Whether you’re a small salon owner or a salon suite renter, there are several innovative ways you can maximize your limited space and create the perfect aesthetic for your clients. If you’ve been looking for game-changing styling tricks, practical tips for creating the illusion of space, or even just some low budget beauty salon interior design ideas–look no further–we’ve got the skinny on keeping it trim!

Creative Small Salon Ideas

Operating a small salon or salon suite can be challenging. You have restricted space to not only create a chill and inviting atmosphere, but also manage customers and your daily business. By optimizing the little space you have, you can make a huge difference in how your customers feel during their salon experience, which plays a part in whether they’ll return. Keep on reading for some useful salon decor tips and ideas. 

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6 Small Salon Interior Design Ideas

Need a few small salon interior design ideas that’ll captivate your clients and boost your business? Below are some creative ways to make the most impact with the least real estate.

Photo Worthy Aesthetics

A playful theme or eye-catching color scheme can intrigue your clients and give them something to look at while they sit in your salon chair. Even a well-placed neon sign can change the whole vibe of a room. Photo-worthy designs and spaces are great for posting on social media and attracting the attention of potential clients who may dig your style. 

Minimalist Furnishings

Keeping it simple doesn’t mean it can’t be pretty! Small salon interior design doesn’t have to be bare bones and boring–you can make it cozy and interesting with sleek, minimalist salon chairs and other furniture that match the style and energy of your salon. Investing in furniture that doubles as storage–like rolling cabinets that both holds and stores your salon equipment, or couches with hidden compartments–is also a smart way to make the most of your space. 

Smart Color Strategy

As a small salon owner, strategic use of color can make a world of a difference in your decor. White can help open up a room and make it feel brighter, while light, neutral colors will also make the room feel spacious and less cluttered. Having a few dark contrasts in your salon decor can give a dynamic feel without dimming the entire aesthetic. It’s not always the case, but filling a small salon or salon suite with too many bold colors can be overwhelming and create an unsettling environment for the client. 

Statement Pieces

A nail salon with vibrant colors and fuchsia chairs

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Another salon suite decor idea is to add a mural wall as an interesting point of focus. Fun artwork or an intricate design can draw the eye and elevate your small space. It also doesn’t hurt to have a design that clients can’t wait to take photos of (or selfies with) and share on social media, which is always good for business! If you don’t know any local artists (or can’t afford to hire one), vinyl decals are a cheap and effective way to achieve a similar effect. 

Natural Embellishments

Adding greenery and other natural focal points is a fantastic way to make a space feel fresh, alive, and less sterile than, say, a completely white and neutral room. Little shrubs, flowers, and hanging vines can complement any room’s aesthetic and bring a pop of much needed color to your space, especially if you’ve gone full minimalist. And if you don’t have the bandwidth to deal with plant management, you can always opt for faux foliage. 

Light

If your small salon or suite has access to windows and natural light, use that to your advantage. Introducing light into your small salon illuminates dark corners and opens up the space, making it feel more breathable and airy. If your small salon doesn’t have windows, try natural light LEDs and glossy furniture to mimic the effect of natural lighting and add brightness to your room. 

7 Tips To Make Your Salon Look Bigger

If you’re struggling to make your space feel bigger and more welcoming, read on for some helpful salon suite decor ideas that can maximize the area you have and give your clients the most comfortable salon experience. 

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Outline Your Vision

It’s a lot easier to plan for a small salon before you move into it, so mapping out your vision, including what you want the style to be, as well as all the essentials you’ll need (along with your budget), can help you plan much more efficiently for your space. Once you’ve accounted for all your necessary salon gear, you’ll get a better idea of what type of decor and design you have the space for. Creating a mood board and/or researching small salon ideas on sites like Pinterest is another useful way to help envision your goal and organize your plans before you start spending money on them. 

Strategic Furniture Placement

Hanging mirrors, flush light fixtures, and mobile carts are some ways many salon owners can save space without having to sacrifice style. Choosing the right furniture shapes for your salon will also improve the layout, as keeping the floor clear and your walkways open will facilitate a feeling of openness and give your clients a pleasant atmosphere to move around or relax in. 

