Habitat is to increase merchandise densities across its store portfolio in an attempt to increase sales.

The furniture retailer opened a store last week at Westfield London that is the first instance of the remerchandising. The initiative will be rolled out in London at first and across the UK next year.

Group head of retail Paul-Henri Cecillon said the decision to beef up density levels follows the success of the same strategy in the group’s French, German and Spanish markets.

Cecillon said Habitat is “not in the museum business” and that sales per square foot should be a priority in the store design. He said the retailer’s Regent Street store achieved an immediate sales lift when it removed its first floor café and expanded the lighting department.

“The more SKUs you put out, or in other words, the more you display, the more you sell,” he said. “It’s a question of being able to find things. We need a strong comeback, particularly in London.”

Cecillon was previously managing director of Habitat France before relocating earlier this year. Habitat UK store content manager Toby Sanders leaves the company today. His successor has not been announced.