Top 10 Modern Shop Counter Designs To Inspire Your Physical And Online Retail Space

The design of your Shopify storefront is just as important as the layout of a physical shop. The digital equivalent of a retail counter, your website's homepage or product page is often the first impression customers get of your brand. Just like the counters in brick-and-mortar stores, the design of your online retail space should be inviting, functional, and a reflection of your brand’s identity.

In this post, we’ll explore 10 modern shop counter designs from physical stores that are both creative and functional. They shall serve as inspiration for your online storefronts. From a sleek, minimalist look to something more vibrant, we have all the ideas that will help you think outside the box and elevate your eCommerce site. 

Let’s dive into the world of innovative retail design and inspire your next Shopify store revamp!

Here’s an overview of the top 10 counter styles we pick: 

Counter Design	Key Features	Inspiration for Online Stores
Minimalist Counter Design	Simple, clean lines, neutral colors, uncluttered space	Focus on a clean, straightforward layout, high-quality images, and intuitive navigation
Industrial Style Counter Design	Exposed materials like metal, wood, concrete, raw, urban feel	Incorporate rustic elements, dark color schemes, industrial-inspired fonts, and backgrounds
Integrated Counter Design	Multi-functional, combines service, display, and purchase points; integrated storage	Integrate live chat, product recommendations, and  customization features into the product page
Luxury Counter Design	High-end materials, polished marble, gold accents, clean, refined lines	Luxurious imagery, premium tone colors, elegant fonts, exclusive products
Eco-Friendly & Environmental Counter Design	Sustainable materials, energy-efficient lighting, natural tones, and textures	Use natural tones, eco-friendly product offerings, and highlight sustainable practices
Interactive Counter Design	Digital screens, touchpoints, interactive displays, virtual try-ons	Add interactive galleries, live chat, and product customization options
Modular Counter Design	Flexible, reconfigurable counters, adaptable based on space needs	Flexible layouts, dynamic images, and reconfigurable product displays
Retro Counter Design	Bold colors, neon lights, vintage-inspired elements, playful patterns	Incorporate vibrant colors, retro fonts, and nostalgic product photography
Art Deco Counter Design	Geometric shapes, metallic finishes, and luxurious materials like gold and chrome	Bold geometric design elements, high-quality images, luxurious accents
Bohemian Counter Design	Electric mix of textures, vibrant colors, handmade elements, free-spirited and artistic aesthetic	Incorporate vibrant, earthy tones, artistic visuals, and boho-chic imagery

#1 Minimalist Counter Design

Minimalist design embraces simplicity. It prioritizes clean lines and open spaces. This style creates a focused vibe by removing unnecessary elements. Another key feature of minimalism is the use of neutral colors like whites, blacks, and grays.

To add a minimalist touch to an online store, go for a clean, straightforward layout with ample white space to let your products stand out. Choose a store theme that has a modern, simple structure that draws attention to your items without distractions. 

Contrasting high-quality hero images against neutral backgrounds will make your product pop. Make sure the navigation is clear with easy-to-read fonts and intuitive menus. The goal is to offer a smooth, elegant storefront that allows customers to browse without feeling overwhelmed.

Store Example: Silence x Flow

Silence and Flow’s Shopify store exemplifies how minimalist design can create a sleek, professional online experience. By focusing on high-quality product images set against neutral backgrounds and offering intuitive navigation, the store makes browsing a breeze.

#2 Industrial Style Counter Design

Industrial style is characterized by a raw, unfinished look. It often incorporates exposed materials to create a bold, urban feel. Brick walls, raw metal finishes, reclaimed wood, steel accents, and concrete surfaces are common in industrial buildings.

Online merchants may draw inspiration by incorporating rustic elements into their store design. Think about using industrial-inspired fonts, dark, moody color schemes, and images of products displayed on metal or reclaimed wood surfaces. 

The digital store could feature subtle industrial touches like metallic icons or concrete-like backgrounds. Aim for a storefront that feels bold, modern, and a little rough around the edges.

