One of the main reasons clients will book in for a repeat appointment after visiting your salon is the ambience. You need to offer each and every client personal service, and make them feel welcome and at home. In fact, some of the most successful salons are places where customers like to ‘hang out’ as well as get their hair cut or receive a beauty treatment.

But how do you create such a warm and welcoming atmosphere? Décor plays a large role in the mood or ‘feel’ of your salon, but it is important to find a balance between chic, minimalist style and a comfortable, cosy look.

Here are some tips:

• Lighting – the right lighting scheme can make or break a design scheme. Save the brightest fluorescent lights for directly above salon chairs (so that stylists can properly assess colour) and layer many different, softer types of lighting throughout the salon.

• Make full use of natural light – this instantly warms up spacious salons or spaces with paler colour schemes

• Comfortable salon furniture – Clients use all their senses when gauging the atmosphere of your salon, so invest in comfortable salon chairs and waiting benches.

• Natural touches – fresh flowers and natural materials such as wood (floors, furniture etc.) will help to break down any sense of artificiality your modern equipment may have created.