Salon Station Design and Layout

What should a salon station include?

A salon station should include a mirror, a work surface, storage within reach, power for tools and a chair position with room to move around it. The exact mix depends on the service: cutting, colouring, styling, nails and lashes all use the station differently.

• A mirror sized and positioned for the client and the stylist.
• A shelf or counter for the tools in use right now.
• Drawers or cabinets for everything else, closed and out of sight.
• Power points for dryers, clippers, chargers and lamps, kept off the floor where possible.
• Space behind the chair for the stylist to walk round.

List the services you offer and the tools used in each before drawing anything. A station designed for one service often frustrates another.

How much space should there be between stations?

Leave enough space for the stylist to work around the chair, for the client to get in and out, and for another person to walk behind without bumping anyone. There is no single figure that suits every salon, so treat numbers from other sites as starting points and confirm them against your unit.

Mark chair positions on the floor with tape, then ask staff to act out a normal service, including a client arriving with a bag and a stylist carrying a tray. If anyone has to turn sideways or wait, widen the gap or remove a station.

Exit routes, fire safety and accessibility rules depend on your building and use. Confirm them with your landlord, mall management or the relevant authority before the plan is final.

How do I choose and place the mirrors?

Place mirrors so clients can see the work comfortably without staring straight at the entrance or at a harsh light. Mirror height and width should suit both seated clients and standing stylists, and the frame should leave room for lighting around it.

• Check what the client sees behind them, since it will be in their view for the whole service.
• Plan mirror edges and fixings so they are easy to wipe and hard to knock.
• Allow for shelf and light positions before the mirror size is fixed.
• In a narrow salon, a mirror along the wall can make the room feel wider, but it also doubles any clutter.

Mirror glass is usually ordered to size, so confirm dimensions on site before ordering.

What storage works best at a salon station?

Concealed storage keeps products and tools tidy and the station calm to look at. Use shallow drawers for small tools, deeper cabinets for towels and colour supplies, and a few open shelves only for items you want clients to see.

1. List the tools and products each stylist uses in a normal day.
2. Group them by how often they are used: in hand, within reach, backup.
3. Give each group a drawer, a shelf or a cabinet, sized to the items.
4. Keep chemicals and heat tools in suitable, labelled places, away from each other.
5. Leave a little spare room, because stock tends to grow.

Station joinery is a carpentry job. See commercial carpentry for what it normally covers.

Where should power points go?

Put power points where tools are used, usually just above the work surface and inside a drawer or cabinet for charging. Planning them early avoids trailing cords across the floor and lets the carpenter cut neat openings for plugs and cables.

• Count the tools that may run at the same time at each station.
• Place outlets within easy reach but away from water splashes.
• Think about a charging drawer or shelf for cordless tools.
• Keep cable routes tidy, with openings sized for plugs.

Electrical capacity depends on your unit and building, so it should be assessed by the electrical contractor. For what this scope covers, see commercial electrical works.

How should salon lighting be planned?

Plan salon lighting in two jobs: even, shadow-free light on the face at the mirror, and softer ambient light that makes the room feel relaxed. Light that comes from both sides of the mirror, or from above and in front, usually avoids the harsh shadows that a single ceiling spot creates.

Colour work in particular depends on seeing true colour, so check samples under the lights you plan to use. Dimmable circuits help treatment areas feel calm. The retail display lighting guide explains layers, glare and colour rendering, and the same ideas apply at a salon mirror.

Which finishes cope with daily salon use?

Choose surfaces that tolerate water, hair products, heat from styling tools and frequent wiping. Smooth, sealed surfaces are easier to clean than textured or porous ones, and tight joints keep product from collecting in gaps.

• Work surfaces that can be wiped with the cleaning products you use.
• Floors that are slip-resistant when wet and easy to sweep at each station.
• Cabinet edges and handles that do not catch on clothing or towels.
• Wall areas near basins and stations that tolerate splashes.

Ask suppliers for samples and test them with your own products. Flooring choices are covered under commercial tiling and flooring.

What should I prepare before a site assessment?

Bring a floor plan or sketch, photos of the unit, a list of services and the number of stations and basins you want. Basin and plumbing positions are specialist matters, so raise them at the site assessment and confirm what the building allows.

Walk the taped mock-up with your team first and note what felt tight. Then see how we approach this kind of space on the salon and beauty studio fit-out page, and send us your floor plan so we can discuss your scope.

See Salons & beauty studios