Awe-Inspiring Salon Design Inspiration for the Perfect Salon

For many people, going to a salon is way more than just another errand to run. A hair studio is a place of beauty and transformation where one can treat themselves to a self-care ritual, get inspired for changes, and make their style vision come to life.

That’s why it’s important to not only have top-notch employees and a wide variety of services to offer but also to ensure that the salon’s design creates the right mood and conveys a clear message. Creating such an interior is a time-consuming task that requires business owners to think every detail through.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll take you through the key milestones of creating a hair salon design concept and provide you with a variety of inspiring ideas to make it truly unique.

Step 1: Pick the Best Hair Salon Layout

The first thing you will have to take care of when it comes to designing your hair studio is the layout. This is a fundamental decision that will influence a lot of aspects of your salon, from lighting to space distribution.

The main factors you will have to take into consideration when choosing your salon layout include:

• Your budget

• Your employees’ needs

• The studio’s architectural features

• Your vision and preferences

• The positioning of water and waste outlets

• The location of windows

Depending on these criteria, you can pick out the type of layout that fits your hair studio best. Some of the options are:

Open Layout

This type of layout is characterized by a few or no inside walls and is often used for small spaces. It aims to make the room appear visually bigger with details like mirrors on the walls and furniture with glass elements.

Hair salons with an open layout also often choose double-sided workstations to provide the stylists and visitors with more space to move.

Multiple-Zone Layout

In contrast with the open layout, this type of interior typically features multiple zones. This could be a space with separate salon suites or simply a big hair studio divided into different rooms.

This layout is excellent for businesses with plenty of space to offer and that wish to provide their clients with more privacy during their appointments.

Even if your salon doesn’t have a lot of interior walls, you can still create a multiple-zone layout with the help of curtains and screens.

Narrow Layout

If you are an owner of a long and narrow commercial space, you can still turn it into a salon with plenty of room to move around. Similarly to places with an open layout, such hair studios will need elements that make them appear bigger. It also helps to paint the walls a lighter color, as it makes the room look bright and more spacious.

Small Salon Layout

Sometimes it seems that there are a lot more opportunities for designing the interior of big hair salons, whereas, for the smaller ones, the options are very limited. Yet, this is far from reality. All you have to do to succeed at this task is get creative and search for multifunctional furniture that will help you save space while ensuring functionality.

Here’s some more good news: compact hair studios typically leave a smaller carbon footprint, as they use less electricity and water and produce less waste than bigger businesses. What’s more, if you focus on implementing sustainable practices, your salon can achieve an eco-friendly status and have it reflected in its interior.

Salon Suite Layout 

For those stylists who want to stay autonomous rather than being hired by a salon, renting a commercial space could be the perfect option. The key design concept here would be similar to that of a small salon - to use functional furniture that is not too bulky and can be moved around easily.

Step 2: Decide on Your Salon’s Theme

Once you’ve picked the layout that suits your goals and vision best, it’s time to think about the overall style you want your salon to follow.

Here are some great options:

Minimalism

Simple, clean, and professional would be the best adjectives to describe a minimalist salon. Such interiors typically incorporate light-colored walls and very few decorative elements.

Minimalism works best for smaller spaces or those with an open layout, as it makes them appear more spacious.

Natural

This theme is all about eco-friendly materials, so salons that use it often feature wooden furniture, lots of plants, and plenty of natural light. 

A natural interior can fit virtually any type of layout. However, keep in mind that customers are likely to expect to find fair-trade, cruelty-free, and vegan products and decor elements at such a salon, as its design screams sustainability.

Retro 

If you are looking for a fun and nostalgic theme for your salon, retro could be just perfect. Your clients are sure to enjoy the atmosphere of the good old days created by vintage decor pieces.

Note that since old-fashioned furniture is often rather bulky, the retro theme could be tricky to implement in a small or narrow salon.

Modern

Perhaps, the vintage feel is not your cup of tea, or you know for a fact that it won’t match your target audience. In this case, going for a more modern look could be the solution.

This theme can incorporate elements that are less traditional, such as floor-to-ceiling mirrors, chairs of fun shapes, and bold color accents. A modern interior is very versatile and can work well with any salon layout.

Glam

Who wouldn’t want to visit a hair studio that radiates luxury and elegance? A glam interior is characterized by an airy, upscale feel created with the use of luxurious fabrics, glittering metals, and sparkly design elements. A salon of any layout masterfully decorated in a glamorous theme will always attract the attention of potential customers and be an additional reason for them to return!

For more detailed information on each of these themes and even more creative ideas, check out our blog post dedicated to the most gorgeous interior design styles for hair salons.