Store Example: The Industrial Home

Focusing on home décor, this Shopify store uses industrial elements such as steel, wood, and concrete in its product photography and branding. The website design includes rustic backgrounds, minimal text, and clear, high-quality images of products, all while maintaining a utilitarian and urban style.

#3 Integrated Counter Design

This style combines functionality and convenience. The counter serves as both a product display and a service point. These counters often feature built-in storage, display areas, and even POS systems. 

The equivalent of this style in the online setting should be a multifunctional online shopping experience. It should have all the support visitors may need when visiting your store. For instance, integrate live chat, product recommendations, and quick checkout options. 

Store Example: Warby Parker

Warby Parker’s Shopify store integrates service and sales seamlessly. The website offers a home try-on program where customers can select frames, try them on at home, and then purchase directly from the site. They also offer virtual consultations with opticians, providing a personalized service experience alongside product sales.

#4 Luxury Counter Design

This luxurious style is all about opulence and sophistication. It features high-end materials and intricate details that create a sense of exclusivity. Luxury counters boast clean, refined lines, complemented by elegant lighting. The overall aesthetic is glamorous, designed to indulge customers in a lavish shopping experience. 

A luxury online store follows the same design principles. Consider using luxurious imagery that reflects the premium nature of your products. Choose fonts and color schemes that evoke a sophisticated atmosphere. Elements like gold or silver accents are great in the design. 

Store Example: Chanel

Chanel’s Shopify store applies luxury with a minimalist approach, emphasizing clean lines and elegant simplicity. The design incorporates high-resolution images of products, sleek black and gold accents, and a refined layout that mirrors the luxury aesthetic of their physical counters.

#5 Eco-Friendly & Environmental Counter Design

The eco-friendly counter design focuses on using environmentally conscious principles. Materials of choice are often reclaimed wood, bamboo, natural stone, and eco-friendly paints. The style incorporates greenery, such as potted plants, to signify its connection to nature. 

To adopt the eco-friendly design for your online store, try using sustainability-focused elements. Natural tones and earthy colors, incorporated with textures that reflect organic materials like wood or stone, shall be the highlight. Also, make sure your product images reflect your commitment to sustainability. 

Store Example: Earth Hero

Earth Hero’s Shopify store is a perfect example of eco-friendly design. It features natural tones, sustainable product offerings, and clear messaging about its commitment to the environment. The store uses simple, earthy aesthetics and provides information about the eco-friendly materials used in their products. It’s as green as it can get.

#6 Interactive Counter Design

Interactive counter design leverages technology to create a dynamic and immersive shopping experience. Digital screens, touch pads, interactive kiosks, and product displays are commonly seen. They enable high-tech features like virtual try-ons, 3D displays, or touch interfaces that provide additional product information.

For digital vendors, the same effect can be achieved by integrating technology such as interactive product galleries into the store. Customization options should be accessible directly on the product page. Try to provide a more immersive experience for customers. It keeps shoppers in your store longer while adding a personalized touch. 

Store Example: Apple

Apple’s Shopify store is an excellent example of interactive design. It offers an intuitive product galleries that invite customers to explore on their own. Customers can view product details in depth through interactive images and videos. Apple also integrates customer reviews and FAQs into product pages, making it easy for shoppers to engage with the content.

#7 Modular Counter Design

Modular counter design emphasizes flexibility and adaptability. These counters are designed to be easily reconfigured. It leverages modular units that can be added, removed, or rearranged to create different layouts. The use of metal, wood, and soft-touch surfaces adds to the contemporary, functional look. 

To unlock the modular experience on your online store, use a layout that is flexible and easily adjustable. Think about organizing products in collections that can be easily swapped in and out depending on seasonality or sales. Priortize dynamic images, flexible grids, or even interactive elements that can be updated quickly. 

Store Examples: Turtle & Hare

This Shopify store embodies the modular concept by showcasing products that can be customized. The design is clean and flexible, allowing for quick changes in product display as new items are introduced or old ones are rotated out. 

#8 Retro Counter Design

Retro is another popular style. It blends the charm of past decades with contemporary design elements. The design often incorporates nostalgic features like bright colors, neon lights, vintage signage, and playful patterns. Old typography, checkerboard floors, vintage-inspired furniture, and colorful accents are commonly used. 

