Decor and personality go hand-in-hand. The ideal salon design should put your taste and the message you want to communicate to clients on the exterior. Honing your style gives you the ability to create that specific atmosphere clients can feel the minute they step through the doors. Whether you’re just starting out, planning for the future, or redecorating your space, narrowing your focus will help you develop something personal and cohesive.

1. How would you describe your favorite color palette?

a. Bold Primary Colors
b. Secondary Colors
c. Natural Colors        
d. Neutral Colors

Answer: _________

2. Which statement best captures your current decorating tactic?

a. I like clean lines with fun accents of color.
b. I like a space to come together organically with things I’ve found over time.
c. I like to create natural comfort like my mom’s house.
d. I like everything in a room to flow together seamlessly. 

Answer: _________

3. Aside from nail care products, a grade-A retail boutique consists of:

a. Trending accessories: circle scarves, geometric bracelets, and clutches
b. Antique jewelry and one-of-a-kind knick-knacks
c. Crafts handmade by local artists
d. Scented candles and organic lotions

Answer: _________

4.  The ultimate decorative piece for your salon is…

a. A large abstract painting by one of your favorite contemporary artists
b. A repurposed credenza you found at the flea market
c. A heap of fresh fruit in a woven basket
d. A handsome low-maintenance plant

Answer: _________

5. What do you think is the ideal salon dress code?

a. Chic. Think dark-washed skinny jeans and stilettos.
b. Something cute that shows a little personality.
c. Keep it casual!
d. Nothing busy. Uniforms or cohesive color schemes are best.

Answer: _________

6. You’re on break. What are you eating for lunch?

a. Heading to the new bistro that just opened a few blocks down
b. Leftovers from last night’s dinner
c. A hearty sandwich
d. A bowl of hot soup and salad

Answer: _________

7. What does coziness mean to you?

a. High ceilings, ample space, and a cool couch to sit on
b. Pillows and a big, comfy armchair
c. Outside sipping tea in a rocking chair
d. A calming environment adorned with the perfect balance of colors, sounds, and plants

Answer: _________

8. If your salon needed new furniture, you’d look for…

a. A piece with great style
b. An old chair to restore like you saw on Pinterest
c. Something sturdy and wooden
d. Ergonomics first

Answer: _________

9. If you could have an endless supply of fresh flowers in your salon, they’d be...

a. Calla lilies and poppies    
b. Hydrangeas and peonies
c. Succulents and wildflowers    
d. Orchids and lotuses

Answer: _________

10. If you could move your salon to any location in the world without it affecting business, you’d choose…

a. A big city. Got to be steps away from the latest and greatest in food and culture.
b. An up-and-coming neighborhood — that emergent energy brings cool independent shops and even better company.
c. The pastoral countryside. Being steps away from a hike would be great.
d. A remote getaway with open scenery. I’d love to step outside and simply enjoy uninterrupted nature.

Answer: _________

Click next to see your results.

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THE RESULTS

If you answered mostly A’s…
Your salon decor style is MODERN.
Modern decor is often associated with minimalism and simplicity, but a lot of thought goes into creating this look. It’s all about molding a trendy yet welcoming space with clean lines, polished surfaces, functional furniture, strong geometric shapes, asymmetry, and a neutral palette with bold pops of color. This is a great look for fashion-forward salon owners with contemporary taste. Expansive interiors with large unadorned windows are ideal, but minimal embellishments can help create that illusion. Stay away from unnecessary clutter by choosing only a few statement-making decorations like a large art piece, mirror, or light fixture that exhibits angular shapes, the hallmark of this style. Many modern furniture pieces are streamlined, tend to highlight functionality, and are made from man-made and natural materials. A blend of overhead- and spot-lights is fairly common as well. A popular variation of modern decor is urban decor, which is city space turned chic. It’s characterized by exposed brick or wood walls, maybe even exposed piping, and edgy color combinations you don’t see together too often like black and beige or gray and red. Common embellishments are ceiling pendants, big mirrors, and one-of-a-kind art pieces. If you’re on a budget, blowing up and framing black-and-white photography is a nice touch.

If you answered mostly B’s…
Your salon decor style is VINTAGE.
Do you have a thing for old-world charm or dainty beauty? True vintage rooms tend to resemble a homey living room and are adorned with timeworn objects that exude a sense of comfort and charm. This includes garage sale or flea-market finds, repurposed furniture, and antique trimmings. The look isn’t matchy-matchy, yet the right combination of things can come together quite pleasantly. Incorporate quirky, personal items that you’ve found over time to create an artful vignette, or take on a DIY art project. Vintage decor is all in the details. One room of your salon alone could have a myriad of things to look at — odds and ends on a bookshelf or an antique jewelry collection for sale strewn about different credenzas. But to prevent a room from looking disorganized, make sure to follow a coherent color scheme. Another common form of this style is “vintage-inspired,” which consists of a look that’s too old to be considered “used,” but not as old as grandma. The difference between vintage-inspired and your grandma’s house is that modern-day vintage has a more tailored look with muted versions of colors and classic patterns. Shabby chic is similar. Whereas vintage decor showcases objects from other eras, shabby chic involves distressing objects to give an aged appearance, French linens, rococo chandeliers, and pastel colors.

If you answered mostly C’s…
Your salon decor style is RUSTIC.
Rustic decor is a cozy decorating style that admires the natural world and creates a kick-off-your-boots kind of atmosphere in the salon. Inspiration is drawn from country homes, farmhouses, and the outdoors. Avoiding anything too formal, you’ll often see an electric mix of fabrics and secondhand or even homemade furniture pieces. The predominant theme is unpainted wood or oak coloring — rustic decor prizes wood in its natural state. Natural lighting is key when creating this type of look with either access to nature or lots of greenery or wildflowers scattered throughout the space. Wooden floors are a great starting point, but if this isn’t available to you, look for furniture pieces made from wood, wicker, or cork. Anything to make the space cozier will aid in achieving this look. We’ve seen salons install fireplaces inside and landscape gardens out back. Rocking chairs, shutters, and decorative jars or bottles aren’t uncommon either. Rustic decor pairs well with either bold or natural colors, and simple designs and textiles. Too much texture can be too busy.

If you answered mostly D’s…
Your salon decor style is ZEN.
Maybe your style preference has East Asian influences, or maybe you like the minimalism of modern decor without the bold colors. But ultimately obvious clues that you’re into Zen decor are symmetry, clean lines, natural materials, and a total absence of clutter. Most likely you want your salon atmosphere to be a calming place for clients to relax and escape the busy world around them. A perfect way to achieve this is to have your decor reflect that philosophy. A Zen look fuses natural fiber elements — such as bamboo and wicker — with colors taken from nature to create a serene environment. The natural shades induce a sense of relaxation, and a cohesive design creates harmony between the various elements of your space from the walls to the furniture. To avoid monochromatic schemes, you can choose one dominant color with matching objects. Another way to give this style depth is to incorporate different textures through the fabrics you choose. Good decorative pieces include hand-painted items (like light fixtures and art) and greenery. But stay away from clutter by keeping decorations to a minimum. Maintain soft lighting, natural scents, and simple furniture.