceilings, wall lighting can enrich the spatial layers. The color temperature can also be more diverse due to the spatial characteristics, with an average illuminance design around 300 lux.

Escalator

In various commercial spaces, escalators play a crucial role in transporting passengers. They smoothly connect different areas, providing a convenient passage for passengers from the parking lot to various shopping floors. Therefore, the lighting for escalators mainly comes from the surrounding lighting fixtures, and additional lighting should be installed above the escalator to help passengers clearly identify the escalator warning lines.

Corridor

The corridor is a passage connecting different areas, with a high frequency of use, requiring uniform illuminance and a certain brightness. It should also coordinate with the lighting of other independent stores; otherwise, transitioning from a bright corridor to a darker area can create feelings of depression or discomfort. The lighting in the corridor should also have a guiding function, which can be suggested through the arrangement of fixtures.

Promotion Area

The establishment of a promotion area serves two purposes: on one hand, to increase product sales through discounts; on the other hand, to leave consumers with the impression of being "very affordable," laying the foundation for repeat visits. Therefore, the product display in the promotion area must immediately attract consumers' attention. In addition to vivid product displays, lighting plays a crucial role in capturing consumers' eyes. Generally, the brightness of the promotion area should be 20% higher than the surrounding environment.

Rest Area

The setup of a rest area is very important; warm lighting and pleasant music provide guests with a moment to relax with a drink. Consumers who recharge on the resting chairs are likely to shop for an additional half hour, creating new sales opportunities for businesses.

A comfortable and elegant rest area offers consumers a sense of enjoyment. The lighting in this space should use high color rendering, low color temperature, and low illuminance, with fixtures that have good anti-glare performance. The average illuminance design should be around 200 lux.

3. Lighting Applications in Life Supermarkets

Shelf Area

The shelf area is the main display area for supermarket products, requiring both horizontal and vertical lighting to ensure all products have sufficient opportunities to be selected by consumers. Therefore, the lighting in the shelf area is the best embodiment of lighting technology. Since the distance between shelves is relatively close, the lighting should avoid shadows and facilitate product searching. Masked fluorescent lamp brackets or anti-glare grid lamp panels can be used as the main lighting, with a neutral color temperature of 4300K and an average illuminance of over 300 lux.

Lighting Methods for Different Shelf Heights (H = Height):

H < 6M generally uses light strip lighting

6M ≤ H < 8M mostly uses point arrangement, with lights between shelves.

H≥8M can ignore the arrangement of lighting fixtures, but it is necessary to consider improving the vertical illuminance on the shelf surface.

Fresh fruits and vegetables area

The lighting in this area should not only ensure that the products are perfectly displayed but also consider the impact of temperature on the preservation period of the products. It is not advisable to use lighting fixtures with high heat output here, as this can cause moisture loss in fresh fruits, making them lose their freshness. At the same time, high color rendering cold light sources without UV and infrared radiation should be used for lighting, along with low-power incandescent lamps with transparent covers for key lighting. For the fruit area, a warm color temperature of 3000K is preferred, while the vegetable area should choose a cool color temperature of around 6400K. The average illuminance should reach 300 lux, and the illuminance in key areas should exceed 500 lux.

Deli area

This area has relatively independent counters and kitchen facilities. The lighting requirements are for lighting equipment with good display performance to restore the natural color of the food. Choosing warm lighting can enhance the appeal of deli products to consumers, while also paying attention to temperature control to avoid affecting the preservation of the products. For lighting selection, it is advisable to use light fixtures with diffusing covers as basic lighting, and low-power incandescent lamps with transparent covers for key lighting. A color temperature of 3000K should be chosen, with an average illuminance of 300 lux and key area illuminance exceeding 500 lux.

Frozen area

The lighting in this area should primarily use high color rendering warm tones to create a good psychological effect for customers, making them feel that the food stored in this supermarket is very fresh, thus stimulating a strong desire to shop. For food in the corners or bottom of the freezer, concealed LED linear lighting can be used. A color temperature of 3000K should be selected, with an average illuminance of 300 lux and key area illuminance exceeding 500 lux.

Checkout area

The checkout area should emphasize visual guidance for consumers, making it easy for them to find this area and complete their purchases. This area usually has a high flow of people, and cashiers are also in a state of continuous high-intensity work. Therefore, it is most important for cashiers and consumers to clearly see the products and money, while also ensuring that consumers can easily read the content on the receipt. A color temperature of 4300K should be chosen, with an average illuminance exceeding 300 lux and relatively high uniformity in lighting.