There are very few products that can provide significant returns on investment (ROI) worth having an entire showroom for more than automobiles.

With an interior design that balances function and style, these spaces have one primary objective: to bring cars into the spotlight.

Car showrooms bring the product and the establishment together. When designing such a space, you need to consider the workflow and brand concept. Although they all seem to look the same at first glance, each showroom emphasizes the brand’s unique selling proposition and supports the smooth flow of the sales process.

From setting aside breathing room between displays to choosing the best interior paint, showrooms can fulfill your company’s goals with these six design ideas:

1. Leave breathing room in between car display spaces.

When designing a car showroom with practicality in mind, your first instinct could be to cram as many vehicles into the place as possible. But that could be more counterproductive if your goal is to sell more cars.

Showing too many models to your customers doesn’t automatically lead to more sales. Quite the contrary, having too many options can overwhelm customers and lead them to not buying.

Studies have shown that giving customers fewer choices could increase their likelihood of buying. The key is to choose a few models to highlight to help each of them to stand out. Leave extra spaces in between vehicles so that they won’t be seen as just a part of the crowd.

2. Ensure that cars on display are well-lit.

People won’t buy what they can’t see very well.

Since humans are very visual creatures, you need to ensure that both the showroom and the cars on display are all well lit.

Lighting plays a crucial role in showroom designs, especially those made for cars. Besides ensuring that the product is seen clearly, the right lighting can make it look more captivating.

Unlike retail stores, lighting for auto showrooms should be adjusted to the sleek finish and different colors of the cars. It also should minimize the glare from the reflective surfaces of the vehicle.

Consider using spotlights (warm and not too bright) directed at the vehicles for a more dramatic outcome. To complete the effect, the other lights around should be slightly dimmer to ensure that viewers’ attention is directed at the sparkling vehicle.

3. Design for maximum view.

Ideally, car showrooms must be located in a place that has these three elements:

• High visibility
• Unhindered transport route access
• Eye-catching frontage

The main goal is to display your car range, so make sure the layout and orientation of the sites are designed for optimum visuals.

One excellent trick to achieve this is to choose double-height display spaces. The main frontage should be at full height to ensure that even cars displayed a little farther back can be seen from the front of the showroom.

4. Study color psychology.

You’ll want showroom visitors to focus on the cars on display, not the surrounding elements. This means you have to be extra careful about the colors you choose when designing the space, as the wrong combinations could be distracting.

Besides keeping your color choices close to your brand identity, try to go with more muted shades like black, white, or grey.

Just add a pop of color here and there, like orange or red, to add a sense of power to the room. Blue is deemed preferable for retail, while green is usually linked to nature and health.

The bottom line is to use bold colors sparingly and wisely, according to the emotions you wish to trigger, but people’s focus shouldn’t be on them.

5. Choose durable, minimalist flooring.

The goal is to sell cars, not the building. So, if you have a hand at choosing what kind of floor material to use, go with minimalist durable polished concrete.

Minimalism is the best design style for showrooms because it doesn’t include elements that can overwhelm the senses. It is all about simplicity and is sometimes even described as bare.

Following this technique, consider polished concrete for your showroom floors as they are mostly bare and have reflective surfaces that have a dramatic effect on the cars being showcased.

Polished concrete floors made of epoxy also don’t just shine; they last longer than other materials. Polished concrete also offers:

• Stain-resistance: Epoxy-coated polished concrete designed to resist staining from gas, oil, and other fluids from vehicles.
• Ease of cleaning: Besides being resistant to stains, polished concrete is also quite easy to clean. Just sweep and mop the surface, and you’re good to go. Epoxy-coated ones can handle most cleaning agents and even hot water.
• Scratch- and dent-resistant: Since you’ll be displaying heavy products like cars, you’ll want a showroom floor that can resist dents and scratches. Polished concrete floors coated with epoxy won’t crack under the weight of most model cars. They can even withstand scratches from high-heeled shoes and won’t easily chip should anything fall from the vehicles on display.

6. Focus on comfort.

Showrooms aren’t just about the display section; the waiting area is also very important.

These areas shouldn’t be made up of randomly chosen chairs pushed up against a wall. If you won’t offer such seating arrangements for guests in your home, you shouldn’t do it for potential customers visiting your car showroom.

Instead, bring in cushioned seats with small coffee tables arranged in a comfortable space. Have a flat-screen TV, magazines, and even toys for kids to ensure your prospective clients – many of whom have families – remain comfortable while they wait.

Invest in the Stage

Car showrooms serve as the stage where you showcase vehicles to potential buyers in the hopes of convincing them to buy one.

Since cars are a significant investment, it is only right that you invest in the stage where they are displayed.

Consider the design tips presented in this article and visit our very own showroom for more ideas. At Equipaint, we also provide professional advice to our clients regarding their commercial and industrial paint choices.