Home Ideas Salon decorating ideas: beautiful spaces for pampering

Salon decorating ideas: beautiful spaces for pampering

From cute nail bars to home salons and full-blown beauty parlours, our salon decorating ideas will create gorgeous spaces for you and your clients, or just for you in the comfort of your home.

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If you are in the process of opening a beauty salon or upgrading an existing space, check out our salon decorating ideas.

These salon decoration ideas are perfect for budding entrepreneurs, or those lucky to have the space at home to create your own exclusive salon.

It’s important that your salon interior reflects your own personal style. How your home or shop is decorated, is a key part of your salon branding. It will show clients who you are before they even book their first hair or beauty treatment.

So whether you’re into the natural look or funky, neon brights think carefully about salon decorating ideas.

Make sure the decorating is as professional as your manicures and massages.

Get in touch with a painter or decorator who can help create beautiful finishes.

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For built-in storage ideas, we recommend hiring the expertise of a joiner or carpenter who can tailor shelving and cupboards exactly to your needs. Good lighting is crucial too, so you’ll want a qualified electrician on board too.

It doesn’t matter if your salon is big or small, we have a wealth of gorgeous salon decorating ideas to get you started.

Salon decorating ideas

Salon design inspiration is vast – there’s a look for every size and style of beauty salon.

It’s important to do your research before you make a final decision. Create a mood board, it’ll help to get your creative juices flowing and see things set out visually.

Get ready to wow clients with our top 10 salon décor ideas.

1. Stick to black and white

You can’t beat a smart monochrome décor for hairdressers and beauty salons.

A crisp black and white scheme is classic, timeless and will suit any building – be it a Victorian townhouse or modern new build.

Monochrome is the perfect base for pairing with any accent colour such as a pastel or bright accessory.

Stick to black for the main fixtures and invest in large, simple mirrors and mobile storage to keep the space clutter-free and light-filled.

2. Pretty in pink

Blush pink walls are a fabulous neutral backdrop for any size of salon.

Steer away from sickly pinks or bubblegum shades and instead head for a warmer rose or plaster pink.

Pair with curved fixtures and arched detailing to elevate the cosy mood.

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3. Strip it back

Pare back the salon interior to create a fresh and uplifting space.

Go for a mix of neutral paint colours and natural materials plus great storage for clutter-free surfaces. Clients will feel utterly relaxed as soon as they sit down in the large, comfortable armchairs.

Laying the narrow floorboards vertically then up into wall panelling expands the space visually. It’s a simple design trick to copy.

4. Install great lighting

Excellent lighting is key for all salon décor ideas. So install a combination of good general overhead lighting and effective task lighting for the hair stylists to work in.

A well-lit mirror that is illuminated around all sides will create an even and flattering glow for the customer’s reflection.

Call on the expertise of an electrician for more advice.

5. Luxe out with gold and black

For all-out luxury, you can’t beat a black and gold salon décor idea.

The gold framed mirrors, chic sideboard and crystal chandelier add just the right hint of opulence to the charcoal walls.

Lay chevron or herringbone style floorboards in dark walnut to enhance the vintage glamour.

Your clients will never want to leave!

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6. Calm with earthy tones

Fill your salon with earthy neutrals for a calm and soothing space.

Choose buttermilk, latte, caramel and toffee hues and pair with softly rounded furniture and lighting.

Feel free to add unexpected modern touches like the Perspex panelling and glossy white floors. The result is cosy minimalism at its best.

7. Make it modern industrial

Painted bare brick walls are a simple yet effective backdrop for an industrial-style salon décor with masses of wow factor.

Choose to paint exposed brick walls or fake it with a brick-effect wallpaper. Stick to simple bulb pendants and a black ceiling for serious stripped back cool.

8. Elevate with terrazzo

Speckled terrazzo floor and wall tiles will instantly inject retro design flair to salon decorating ideas.

Many restaurant bars and hotel lobbies use terrazzo because it’s tough, striking and perfect for busy areas.

Choose colours depending on what marble, granite or glass chippings are added to the cement base. From 1930s pastels to hot orange and turquoise or monochrome charcoal and brown.

Get in touch with a local tiler for ideas on style and price.

9. Embrace the great outdoors

Channel an indoor outdoor sanctuary with wall to wall timber panelling – much like a modern day cabin.

The internal courtyard garden throws masses of natural light into the salon, enhanced by artificial LEDs.

10. Go for a retro barber shop vibe

We love this modern take on a vintage barber shop look.

Key design ingredients include retro swivel leather chairs, oversized copper dome pendants and a dramatic dark backdrop.

If stone floors are out of your price range, go for a look-alike in tough, budget-friendly laminate or vinyl tiles.

And find out how much budget you’ll need for shop fitting costs in our handy guide.

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Small hair salon decorating ideas

Small hair salons can be really beautiful – and functional – spaces for both the stylist and client to enjoy.

Read on for inspiring small hair salon decorating ideas.

Get good storage: For one-wall hair salons, install bespoke tall storage to max out every last inch of space. Paint the entire storage unit the same colour of the walls to make it ‘disappear’.

Divide it up: For dual-purpose beauty and hair salons, zone off separate areas, with a funky room divider. This pink metal divider fits in with the pretty retro look.

Choose an accent colour: A monochrome palette is a good starting point for small hair salons. Liven things up with an uplifting yellow to add personality.

Double up: Keep salons for two minimalist and pared back. This L-shaped space is spot on for two sink stations and a wall of built-in storage. Just don’t skimp on chair size!

Let there be light: Tall mirrors and great lighting should be your best friends in a small hair salon. Full length mirrors subtly divide up the functions and utilise unused floor space in the middle of the salon.

Go mobile: Get on the road with your hairdressing kit or convert a retro van to create the coolest salon on wheels.

Nail salon décor ideas

A standalone nail bar might be smaller than a beauty salon or hairdressers. But the interior still requires just as much thought.

If you’re struggling creatively, you could always hire the expertise of an interior designer. Their design know-how will be able to transform your nail salon into the space of your dreams.

Here are some nail decor ideas for a super polished look (excuse the pun!)

Create a small raised platform to utilise the space wisely. Add an accent armchair for a focal point.

Sticking to an all-white palette is a favourite design trick in a nail bar. The row upon row of colourful nail varnishes are perhaps the only decoration you’ll need!

Install rows of glass shelving to stack and display your collection of nail polishes. Clients can see the colours at a quick glance.

Pink and green accents offer a really on trend pastel palette to the white backdrop in this nail bar.

Dare to go neon with fluorescent pink, lime green and citrus yellow accessories. We love the bright pink flex for the pendant lights.

Call on the expertise of a lighting designer who can create good task lighting with counter top lamps (crucial for the detailed work of a nail technician!). Pair with decorative overhead pendants for general use.

Home salon decor ideas

Opening your own home-based salon is a fabulous idea. You’ll get to be your own boss and run your business from the comfort of your own home.

There’ll be no commute, no high rental costs and no parking stress. Financially, there are start-up costs to factor in such as fitting out a salon, buying a salon chair and all the equipment that goes with it.

Check out our guide to work out average costs to build a home salon.

You’ll need space at home too. If possible, a dedicated home salon space gives more privacy to the client and can be decorated differently to your home’s decor.

Think about what space you have at home and where you’re going to base your home salon. Do you have a spare bedroom to overhaul, a garage conversion or a fully equipped she-shed at the bottom of the garden?