If you’re designing a new salon suite, there are many considerations.
You’ll need to decide how to set up areas that offer privacy but fit the flow of the building, how to select lighting, and what’s the ideal layout. For example, should you have on-site laundry facilities? What’s the best setup and configuration to help customers feel welcome, even if the space is small?
Luring new customers and keeping repeat business isn’t easy. Spas and salons must be comfortable, appealing, and designed for maximum efficiency. Here are some small salon suite ideas to maximize your space.
What is a Salon Suite?
A salon suite is a mini salon that beauty professionals can rent for hair styling, facials, or other salon and spa services. You are responsible for anything within your rental space, but the building is not your responsibility. It’s an inexpensive way to start a small salon with little risk and low overhead.
To be clear, renting a salon suite is not the same as renting a station in a salon. If you’re paying for a styling area within an existing salon, you have no control over decor, fixtures, layout, or salon rules. A salon suite is more like renting a tiny shop. You’re in charge of everything inside your space. Typical examples include salons in retail stores, hotels, malls, and fitness centers.
Salon Suite Ideas to Maximize a Small Space
1. Small Salon Suite Layout
The suite you rent may be as small as a single station or as large as a typical salon, but many considerations are the same.
When designing your layout, the most important considerations are convenience and traffic flow. Most salons put the shampoo area along the back wall for a reason – that’s where the plumbing is most likely to be located. It puts a privacy barrier between customers reclining in awkward positions and people waiting for their appointments.
If your space is open, you can create a sense of privacy without building walls using shallow rolling cabinets, adding storage and style without taking up much room.
As you envision your salon floor plans, imagine people walking from the front to back, ensuring enough room for stylists, customers, and salon equipment with clear traffic patterns. Even the smallest space needs a reception desk and waiting area with comfortable customer seating.
2. How to Maximize a Small Salon Suite Space
To make your small space appealing and not overcrowded with products and equipment, you’ll need to think about everything from the color scheme to the size of your chairs.
- Choose commercial styling stations with built-in storage, and add shelving to display products in the front and store your operating needs in the back.
- Invest in great salon carts. Rolling carts with storage and a workspace on top can be a fantastic space saver when space is limited.
- Look for a salon chair style with a small footprint that takes up minimal floor space while still providing a comfortable seat.
- Use minimalist design elements. It’s not easy to give a small salon suite personality without wasting valuable space. Express your design flair with wall decorations and a pleasing color scheme. Plants in pots hanging from the ceiling add color and a welcoming ambiance. The minimalist design also helps you keep your salon clean and healthy.
- If your salon is wide enough, double-sided stations in the center of the room can help you add more workspaces for stylists.
3. Lighting
Lighting is an essential element for any salon. Your design aesthetic should define the style of lighting you choose; the lighting fixtures should match the salon suite decor. Lighting has many options, from stark industrial spotlights to warm, homey ambiance. You can make any style work as long as you remember that proper lighting is essential. In addition, the best lighting for hair salons makes a small salon suite look bigger and more inviting.
4. Salon Suite Decor
Light colors make a small space seem bigger but may sap your shop’s personality. Here are a few salon decorating ideas to combat the blah and make even small spaces pop.
- Naturally, you’ll need mirrors; bigger is better if you’re working with a small space. Huge mirrors reflect the light and make the room seem bigger. For a magically flattering angle that will please the pickiest of customers, secure the top edge of the mirror just a tiny bit further from the wall, so it leans forward just a little. Ensure the lighting around the styling station is bright but soft and diffused.
- One of the best salon decorating ideas is one big statement piece that doesn’t take up floor space. If your decor is modern and edgy, consider a large neon sign or logo, or have an eye-catching mural splashed across an entire wall.
- Use the ceiling – remember, most customers spend at least part of their time looking up during a shampoo. A quirky or elegant chandelier makes a stunning impact. It can set the tone for the salon’s decor, and adding crown molding is an easy way to carry that luxury feel throughout an otherwise basic room.
- Create a statement wall. Use paint, molding, or textured wallpaper to turn a boring wall into an eye-catching design statement. Wallpaper has evolved in wondrous ways, from realistic-looking, textured stone or brick to wall-sized murals; you should be able to find a style that fits your salon design aesthetic and is easy on your wallet.
The salon suite decor you choose should reflect your style with a nod toward the expectations of your ideal customer and the building in which your salon is located. What will make your customer feel most at home? Before choosing your salon’s location, match the area demographics against your desired brand aesthetic. Recognizable branding will help you stand out when you’re marketing your salon.
5. Make a Floor Plan
Before you purchase any equipment or furniture, measure the space and create a floor plan drawn to scale, showing where each item will go. Next, estimate how much storage space you need and what type of storage it needs to be: display, workstation, or general storage. Be sure to include space around each station and piece of equipment for movement. Then, using your floor plan, find the equipment, storage cabinets, furniture, and design elements that fit your space without overcrowding.
The right amount of furniture creates a friendly, comfortable feel. On the other hand, too much can make the space feel claustrophobic, and too little can be stark and cold. It’s crucial to strike a balance that offers both comfort and function.
While salon businesses understandably suffered more than average due to the pandemic, the hair salon industry is still big business – it’s projected to clear $48.5 billion in the US this year. Demand for personal services is high, and industry growth is slow, which means it’s an ideal time to put your small salon suite ideas into practice.
