Salon and Spa Furniture – How To Furnish Your Salon

Ordering Salon & Spa Furniture

If you’re thinking of opening a salon or spa or are planning to redesign or upgrade your current one, it’s highly advised to consult with a salon or spa design specialist. A seasoned professional will provide valuable advice and help walk you through every step of the design from choosing a color and design scheme to ordering and installing fixtures, workspaces, and furniture.

First impressions count, so design your reception area carefully. You’ll want a front desk or reception station that is not so small that they are ineffective nor too big that they overpower the reception area or intimidate patrons when they walk in. Think about what you need to have to hand on or near your reception desk and then work with your designer to decide how best to conceal clutter.

It’s advised to avoid placing your main retail area behind your reception desk as the desk and your receptionist will create a barrier. You want your retail area to be reachable, inviting, and well-lit to allow customers to read labels or smell the scents. If clients have to ask to handle products or the items are out of reach, it will put clients off, and they will stop browsing, not to mention buying.

For the main salon floor, think through how many workstations your space can accommodate and then do the math, carefully. Naturally, the more stations or treatment rooms that you have, the more income that your business can generate but be very careful not to overcrowd, as it will cause issues down the line.

According to Commercial Manager Trevor Lingard from salon furniture specialists REM UK, the first styling station should be at least three feet from a window or wall, and any subsequent units should be four feet from the center of the first unit. Anything less will cause overcrowding. Next, measure off at least five feet of depth from the styling station to the rear of the stylist. Depending on the layout of your space, consider island workspaces to fit more in.

For your shampoo area, Lingard recommends a ratio of one wash station per three styling positions at a minimum. Allow at least two feet behind each shampoo bowl for the operator plus a few feet at the other end for legroom for the client. Make sure that there is storage and easy access for towels, trash receptacles for spent foils, and a disguised dirty towel bin. If possible, separate your shampoo area from the main floor with walls or partitions. This will provide a tranquil space for clients away from the bustle of the salon.

For spa treatment rooms, think through the different services being performed in each room and allow enough space for the furniture, counters, sink, storage, specialty equipment, client, and operator without crowding. Spa clients want a quiet area for their services and don’t want to feel like they are being shoved into a closet.

When planning and buying your salon or spa furniture, spend the time to go to a showroom if possible or visit various manufacturers at trade shows. That way you can get a feel for the comfort of the chairs, touch the actual workstations, sit behind the reception desk, and get an idea of how well they are all made. How they look in a catalog or online can be very different than how they look and feel in person.

Be sure to ask the critical questions about any purchases including warranties, guarantees, and service options. Ask about delivery fees and options, installation costs and scheduling, and storage fees and locations. To avoid any unwanted surprises, get everything in writing with a bottom line price before signing any contracts.

Many suppliers also offer planning and/or design service where the fee is credited to your purchase. If you don’t already have a designer, take advantage of these services. Although the layout of your space may seem obvious to you, a trained salon or spa planner may open your eyes to new ideas and save you money and aggravation down the line. Regardless, do your research, plan carefully, and choose a reputable supplier.