Use Of Mirrors To Create Depth And Reflect Light

Another effective small salon idea is to use mirrors to play with light. Mirrors reflect light and create the illusion of more space, which is especially useful if your salon happens to be in a dim or windowless area. Adding glossy or other reflective surfaces can also increase the amount of light available in your space. 

Bright And Neutral Color Schemes To Open Up The Space

Dark, dim colors don’t usually work in a tiny space. Whites, light colors, and neutrals like beige and taupe are better at distributing light and making a small area feel bright and open. You can use your decor–couch cushions, plants, artwork, throws–to make little pops of color and provide a dynamic contrast in the more muted areas of your salon, but try not to overdo it with darkness. 

Minimalist Decor And Clutter-Free Surfaces

Another useful small salon idea is to focus on minimalist furniture and decor. Simple designs, light colors, and transparent pieces can cut down on that cluttered feel while optimizing the space you have for customer comfort and foot traffic. If possible, try to keep your salon equipment and tools out of sight until you’re ready to use them. 

Vertical Space For Storage And Display

Compact furniture that doubles as storage, stackable drawers, and hidden couch compartments are some other helpful small salon ideas that can really make a difference in your space. And if you don’t have the room to go wide, go up! High cabinets or floating shelves can also keep your bits and bobs out of the way while you maximize your area for both work and client comfort. 

Take Your Time

Try not to blow your entire budget on everything you think you’ll need right away! Your idea of what’s best for the salon may change as you spend more time in it. Perhaps the color you chose isn’t as relaxing as you thought, or the furniture pieces you picked don’t mesh well together. If you’ve already committed to a particular theme or style for your small salon, it can be time consuming (and financially silly) to then have to fully redesign it if it’s not what you want. Always take your time when making purchases to make sure each one works for your layout. 

Seamless Salon Management With GlossGenius

GlossGenius knows how stressful it can be to manage a small salon or suite, so we’re here to make your life easier. Our appointment scheduling and client management software takes care of the logistics without taking up space. It’s designed to help salon owners like you maintain a clutterless and stress-free environment while efficiently taking care of your business, so you’re free to focus on your clients and deliver quality services. 

Try GlossGenius free for 14 days!

If you’re a salon owner looking to streamline your administrative hassles, look no further than GlossGenius. Our simple and reliable software will keep you on track so you can get back to being a boss!

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FAQs

What Is The Best Size For A Salon?

The best size for a salon is whichever size comfortably accommodates all the services you provide. If you’re only providing nail services, you’ll likely not need as much space as you would for a salon that provides nail, hair, and waxing services. However, if you have a quickly growing clientele base, it might be worth it to invest in a larger salon so that you can properly accommodate your budding business.

How Do I Set Up A Small Salon On A Budget?

When it comes to low budget beauty salon interior design, you’ll have to get crafty. For starters, keep it simple–look for minimalist or second-hand furniture at thrift stores. If possible, try upcycling old furniture or creating DIY salon decor that best fits your desired style (YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, and Instagram are great for inspo and/or tutorials!) There may also be some great finds at a beauty salon auction, where you can stock up on the equipment and supplies you need at competitive prices. 

How To Maximize A Small Salon Space?

The best way to maximize a small salon space is to only focus on the absolute essentials to run your business. Stay away from chunky designs, maximalist furniture, or any equipment that takes up more space than necessary. Even better if your furniture can double as an additional storage space! Keep your entrance light and open so clients don’t feel like they’re stepping into a closet, and maintain clear walkways with strategic placement and vertical storage.

People Also Ask:

How do I design a small salon? A small salon needs careful planning, functional designs, and lots of light. You likely won’t want to include big, gaudy furniture or decor, or use colors that darken and minimize your space. Using reflective mirrors and glossy surfaces can also help create the illusion of light and space, making your small salon feel larger than it is. 

How can I make my hair salon unique? Aside from coming up with a damn good salon name, you can make your salon more unique by offering services others don’t. Whether it’s custom nail art, massages, or even just snacks and tea, you can make your salon standout by going above and beyond the standard salon experience. If you have the space (and the vision), you can also make your salon unique by adding a theme. It can be a 90s vibe, pretty in pink, or even gothic style–whichever suits your style and gives your customers a comfortable, memorable experience.