Retro style can be applied to an online storefront. Add vintage-inspired aesthetics such as bold fonts, playful icons, and a retro color palette for your website. Accompany them with nostalgic product photography like neon-style graphics or retro patterns. 

Store Example: Lazy Oaf

Lazy Oaf’s Shopify store embraces retro elements with a playful, colorful design. It doubles down on bold typography and fun, quirky graphics. The site features a mix of modern fashion with vintage-inspired prints, creating a unique experience.

#9 Art Deco Counter Design

Art Deco amplifies opulence, geometric shapes, and bold, luxurious materials. This style combines glamour with symmetry. It’s signaled by geometric patterns, mirrors, glossy finishes, marble, and gold or chrome accents. Art Deco counters give a sense of elegance and sophistication. 

If you fall in love with the Art Deco design, here’s how to design a store around it. Think about incorporating bold, geometric elements into your site layout. Add product images in dramatic lighting and elegant backdrops. The use of luxurious fonts and rich colors will help evoke the Art Deco aesthetic, making your store feel timeless. 

Store Example: Tiffany & Co.

Tiffany & Co.’s online store draws from Art Deco influences with its elegant and polished aesthetic. The use of luxurious imagery, geometric product displays, and rich accents gives the store a glamorous, upscale feel, reflecting the Art Deco design’s luxurious appeal.

#10 Bohemian Counter Design

Bohemian (or Boho) style is a celebration of free-spirited elements. Textured materials like woven baskets, rattan, wood, and colorful fabrics are commonly seen. All embraces a relaxed, laid-back vibe, with lots of natural materials and artisanal touches. 

Adopt this style by incorporating playful, colorful elements and artistic visuals. Think about using earthy tones, textured backgrounds, and vibrant imagery that evokes a sense of creativity. Highlight artisanal or handmade products, mismatched designs or layered product images. 

Store Example: Anthropologie

Anthropologie’s Shopify store embodies Bohemian design through its rich textures, vibrant colors, and eclectic visuals. The product displays often feature unique, artsy backgrounds and a mix of products with a boho-chic aesthetic, creating an inviting, free-spirited shopping experience.

GemPages X Shopify: The Perfect Duo for Creating Any Store Design

As eCommerce experts, we understand how challenging it is to build an online store from scratch. With so many design choices and functionalities to consider, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Want to make the design process a lot less of a hassle? Try Shopify. This giant eCommerce platform offers all the tools you need to create a stunning online storefront, no matter what design style you choose. 

GemPages accelerates store design with a powerful drag-and-drop page builder.

One of the major selling points of Shopify is its extensive app ecosystem. You can find powerful apps like GemPages that shorten store building down to minutes. With GemPages, you don’t need to be a web designer or coder to whip up a professional-looking online store. Freely customize your homepage, product pages, and even checkout process, without the hassle of complicated programming. 

GemPages also offers responsive product grids. It’s the best feature to ensure your product displays perfectly on any device, whether it’s a desktop, tablet, or smartphone. Additionally, you can add customized buttons that lead customers to key areas of your store. 

Access GemPages’ hundreds of ready-to-use, proven templates and set up your store for success.

Using Shopify and GemPages together, you can create a store that is not only visually stunning but also conversion-focused. Whether you’re selling high-end luxury items or trendy retro-inspired products, Shopify’s versatility combined with GemPages’ customization tools will be all that you need. 

Get started today and discover how easy it is to turn your ideal store design into reality with Shopify and GemPages!

Wrapping Up!

Incorporating the elements of modern shop counter designs into your online store’s pages can be rewarding. It makes a significantly better shopping experience that can lead to higher sales. Additionally, these stylish elements separate your store from the competition. They speak volumes to customers and showcase what your brand represents. 

By leveraging tools like GemPages, you can easily build a Shopify store that reflects your brand’s identity without compromising functionality. Incorporate visually appealing design, user-friendly navigation, and interactive elements to tailor an engaging shopping experience that keeps customers coming back for more. 

Start optimizing your Shopify store today and watch your business grow with GemPages.