Fully Furnished - guide to selecting furniture for your salon or spa

Salon or spa furniture wouldn’t necessarily be classed as a hot topic in the industry, yet it remains an area of key importance. Furniture is a critical component in the creation of salon or spa’s look and feel, but more than that it is a fundamental part of the client experience. Just as a bad treatment or poor customer service will remain at the forefront of a customer’s mind, so will tatty, unhygienic looking or uncomfortable furnishings. Comfort (for staff and clients), durability, hygiene, cost, design and aesthetic, size and functionality all have a part to play in the decision-making process. The latter area is of growing importance as spas and salons seek increasingly multi-functional furniture, for example a treatment couch or massage bed that is heated, fully adjustable and with in-built lighting and sound. Furniture, just as with other parts, of the business, is subject to trends. And this is perhaps the one area where industry experts advise caution. Opting for the latest and supposedly greatest item of furniture can prove not only a costly investment, but also something that becomes redundant a few months down the line, as that particular trend fades into the background. To help you with your furniture purchasing decisions, Professional Beauty has compiled a handy guide to some of the key items for your salon or spa.

Styling chairs

Comfort is unsurprisingly of key concern here. Clients can spend a substantial amount of time sitting in them, and stylists a considerable amount of time standing behind them. Consider chairs that are well-cushioned, have lumbar support, padded armrests and footrests. Ensure that the seats are heightadjustable and made from a material that is both durable and easy to clean and maintain. Sturdiness is also important, look for well-built chairs that won’t scratch, damage, rust, squeak or generally wear and tear easily. In addition, consider how the design of the chairs will fit in with the overall aesthetics of your salon, and its size. If you opt for bigger chairs, then you may have to consider purchasing one or two fewer than you planned and vice versa.

Styling stations / trolleys

The key point of the station or trolley is that it's a mobile storage unit, which means the stylist or technician has all the items they require in an organised and easy to reach space. As with other items of spa or salon furniture – durability, hygiene and aesthetics play a part in the choice – but the most important factor is functionality. Select a trolley or station that has compartments that are practical in size and will easily store the items you need it to – whether that is hair styling products or tools like flat irons and dryers, hair dyes and foils, or beauty products like waxes, nail polishes and nail kits. Consider the height of these items too – hair stylists usually stand up all day, while nail technicians sit down – so trolleys should be reflective of that. In the case of stations for nail technicians, these often double up as areas for clients to rest their feet on, or technicians to sit on during the treatment, so take that into account too.

Backwash units/shampoo bowls

One of the more cumbersome furniture items you may have to splash out on, backwash units or shampoo bowls not only require an ample amount of space in your salon, but they also need to be strategically located for water supply. Space may be the decisive factor in your choice of backwash unit or shampoo bowls. The former is in effect a unit comprising of a seat and the wash basin, while the latter is just the shampoo bowl, which is typically then built into a separate counter or unit, and for which you would also need to purchase separate chairs. With either option the recommendation is to select basin components that are ceramic and stainproof and good quality water mixers and water housing elements. For the seating elements, the material must also be waterproof and stain resistant. Comfort is another key factor – leaning your head back at an awkward angle for even just a few minutes is not enjoyable for clients – invest in seats with adequate neck support or the ability to recline.

Pedicure chairs

These chairs are in some ways comparable to backwash units – both generally require access to a water source and both can be configured in different ways, either as an all-in-one unit comprising the chair and wash basin or as two separate elements. For pedicure chairs integrating water sources, look for those with pipeless jet systems, as these are more hygienic. Hygiene also needs to be considered in other areas of the furniture design and the ability to easily and safely clean a pedicure chair must be taken in account, as well as its durability and comfort. Chairs that are height adjustable are a definite advantage, as are those that have the ability to rotate. Alongside the space consideration for the client’s chair, also consider where the technician will be positioned during the treatment and what her level of comfort will be.

Massage beds/treatment tables

These items may also be known as couches or loungers, and while a ‘try before you buy’ policy is recommended for most furniture items, for beds/tables it is an absolute must. Most clients will spend around 60 minutes reclining on them, and any discomfort experienced will undeniably take the shine off what could have otherwise been a superb treatment. Consider the width of the bed – wide enough that clients won’t feel as though they are going to roll off, but not so wide that your therapists can’t easily reach the client. Think about how these items will be used in treatments and apply that knowledge when making your purchasing decision. These days massage beds and tables come in a wide array of options – from simple, pared down choices, designed for just one use, to all singing, all dancing models that play a pivotal role in the spa treatment itself. Sturdiness and durability are essential for this type of furniture, and hygiene and ease of cleaning are similarly paramount. Height adjustability is important too, and the option to heat or warm the bed is a plus point.

The images used in this article are from CINDARELLA Paris, French manufacturer of professional hair salon furniture will be exhibiting at PB show in February on stand G11.