Designing the perfect salon interior for every shape and size

When it comes to designing a salon, there are numerous factors to be considered. Is it practical for staff? Is it comfortable for clients? Is the lighting suitable for colour work? Reading magazines and scouring the internet for ideas may be a good starting point, but salons vary in size and dimensions, so what looks great in one salon won't necessarily be suitable in another. The shape of your salon should determine the furniture, the colour scheme and the lighting you choose. Not all premises are big enough for an open-plan design, but there are benefits and pitfalls to a large area as well as a small space. We look at different room salon, and ask the experts how to maximise any shape and size.

Narrow salons

A small, narrow salon can feel intimate and boutique-like, but it can also become overcrowded and noisy.

However, the right design can give it a linear feel, and the correct colour choice will bring it to life.

Top Tips

• A narrow salon width should be a minimum of 4m - any smaller and it becomes impractical.
• Offset mirrors to avoid a tunnelling effect.
• Lay the floor tiles in a diamond pattern as it increases visual width.
• Use wide mirrors to give an illusion of space.
• Make the back wall of the salon a feature, with colour/texture/pictures, but not a mirror, which will increase the feeling of length.

A Large Window

Large windows may flood the salon with plenty of natural light, but they don't offer client privacy - there is nowhere to hide and everything is on view to passers-by.

If you have a large front window in your salon use the space to advertise special offers, events, or photos of your work; promote retail products; display interesting art or furniture that reflects the style of your salon; or offer passers-by a glimpse into your vibrant and busy salon,

Top Tips

• If you prefer to offer privacy for your customers, add some frosting or glass bricks to the lower half of the window, which gives an impression of a light and open salon.
• If you want to keep the front window clear, use the front area of the salon as either a nail bar, or reception, or as the styling area rather than the colour or cutting stations.>/li>
• Consider the location of the salon and the type and volume of passing trade. For example, if it's on a busy high street, you won't want to miss the opportunity of using the window space as a place for advertising.
• Do not forget security. Shutters offer more protection than a glass window, so decorate the shutters in the style of the salon.
• Regular window cleaning is essential for a pristine, blemish-free view.

Open Plan

Although it seems a large room can offer more choice and variety, its space can be as detrimental as it is beneficial. It can be cold and uninviting, but can also be buzzing and inspiring.

More styling units can be fitted into an open-plan salon and, while it can have a minimalist feel, you can still create a buzzing atmosphere.

Top Tips

• Decide how many styling and wash units you need and make the floor plan logical and effective as a working area. Although open plan, you do not want it to look haphazard.
• Be mindful of your choice of floor surfaces. You may need to combat high levels of noise.
• Use colour and different textures to create your look and also to bring warmth and intimacy to areas that need it.
• Use plinths or different floor levels to define separate areas.
• Use colour effectively. It breaks up the space without having to reduce the salon space.
• Think about the layout and try different options suggested by a trained salon planner. The layout may seem obvious, but there could be more than one option.
• Don't overfill the salon: less is more.

Different Zones

If you are lucky enough to have plenty of space, creating zones will give clients the feeling of a journey through the salon. However, with clever use of light and colour, even the smallest of salons can benefit from distinct areas.

When designing a salon with a variety of zones, determine the minimum number of styling positions, retail shelving and backwashes required to ensure the viability of the business.

Only when this is known can you be creative with the layout and zones."

Top Tips

• Each zone can be as different from the next, but the styles must complement each other in some way.
• The underlying theme is quality and design, which subliminally link the areas together.
• Zoned areas tend to be similar in style, colour, quality, and finishes, with changes to each area being more subtle to provide a more professional, linked look.
• Having created a floor plan with zones, the differences can be changes to floor type, ceiling shapes, lighting, fabrics and wall finishes, while keeping a similar theme throughout the furniture and joinery.

High Ceiling

Having a high ceiling can lend itself to an airy, spacious atmosphere, but it can also feel empty.

It's a good idea to lower the ceiling heights in the retail/reception area and over the backwashes, to create a homely feel, then use the full height in the main salon to emphasise the space."

Top Tips

• If your premises has a high ceiling, turn it in to a feature by creating lower ceiling levels that can be used to divide sections of the salon.
• When designing for a salon with high ceilings, it's important to take advantage of longer styling units to make the most of the space and accentuate it as one of the salon's features.
• Create zones to break up the large space. Use raised levels to distinguish the backwash areas, and create curved walls for a separate relaxation room or a staff room.
• If you're struggling for ideas on how to work with your space, speak to a professional designer who will talk you through the options that will be personal to your salon.
• Consider using different light styles to create an atmosphere; hanging task lights above each section and wall-mounted secondary feature lighting can add to the ambience of your salon.