Photo by Ruben Ramirez on Unsplash
Ruben Ramirez on Unsplash

If you're in charge of the design of your small business, whether it's a coffee shop or an accounting firm and you haven't changed anything in a decade, it might be time to freshen things up. After all, if your décor doesn't reflect the brand or personality of your small business or if it looks too dated, it can be off-putting to clients and customers alike.

But deciding on what changes to make can be overwhelming. You may not need an overhaul, but a few strategically made design choices can make all the difference in the world. Here's how to update your small business interior design:

Consider Your Brand and Your Goals

Before you can decide on a design, you need to know what the room is for and what purpose it serves in your business. Is it a reception area? A meeting space? An office? A retail space? Knowing the room or rooms that need an update, and what your goals are can help you make the right strategic design decisions. While just updating everything to match the trends could seem like a good idea, it could also backfire if your current customer base isn't a fan.

Decide What Changes Need to Be Made

Once you know how these changes can reflect your business and you set some goals around it, you can decide which changes to make. Do you want to remove the dated wallpaper in your reception area and replace it with a modern-looking design or floral? Do you want to add new seating that doesn't look like it's from the principal's office in 1985? Do you want to do a complete overhaul to speak to a new customer base? You need to think through how these changes will impact your current and future customers.

Consider the Room Acoustics

Some rooms are terrible for sound quality. Either everything is too loud and it's hard to hear above the noise, or the noise doesn't travel well enough and everything is muffled and quiet. When it comes to designing your small business interior, there are many factors to consider. One of the most important is how you want the room to sound. There are a lot of noise reduction methods you can use whether it's a large retail space or a cozy conference room for meetings. You don't want the sound from your meetings leaking into the rest of the office, so that's something to consider as well.

Choose How You Want the Space to Flow

Part of designing your small business includes considering the flow of a room or building. You need to think about how people will move naturally through the space and create a flow free of awkward obstructions. This means putting the checkout line in an easy-to-access spot if you have a restaurant or store, and putting the reception area near the entry if you have other service-based businesses.

Research Colors and Color Theory

Colors evoke emotion whether you realize it or not. Yellow can be energizing and uplifting, while blues and greens can be calming. Your brand should already have some colors attached to it. Consider which of these colors to incorporate into your space. Do you want people to feel calm when they walk in, or energetic and happy? Use color to help evoke these emotions.

Select Updated Paint Colors That Suit your Brand

Updating your paint colors can be one of the cheapest and easiest ways to update the design in your small business. When you're choosing colors for your interior design, it's important to consider the mood of your brand. Choose colors that are more modern and on-trend, but that also suits your brand.

Upcycle Old Furniture Pieces

You may be able to get more life out of the furniture you already have in your small business. Upcycling can give them a new life. Add new fabric to upholstery, update the fixtures on knobs and pulls, and more. You can even find pieces that you can give a new life to.

Find Inspiration, But Don't Copy

It's important to get inspired by other businesses, but don't copy their design. Instead, use their ideas as inspiration for your own interior design. You'll be able to learn what works and what doesn't when it comes to decorating a small business interior.