Salon Design Starter Guide 2025: Expert Tips & Trends for Salon Owners
Salon Design Starter Guide 2025
Practical ideas, inspiration, and expert advice for salon owners planning their next refit.
Welcome to your Salon Design Starter
I’m Mike Cooper, and I’ve been working in the hair and beauty industry for more than 35 years. In that time, I’ve designed hundreds of salons across the UK, helped owners like you navigate the challenges of budgeting, planning, and creating a space that truly works.
Hello, and welcome to your Salon Design Starter Guide 2025.
A salon interior isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about how effectively your space generates revenue, how it makes clients feel, and how it helps your team perform at their best.
Done right, design is the difference between a salon that simply looks good, and one that earns good money, builds a reputation, and keeps clients coming back. +447415336002
This guide is a starting point — practical, inspiring, and realistic.
Whether you’re planning a refit, opening your first salon, or simply exploring what’s possible.
You’ll find ideas, tips, and strategies here to help you move forward with confidence.
Planning Your Salon Refit
Failing to Prepareis preparing to fail!
Start with the big picture. Before you get caught up in choosing chairs and colours, ask yourself:
Who are my clients?
What services do I want to emphasise?
How can my space flow so clients feel relaxed and staff work efficiently?
Typical Zones in a 1500 sq ft Salon
Reception & Retail – Your first impression and a sales opportunity.
Styling Stations – The heart of your salon
Backwash Area – Comfort and privacy matter here.
Colour/Processing Zone – Increasingly popular as a separate, calmer area.
Storage & Staff – Often overlooked, but crucial for smooth operations.
Common Layout Mistakes to Avoid
Overcrowding – Too many chairs can make the salon feel cramped.
Poor lighting – Bad lighting makes colours look wrong and clients unhappy
No clear zones – Clients should always feel guided through the space.
�� Tip: Sketch your layout on paper or use free software but always check with a professional before committing. Small errors in planning can cost thousands later.
Typical Salon Plan: by Inspiring salons Ltd
Budgeting Made Simple
Every salon owner has a budget, and every budget has limits. The key is knowing where to spend and where to save.
Retail shelving (modular solutions often work just as well).
Invest More In…
Styling chairs & Backwash Basins (they define your look and client comfort)
Reception desk (sets the tone the moment clients walk in).
Lighting (absolutely worth the spend for client experience and photos).
Finance Options
Cashflow is one of the biggest worries for salon owners. That’s why at Inspiring Salons, we offer flexible finance options spreading payments while you earn revenue. It’s often the simplest way to achieve the salon you really want. Remember with leasing you own the furniture & the end of the term.
Salon Design Trends for 2025/26
�� Biophilic Design
Bringing nature indoors plants, green walls, and natural materials creates a calming, luxury feel and connects with eco-conscious clients.
♻ Sustainability
Salon owners are demanding durable furniture, energy-efficient lighting, and recyclable materials. Sustainability isn’t just a trend — it’s becoming a client expectation
��
Instagrammable Spaces
Social media is now your shop window Salons with statement walls, bold mirrors, or creative lighting get shared more often, bringing free marketing through clients’ photos.
�� Personalisation
No two salons should look the same. 2025 is about reflecting your brand story — whether that’s minimalist, industrial, vintage, or glamorous chic
Furniture That Works Hard for You
Furniture isn’t just decoration it’s a working tool. Poor quality means higher long-term costs and frustrated staff
Key Furniture to Consider
Styling Chairs: Comfort + durability Choose wisely these are your “bread and butter.”
Mirrors: Size and placement affect the feel of the space. Full-length mirrors elongate, smaller ones make it intimate.
Reception Desks: First impressions matter. Bespoke options elevate your brand.
Backwash Units: Ergonomic design avoids staff injuries and client discomfort “Investing in good backwash units is investing in your salon business!”
At Inspiring Salons Ltd, we’ve built the largest salon furniture portfolio in the UK, thanks to 30+ years of relationships with leading manufacturers That means more choice, better pricing, and solutions tailored to you.
Boosting Client Experience with Design
Happy clients = loyal clients The design of your salon is a silent salesperson working 7 days a week.
Lighting
Warm, flattering light in styling zones. Bright, crisp light at colour stations.
Privacy
Screens or semi-private areas for treatments and colour.
Comfortable waiting spaces (not squeezed by the door).
Client Flow
Clients should feel guided naturally: welcome → style → wash → process → retail → checkout.
Next Steps: From Idea to Reality
So, where do you go from here?
1.Book a Free Consultation
Talk directly with me or my team. Share your floorplan, vision, and challenges. Get advice tailored to your salon.
2.Receive a Mood Board Preview
We’ll create an AI-powered visual showing how your ideas could look. Quick, affordable, and powerful for decision-making.
