Many beauty business owners have to face the tough reality of having a very limited space to arrange their salon. After filling the room with all necessary equipment, such as styling chairs, shampoo bowls, manicure trolleys and massage tables, you might not have enough room for your salon reception. Out of all problems with small spaces, this is the biggest one - after all, the front office is the first thing customers notice when they walk into your salon. You may feel frustrated looking at all these beautiful reception areas in larger parlours, however, there is no need to give up. Thanks to the tips we have gathered, you will be able to arrange your salon in a way that feels more spacious and stylish!
Let’s start with the most difficult question - how can you arrange your furniture to make your salon floor look more spacious and well-groomed?
It is a great trick to instantly make the impression of tidiness and neatness. Set up a focal point of your interior - a massive reception desk or a huge sofa will suffice. It may seem like you are shooting yourself in the foot, but actually, one big piece of furniture works better than a handful of smaller ones when it comes to small-scale places.
Sounds random enough? These are three little designer tricks to instantly ameliorate any petite interior. Appliances in the same colour as the walls simply blend in and widen the space. Transparent and translucent materials, such as glass or lucite, make anything behind them appear farther away. As for the last one - furniture with legs creates a more open feel than pieces that sit directly on the ground. They also seem lighter and more modern.
You have to forgive me for that little pun - but seriously, pull those sofas and tables away from the walls. This will create an illusion of spaciousness.
Lastly, something for all the perfectionists out there - sorting your shelves by the colour gives them the structure and the overall feeling of order and elegance. In general, the more arrangement and harmony you have, the more uncrowded and roomy the place will look.
Art and decor are very important elements of every interior. What should you choose to not make the salon seem cluttered?
The rule of a focal point applies here as well. An enormous painting, gigantic poster or an oversized vase will be better than a flood of little knick-knacks here and there. Think about any art gallery you have been to. What caught your attention more - a wall full of little landscapes or the big, beautiful portrait hanging alone? Moreover, single art pieces seem more expensive and valuable. Remember those history lessons about Gothic architecture? The verticality, height and ornamental vaults of cathedrals encouraged people to look up. Follow the example and put something that catches attention high. Anything that draws the eye upwards makes a room feel bigger.
Once again, befriend all the lustrous textures and materials. There can never be too many mirrors in a beauty salon, and glass surfaces will find use in desks, tables and decors. They catch the light like nothing else, which is always a good thing - brighter interiors always seem well put together.
Which colours find the best use in smaller salons? Can you sabotage yourself using a wrong one?
In general, brighter shades enlarge any area optically. However, wall colour heavily influences the character of the whole space and not everyone wants their salon to seem mild and sugary. So keep the walls as dark or bold as you want, but at least consider surrounding salon reception area with lighter hues.
Remember all those optical illusions you were fascinated by when you were a child? Longitudinal stripes elongate the space, so depending on whether you want to visually expand length or height of the room, you can use them as a floor covering or a wallpaper. Remember that too much of a pattern may be overwhelming - you can use it as a finishing detail instead of full embellishment.
Remember that good lighting is a necessity - aside from all visual aspects, you simply have to be able to see what you are doing! Especially in the beauty industry where every detail counts.
Sconces can be very classy and they add brightness without taking up valuable surface space. Remember that lamps that hang too low will weigh down the room, no matter how pretty they look!
There are a few small reception area ideas that will not only visually enlarge the space but also help your receptionist maintain a healthy work environment. You should consider getting a good task lighting, for example a desk lamp or a flexible, minimalistic track light. Additional brightness in the reception area adds to salon’s overall look, but most importantly - allows your receptionist to work comfortably. However, think about whether you want them to work with a traditional appointment book in the first place - nowadays, you can easily manage customer records and appointment booking with a hair & beauty salon software. In that case, your receptionist will only need a self-sufficient computer screen and then you can light the reception area however you want. Small salons have this special charm that makes them feel cosy and intimate, and with some arrangement adjustments, they may easily compete with the bigger ones. Don’t feel discouraged by your smaller space, try out our little tips and arrange yourself a perfect place to work in. Always think first about the work comfort, of both yourself and your employees, as it is far more important than any design. Test drive Booksy salon software today to ease the work of your staff members and experience all the benefits!
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