It has often been said that the key to a successful business is location, location, location. We get it; location is important. But even with the greatest location in the world, a business can easily fail if its interior is not just as well thought out. Interior design is the art of balancing functional needs and aesthetic preferences inside of a structure. After all, the purpose of a building is really defined by its interior, not its exterior.

A commercial building is one used for some sort of business purpose, such as a store, office, warehouse, or a restaurant. Just as there are many types of buildings, there are different types of interior design. Houses utilize one kind of design, while commercial structures have very different needs. We want these needs to be successful, but a successful structure does require a bit more than just location.

Interior designers design interiors. That's obvious, but they need to do so in a way that enhances the basic function or purpose of a structure. A house is a space for living, so residential designs need to enhance livability. Commercial structures have a different purpose: they help businesses make money. How can an interior designer help a business make money? The interior designer balances the commercial building's functional needs in terms of physical space and its aesthetics.

When looking at interiors, we can talk about two main things: the use of physical space and aesthetics. Let's start by looking at how interior designers can utilize physical space to enhance the purpose of a commercial structure. If the design of a house is centered on livability, then the design of a commercial building is based on usability. Space needs to be usable for both employees and customers in order to maximize profits.

Besides the organization of space, interior designers also need to worry about aesthetics. Again, commercial structures may represent unique challenges. Many places, like department stores, are very large, and creating a uniform aesthetic throughout can be difficult. Additionally, companies may have very specific regulations.