Step 3: Set Up the Main Salon Areas

Any hair studio has three main zones: entrance, work area, and bathroom. Each of these spaces features its own set of must-haves that will provide both your employees and clients with a high level of comfort and offer design opportunities that will make your salon stand out from the competition.

Here are some tips on how to design these key salon areas:

1. Entrance

The salon’s entrance zone typically consists of three main elements:

Window Display 

Not every hair studio can boast a large window display. However, if your salon does have it, make sure you use the space it offers to its full potential by:

• Decorating it. It’s important for the design of your window display to reflect your salon’s overall style. So, if you’re going for a minimalistic look, keep it simple and decluttered. However, if your hair studio’s design is all about details and colors, ensure that your window display matches the vibe by using permanent or seasonal decorations. Luckily, you don’t have to invest a lot to make a window display more vibrant - check out some affordable ideas in our list of 20 Instagram-worthy hair salon ideas on a budget.

• Filling it with useful information. Some salon owners choose to use the window next to the entrance to provide their clients with information on the parlor’s opening hours and active promotions. You can even use this space to display your price list - take a look at our practical tips to design your pricing list in the best way possible.

• Keeping it neat and inviting. The window display is the face of the salon, so remember to keep it free from unwanted objects and maintain its cleanliness.

With these tips in mind, you’ll be able to design a window display that will effectively attract potential clients.

Reception Desk

The reception desk is yet another critical area of your salon’s entrance. Its goal is to be not only visually appealing but also functional. 

Here are some important things to consider when choosing the reception desk’s design:

• Style. While the reception area is perfect for a statement counter, remember to keep it in sync with the rest of the interior. 

• Convenient placement. The reception desk should be clearly visible to your clients as they enter the salon to avoid confusion. So, one of the best positioning options for it is facing the salon entrance. 

• Smart use of space. If you are short of square meters at your salon, consider getting a reception desk with built-in shelves or vitrine that will enable you to be efficient with space and help to promote the products and services you’re offering.

Aside from the reception desk, don’t forget to take care of another essential element in this area - the devices and software you use for organizational tasks. An old POS terminal or a cluttered desktop can be perceived as a red flag by your clients. 

Noona has the perfect solution - a free appointment scheduling app that keeps your appointments organized and screens at the reception desk neat. Sign up already today to boost your salon’s performance!

Waiting Area

The last but not the least important section of the salon’s entrance is the waiting area. This is where your clients will spend some time before their appointment, so it’s important to focus on providing them with a pleasant and comfortable setting.

The components you might want to add to your hair salon’s waiting area are:

• Comfortable sofas, chairs, or armchairs

• Decor elements that match your salon’s theme, like plants, posters, mirrors, and so on

• Hanger for outdoor clothes

• Coffee table with magazines and a printed price list

• Drinks and snacks station

All these items will help your customers pass the time as they are waiting for their turn.

2. Work Area

The work area is where all the action is. Unlike the zone near the entrance, the furnishing of this space will consist mainly of professional equipment. When designing this part of your salon, remember to focus on its convenience for your staff members as well as the overall aesthetic. This rule is applicable to every piece of furniture and decor.

For instance, while a massive and heavy industrial-style chair looks great, it might leave stylists in a small hair studio without enough space to move around. If you are not sure which salon chair would be best for the interior you chose, go ahead and check out our tips and top picks in this review.

3. Bathroom

While the bathroom isn’t a big part of your clients’ salon appointments, it doesn’t mean that this area should be neglected. In fact, a thought-out design of the WC can improve your customers’ overall impression of their visit to your hair salon.

Here are some tips you can use when designing this area’s interior:

• Ensure that the entrance to the bathroom is easy to find

• Make sure the bathroom matches the theme you’ve picked for the salon

• Add some fun to the room, such as art on the wall, a selfie station, or plants

• Set up lighting that is flattering and bright enough

When clients go to the bathroom at a salon, it’s the perfect place for them to enjoy the results of their hair transformation and take a selfie that they are likely to share on social media. It’s a great opportunity for you to promote your studio, so don’t lose it by not putting enough effort into this area’s design.

Step 4: Focus on Your Online Presence

Once your studio’s interior is finished, it might seem like your work at designing the hair salon is done. However, it’s vital not to forget about another critical factor - your online presence.

These are the key elements you should take care of to ensure that all the work you put into designing the salon doesn’t go to waste:

Website

The way your website appears plays a significant role in forming the impression about your salon. Its design should be in line with the style and message of your salon while being convenient to use and informative.

Social Media Channels

Modern-day business is impossible to imagine without social media. By using platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, you meet your customers right where they spend a lot of their time. It’s important to keep your pages on social media updated regularly with high-quality visuals and marketing messages that would appeal to your target audience.

Booking System

Having a dedicated booking system that is logical, easy to use, and frictionless is a big advantage for your hair salon business. Noona combines all these positive aspects, creating a simple and clean booking experience for your clients. Get started for free already today!

7 Hair Salon Design Examples for Your Inspiration

With the information provided above, you already have the fundamental knowledge you need to create a hair salon design that will be beautiful and functional at the same time.

However, if you are still unsure which style matches your vision best, check out some hair salon design examples we’ve listed below:

1. Retro & Cozy

While, for the most part, the walls and flooring at the Blos’n’Roses salon follow a neutral, earthy-toned palette, the furniture and decor feature two accent colors, pink and blue. This unusual mix, alongside the variety of hues, ranging from pastel to neon, truly liven up the space.

Also, note how the retro elements, such as sleek-shaped chairs and neon lights, create a contrast with an industrial-style ceiling and make the interior even more unique.

2. Elegant & Chic

The Karen Joseph Salon selected an open layout with a twist - a cozy waiting area right in the middle of the studio. You can also see how the whole space uses earthy and pastel tones, complemented with metallic accents. Altogether, this creates a calm, elegant, and airy look.

3. Bright & Classy

Texhair is a salon that mixes Asian-inspired wall art with vibrant-colored flooring, stylish furniture pieces with gold details, and funky lighting. While it may sound like a lot for just one hair studio, these elements work perfectly well together.

Besides, pay attention to the smart use of space in this salon. It features:

• Double-sided workstations

• Compact yet functional tables with wheels

• Screens instead of walls for dividing the zones

These tricks make the studio appear bigger and leave the clients and employees with enough space to move around.

4. Natural & Rugged

Seethaler Friseure is a great example of a salon with a focus on natural materials. Such characteristics as the prominent presence of wooden panels, an effortless-looking lighting setup, and dark stone elements create a fascinating blend of rustic and industrial styles.

5. Modern & Bold

The Boulevard Hair Company chose to set up a hair studio on the attic floor using an open layout. This salon looks professional yet very inviting due to a thought-out mix of functional and decorative pieces. Notice how the hair washing area is separated from the other zones with different flooring and how the waiting spot looks cozy due to the accent pillows and warm lighting.

6. Small & Simple

The Equip salon is where minimalism meets a small layout. This tiny hair studio caters to only one customer at a time and manages to fit in all the necessary equipment without making the space look too busy with items.

This salon features white and gray as base colors and uses wooden elements and pops of yellow color to add warmth to the interior.

7. Colorful & Quirky

S2 Hair Stories is surely a feast for the eyes, with an explosion of green, pink, neon, black, and white colors. Apart from a choice of hues that stand out, this hair salon also implemented multiple other techniques that help it attract customers:

• Decorative lighting elements

• An unconventional window display

• Fun slogans

• Product display clearly visible from the outside

You can also see how masterfully the studio is being kept decluttered with the help of space-saving furniture, such as the statement bench in the waiting area and the double-sided styling stations. 

Bonus: Tips for Enriching Your Salon’s Ambiance

We hope that now you have an idea of what you want your salon to look like and how to achieve it. Yet, before we wrap up this guide, we’d like to give you some additional tips on how to complete your studio’s design with details that are not always noticeable at first glance yet make a huge difference in the way a space is perceived.

Music

The music that plays in your salon has a significant role in setting the right mood for your visitors and employees. When searching for the perfect tracks to compile a great playlist, think of music that has a positive vibe and can create an uplifting atmosphere.

If you don’t have time to come up with a playlist of your own, you can use some ready-made options, such as the ones below:

• Instrumental

• Pop (24H compilation)

• Chillout mix

• Lounge covers of popular songs

• Relaxed vibes

Remember to change the playlist every once in a while to prevent it from becoming tedious.

Lighting

Lighting in a hair salon is one of the most important aspects when it comes to setting the ambiance and ensuring a comfortable work environment.

To succeed in picking the right lighting solutions, it’s important to know the differences between their four main types: 

• Ambient lighting. These are the fixtures that may not be noticeable right away but spread a diffused light across the space.

• Task lighting. Such lighting solutions improve visibility in high-use areas, such as the styling stations.

• Accent lighting. This type of lighting is used to draw the client’s attention to specific areas, such as the reception desk and product displays. 

• Decorative lighting. Lighting fixtures like this add character to the space and can be placed in virtually any zone of the hair salon.

A smart mix of these elements will help you create an inviting and unique atmosphere in your salon.

Which Design Is Right for Your Hair Salon?

As you can see, there are plenty of nuances when it comes to hair salon design. Yet, with the right information and tools, you will be able to create a space that matches your vision and pleases the right audience.

Once the hair salon design is complete, make sure show it off on the Noona app. It will help you get the attention of the clients, simplify the appointment management process, and provide you with valuable business insights!