Never paint the walls a distracting color, as all focus should be on the art. Keep them a neutral color, like beige or tan, which will not compete with the works on the wall but is a good compromise from a stark white color.
Accessorize the gallery sparsely. Buyers are not be entering the retail gallery to see your interior design skills, they should be focusing on the art. Do without shelves and accessories, choosing instead large floor vases with tall plants to draw the eye upward to the art.
Light the artwork with individual gallery lighting from above. Buyers should be able to see the piece clearly. Keep the rest of the overhead, utilitarian lighting soft and dim. When you enter the gallery, the emphasis should be on the lighted artwork.
Place each of the pieces of artwork at least three steps away from its nearest neighbor. You want buyers to be able to stand in front of a piece and consider it on its own and think about where they would place it. You don't want pieces clamoring for attention. Each piece in the retail store is an individual and should be regarded as such.
Keep an organized office in the retail gallery containing only a desk, a few chairs for customers, small stickers and some stationery. Negotiations for art should be done in private, so all you need is space to record the name and address of the buyer. Place a small sticker next to the piece to signify that it has been purchased. You can take care of the payment and shipping details in a private office elsewhere. The retail gallery should stay chic and simple.