Before a strong design ethos, well-trained staff, and top-quality salon furniture have a chance to work together to make your salon a success, you must first choose the perfect location.

Narrowing down the perfect spot for your new salon can be tough, but it’s essential for success further down the line. Once you’ve chosen an area – usually one you are familiar with or one where there is a demand for your services – you need to narrow it down some more to identify your target customer base.

Unless you already have a good professional reputation, you will need to locate your salon on a busy street or in another high-profile spot. Next, you need to choose the right premises to suit your needs.

Case study: Andrew Barton

After realising that he wanted to open his flagship salon on London’s Covent Garden, celebrity hairdresser Andrew Barton had to wait some time to find his perfect premises. Andrew says this is one of the best decisions he made when setting up his salon, as it was just right for his new business. He says:

“This property was exactly what I wanted. It ticked all the right boxes – right location, a traditional shop front, lovely high ceilings and a large sweeping staircase. It feels open, light and incredibly happy,”

There is a fine line to tread between chic, minimalist design and cluttered, unfocused decor, and salon owners need to get the balance right to create a great atmosphere. Salon decor and the ambience it creates has a significant impact on clients’ impressions of your business as a whole, and they won’t return if they don’t like what they see.

One example of a bad design would be a bare white space, with clean, geometric lines and nothing on the walls. The colour scheme is monochrome (black, white and grey) and the lighting is austere and unflattering.

Many salon owners think they are following current trends with this minimalist look, but what they are actually doing is creating a cold, clinical space devoid of any character or personality. This sort of salon would make any customer feel intimidated, unwelcome and uncomfortable.

The key then is balance. You can still have a forward-thinking, simple design, but you need to give it character and a bit of spark. Add colour in certain pieces of salon furniture or a feature wall, dot a few plants about the place, and let in some natural light. Finally, don’t forget to make salon chairs and treatment tables comfortable for clients.

Minimalist, futuristic designs are often best suited to large, open spaces, meaning that salons on a smaller scale are constantly looking for alternative design solutions. The ‘boutique hotel’ look can be perfect, creating a warm, welcoming yet fashionable salon space for clients to experience.

To achieve the elegance and sophistication of the boutique look in your salon, you need to be aware of a few essential components. Firstly, you should remember the atmosphere you are trying to create should be luxurious, cosy, personalised and ever-so-slightly unconventional.

Next, follow these pointers to create your own unique look:

• Antique furniture – This should only be added in a few small, key pieces such as lampshades or pictures, in areas away from the central styling units or massage chairs (which should be kept sleek, functional and professional looking). Save the personalised aspects for relaxation areas and waiting rooms.

• Feature walls – Colour is very important in boutique design, and it is particularly effective when used boldly on one or two walls when the rest of the colours scheme is warm and neutral.

• Comfortable sofas, chairs and chaise longues – The perfect example of a boutique chic style product is the Waiting Bench Passione in bold red.