Unique Shop Counter Design Ideas to Inspire You!

When it comes to retail design, the shop counter is one of the most important elements. The counter area is a large part of the customer experience and will often be one of the last areas your customers see before leaving the store. It can influence how customers feel about a store and can even affect how much money they spend! In this article, I’m going to be sharing some of my favourite shop counter design ideas to help inspire you for your own retail design project.

By paying attention to detail in their interior design, businesses can create an enjoyable shopping experience that will keep customers coming back. So whether you’re looking for a timeless classic design, or something modern and innovative, there will be something to inspire you here!

Fun and Playful Shop Counter Design

A fun beauty store shop counter design in the shape of a pink dolls house.
Design and Concept by Design4Retail

This gorgeous shop counter was designed by Design4Retail; a retail design firm in Leicester famous for their showstopping retail interiors.

It’s the perfect mix of playful and practical, with plenty of storage space at the front for products and a well-hidden cashier’s area behind. This fun design adds to the customer experience by making sure that even the checkout process is engaging and on-brand.

Blending Old and New

Industrial wine shop counter design with a touch of luxury.

Interior Design by IMHOTEP

The juxtaposition of old and new materials works beautifully in this wine shop counter design.

The main body of the counter is made from white marble tiles in a brick-bond formation which adds a touch of luxury to this largely industrial space.

A v-shaped accent made from wood in a jet black finish provides a wonderful contrast and helps the counter stand out as a unique feature within the space. The chunky wooden countertop finishes it off and ties it in with the overall rustic-industrial look of this wine shop.

Simple Shop Counter Design

simple modern shop counter design in a gift shop.

Image via Pinterest

The L-shaped cash counter of this gift shop is simple yet functional. It has a spacious area for the cashier to stand in and plenty of space for displaying merchandise, including three large shelves at the front of the counter. The paper rolls on the side are a practical and thoughtful touch, ensuring the cashiers always have everything they need for gift-wrapping at hand.

Curved Wooden Shop Counter

Rustic shop counter design featuring a curved wooden counter.

Image via Retail Design Blog

With a stylish curved front, this unusual shop counter stands out from the traditional rectangular designs. This simple yet effective design would be quite easy to recreate if you want to do something similar for your own shop.

Rustic Wooden Shop Counter Design With Glass Display Case

Boho inspired boutique shop design with a wooden shop counter featuring a glass display case on one side.

Image via Casa di Valentina

A combination of rustic and modern elements creates a unique and stylish design. The rustic wood used for the front of the display counter features a distressed whitewashed finish. This allows some of the natural wood to show through and gives the counter an effortlessly relaxed, boho look that fits in perfectly with the rest of the shop.

The glass case adds a touch of sophistication and provides an ideal space to display valuable items such as jewellery. This counter design would be perfect for a boutique retail store or clothing shop.

Rustic Neutral Tiled Shop Counter

Calming and serene salon design with a curved counter covered in light pink-terracotta tiles. Mediterranean style.

Design by Triibe

With a tiled curved front in an earthy terracotta-coloured hue, this simple salon reception counter is what dreams are made of. The design is perfectly in keeping with the relaxed Mediterranean vibe of the rest of the salon. It also compliments the polished concrete floors and natural walls.

Sweet Shop Counter Design Concept

Colourful sweet shop counter design with rows of sweets on shelves behind the counter

Bright and bold, this sweet shop counter is both practical and eye-catching. Made from durable plastic, the countertop can easily be wiped clean between customers—an important feature, particularly if you are serving food items. The bold, colourful design will be very attractive to the target demographic of this store.

Colourful Modern Retail Counter Design Concept

Colourful perspex retail counter design

This modern and colourful shop counter is made from coloured perspex, which allows the light to shine through each section creating an unusual look. It would be ideal for a shop that sells technology with fun branding aimed at the younger generation.

Pizza Shop Counter Design Idea

Pizza shop counter design showing a round counter designed to look like the edge of a pizza

Like many pizza shops, this space features a round counter where customers can be served. The area beneath the counter has been designed to look like the edge of a pizza. This is a fun touch which adds to the atmosphere without taking up any additional floor space in the shop.

7 Things to Take Into Account When Designing a Shop Counter

Designing a store counter yourself? Here are a few things worth noting as you go through the design process:

  • The counter should be large enough to fit the products that you sell.
  • It should have a smooth, solid surface that is easy to wipe clean.
  • The shop counter design should be eye-catching and also in keeping with the overall aesthetic of the store.
  • It should be sturdy and strong and able to hold a significant amount of weight.
  • There should be space to store all the necessary products that are required in the checkout area.
  • It should have no sharp or rough edges to avoid injuring customers or snagging clothes.
  • There should be ample electrical sockets for POS, card readers, lighting, and other electronic equipment.
  • If you want to display products on top of the counter, ensure there is a dedicated space for this that won’t get in the way of the checkout process.
Emily Brookes
Emily Brookes

Emily Brookes is an Interior Designer based in the UK. Since graduating from the National Design Academy with a Bachelors Degree in Interior Design, Emily started her successful blog, Emily May Designs, which shares ideas and inspiration on how to create a beautiful home.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *