INSIGHT
How to design a hair salon interior: blending style with functionality
Introduction to salon interior design
The way the interior of a salon has been designed has a direct impact on the commercial success of the salon. This includes not just the overall design and atmosphere but also considers client comfort, and creating a relaxing enjoyable experience.
A successful salon design is one where the client will be encouraged to return and where they are inspired to share their positive experiences and help build a powerful advocacy for the salon owner.
Caulder Moore expertise in designing landmark hair and beauty salons
We have extensive experience in working on hair salon interior design projects with leading industry names including Charles Worthington, Daniel Hersheson, Daniel Galvin, Gielly Green, Michaeljohn, Andrew Barton and Paul Edmonds.
We also have extensive experience in working with beauty and fragrance brands such as Neom Organics, Jo Malone, Thameen, Davines, Aveda, Ormonde Jayne and Le Labo.
With such a strong track record in working with leading hair salon brands, we possess a deep understanding of how to deliver successful outcomes, where the design aesthetic reflects the spirit and vision of the brand.
When working with a client such as Charles Worthington, the brief for an individual site can vary according to the location architectural style and character of the site. For example, the Charles Worthington Percy Street London salon had a contemporary cool, clear design aesthetic, whilst their Covent Garden London, hair salon, in Grade 2 listed building meant that the approach was quite different, maximised the space in a way that respected strict planning guidelines and minimal structural changes.
With an understanding of their customers' needs and wants and their attitudes and values, a brand can deliver more personalised shopping experiences which will strengthen brand value and a clear understanding of your story in relation to this opportunity for personal customer connection. Brands that bring their purpose and values to life through their retail brand experience are brands of substance and meaning, that can develop into long term customer loyalty and enduring bonds.
Charles Worthington Salon on Great Queen Street designed by Caulder Moore
On other occasions the brief required, such as with the Daniel Galvin landmark salon in George Street London, a careful balance of marrying commercial, criteria with creating a luxurious, memorable experience. With approximately 100 styling stations it was vital to ensure that each client felt special and that they were having an individual, personalised experience.
Striking traditional storefront design for Daniel Galvin in London by Caulder Moore
With Trevor Sorbie, we undertook a comprehensive rebrand, including a new brand identity, logo, and brand signature. The key challenge was to create a brand link between a hair salon in Dubai Mall, with one in Clifton, a neighbourhood in Bristol.
Elegant design approach at Trevor Sorbie, Dubai
Urban style at Trevor Sorbie, Bristol
Whilst many of the key principles of the design and aesthetic language were consistent, clearly these were two very different locations. We overcame this by creating a very strong, distinctive, recognisable brand signature.
Understanding your space and audience
As with any project that we undertake the essential first step in achieving a successful outcome is building a robust brief. In this stage, we take time with the salon business owner to understand not only key commercial objectives, but also to ensure that we truly get 'under the skin' of the business vision of the salon owner, and consequently what salon design ideas, inspiration and concept directions will assist in expressing their brand ethos.
Each salon must possess a clear vision for its core message and positioning, what it is that it would like to 'own' as a space, and experience, and clearly define its competitive advantage.
Some salon owners focus on wellness and well-being, others on luxury, others on a strong artistic vision, or colour expertise, others on sustainability, and some on creating a local community hub in which other experiences are integrated such as hospitality in the sense of an associated cafe or bar, for example.
Cafe at Bhuti, in Richmond
Some salon owners have successfully introduced beauty services to broaden their offering and their appeal to generate greater income from their existing client base, and to encourage more frequent visits.
Soft fabrics and discrete lighting create an inviting and peaceful treatment room at Neom Organics, Guildford
These are all ways in which a salon owner can determine to develop, nurture and reinforce their competitive edge through consciously crafting the aesthetics and inspiration of their interiors in their salon space.
Similarly, leveraging competitive advantage, through the salon interior design ideas extends to clearly communicating the salon's speciality.
Integrating retail areas in salon design
All retail businesses talk about how increasing dwell time for customers is a key objective. One of the key advantages hair salon owners possess is that their clients are a captive audience for a long period. This creates several business opportunities, one of which is the valuable role of retail in salon design and experience, a potentially huge revenue generator.
We know, from our experience, that salon teams and stylists are often reluctant to be seen to be 'selling' retail products.
This is why retail thinking must be considered at the outset, and integrated into the customer journey to achieve maximum sales and engage client engagement with the retail display and merchandising.
A strong retail focus at Bhuti, Richmond encourages customers to explore their products
Practical yet effective retail solutions at Trevor Sorbie, Bristol
We have worked extensively with Davines, the premium B Corp haircare brand, in creating retail product areas in key stores such as Liberty and Selfridges in London, as well as adapting these concepts for their partner salons.
As retail specialists, our input can be invaluable in maximising the potential of this essential income generator.
Davines in Radio Salon, London. Informative displays for a large product range
Davines in Radio Hair Salon, refreshing retail product display to highlight usage
Planning your salon layout
When planning a salon space, consideration is given to every aspect of the customer journey, from the exterior to the location and scale, and comfort of the reception space.
Creating a welcoming entrance is vital in putting clients at ease in the first instance, and providing a reception experience which is essential in shaping first impressions.
Trevor Sorbie, Bristol integrates a welcoming bar style reception area with strong brand cues
We also consider the role of sight lines, retail and hospitality. This includes ensuring the optimum balance of styling positions as well as back wash units have been achieved. A perfect salon interior means thinking about sight lines to ensure that the stylist and the salon team can easily communicate with their colleagues and clients and have an overview of the salon without compromising client comfort. This can mean moving away from rows of styling stations into more interesting and bespoke layouts.
Adapting small areas into a dynamic salon experience at Trevor Sorbie, Bristol
Given that lighting, task, as well as atmosphere, is such a key part of the client experience we assess the role of natural light, and the importance of task lights for lighting to not only deliver excellent colour rendition and show colour effectively, but also ambient lighting which is flattering to the client.
Consequently, we avoid stark overhead lighting at the styling position as it is very unflattering compared to front-on lighting. Furthermore, we maximise the role of lighting, and different light styles, in creating the right ambience and atmosphere.
We always determine the use of space and zoning, to define separate areas, optimising operational efficiency and workflow, with client comfort. In addition, we will also maximise the number of achievable styling positions.
Bhuti, Richmond designed for maximum treatment stations yet still tranquil and comfortable for customers to relax
Bhuti, Richmond designed for maximum treatment stations yet still tranquil and comfortable for customers to relax
Ultimately the best salon design is one where clients feel comfortable and looked after, which is why our human-centred approach is integral to shaping an experience where each customer with their individual needs are considered in detail.
Selecting a design theme
As outlined above, it is essential that the salon owner has an interior design theme that is directly connected with their brand ethos, and plays an essential role in expressing this ethos and brand positioning.
Davines in Liberty, designing displays around their eco credentials
Whether the aesthetic is minimalistic, retro, natural, glamorous, bohemian, or industrial, it must be shaped and crafted in a way that becomes unique to that salon. It must express something about the brand in a way that is unique, memorable and compelling. It must also work with the existing architecture and design style of the building. Furthermore, it must adapt to the location, and the character of the area in which it sits, so that it feels authentically part of the streetscape.
Bhuti was designed as an urban retreat in the heart of Richmond integrating seamlessly into the area
Our expertise in working with many different salon owners, means we are experts in crafting an interior design concept and experience which is unique to the brand.
Key design elements of successful salon
We provide detailed advice and inspiration on choosing furniture and fixtures that combine functionality with style to align with the overall aesthetic vision.
Tranquil garden waiting area at Trevor Sorbie in Bristol was designed in keeping with the stylish urban theme
One of the vital considerations is to determine materials and textures that are not only robust and hard-wearing in the interiors, but that are colour-resistant and suitable specifically for hair salon use and easy maintenance.
Fundamentally, whilst there are many factors in shaping the optimum hair salon experience, technical and aesthetic, it is ultimately about making the client look great, feel special, and valued as a client.
The lasting impact of salon interior design
The inspiration behind the interior design concept of any great hair salon is always linked directly to the vision of the salon owner, their goals, and brand personality. Stand out, memorability and a robust brand strategy is essential in what is a highly competitive business.
The most successful hair salons are those which deliver a holistic experience where the client is at the heart of that experience.
Our extensive industry experience means that we can help salon owners avoid many of the challenges and costly mistakes in what can be complex projects, marrying technical and operational requirements, with aesthetic and design considerations. We can also advise on what is achievable within certain budget levels, which can help determine realistic expectations related to the capital available.