How to Set Up an Indoor Art Fair Booth
If you are getting ready for an indoor art fair, you want your booth to be eye catching, functional, and easy for customers to browse. In this post I am going to share my best tips for booth layout, lighting, hanging your work, and organizing your prints. You can watch the full video right here on this page, and this article expands on the points I cover in it. You can also grab my Free Art Fair Supply List to make sure you have everything you need before your next show.
Watch the Video
Tips for Choosing and Setting Up Display Panels
One of the best investments I have made for my indoor art fair booth is my set of Pro Panels. They are strong, versatile, and make your work look professional. You can set them up in a square, a U shape, or even as separate sections throughout a space. When I ran my gallery, I used them to create little islands that people could walk around, and it made the experience more engaging for visitors.
The panels are held together with stabilization bars and small pieces called stiffeners that keep everything steady. This is important because at busy events customers and kids will bump into your booth. Having a sturdy setup means nothing will come crashing down. While Pro Panels are an investment, you can buy them piece by piece over time, and they are worth it if you plan to do indoor shows regularly.
How to Light Your Indoor Booth
Lighting can make or break an indoor art fair booth. Many venues are dark, and without extra lighting your work will not stand out. I use lights from Pro Panels that are easy to install and have long cords, but there are more affordable options like track lighting. Track lights can be used with both Pro Panels and gridwall displays, and you can find sets online for a fraction of the cost.
When positioning your lights, aim them directly at your work so colors look vibrant and details are clear. Do this before the show starts so the lights are not hot to the touch. Good lighting creates a welcoming atmosphere and makes it easier for customers to connect with your art. Without it, your booth can look dull and uninviting, which can hurt your sales.
Easy Ways to Hang and Label Your Artwork
There are several ways to hang your artwork on display panels. I often use a gallery style hanging system with wires and hooks, but drapery hooks from a hardware store also work well. For unframed prints, I like to use Velcro strips to attach them directly to the panels. It is quick, adjustable, and keeps your booth looking clean.
Velcro is also perfect for attaching price tags and signs to your booth. Being able to move signage around without damaging your display saves time during setup and makes it easy to adjust things as needed. If you want more ideas for booth setup, you can download my Free Art Fair Supply List which includes links to all the tools I use.
Organizing Print Bins and Counters
Print bins are a great way to display a lot of work in a small space. I have bins that hold smaller prints in multiple rows, and larger bins for bigger pieces. Customers enjoy flipping through them and often find pieces they might have missed on the walls. Grouping similar subjects together makes browsing easier and keeps the display looking tidy.
I also use a ProPanel counter at the front of my booth. It is the perfect spot to store bags, process sales, and display smaller items. Behind the counter, I keep shelves stocked with extra prints so I can restock without leaving the booth. Having everything organized and within reach makes transactions smoother for both me and my customers.
Final Thoughts
A well designed indoor art fair booth is stable, well lit, and easy for customers to navigate. Display panels, good lighting, smart hanging solutions, and organized print bins all work together to create a space where your art shines.
If you want to make sure you are fully prepared for your next art market, make sure to check out my article on talking to customers at in-person events. Because how you talk to customers can make or break your ability to sell art.