tan girl

I've been reading this site for months now. I'm happy to say that I am opening a salon very soon. We have 4 beds and a Mystic. We will have 2 rooms to sublease, or add more beds. I am very excited about our new business. We are thinking about modular walls. Has anyone had experience with these? What about ceilings? We are thinking about an open ceiling. And floors. I really like the painted concrete (finished). Room sizes are 8X8 and 8X10. What would you do if you did or could design your salon again. I am going for a really nice, upscale place. Any comments would be appreciated.

Steve Underhill

Design for the future, and the ease of operation. Your rooms should always be 9' long and 8', 9', or 10' deep depending on the equipment. Of course a booth requires a smaller room. This size will allow for easy cleaning and maintenance. Modular walls are expensive but nice especially Euro Walls. Open ceilings will make your space look larger. Concrete floors are also nice but will not wear as well as tile.

blueeyes401

I am opening another tanning salon and I am going with a concrete floor also I have one in my bar and its very easy to keep up. I am using the euro walls to I went back and fourth and decided to use them. I have never had a open ceiling before all my machine are vented into it but I am sure it works well. I wish I have a store with double front doors or a garage door in the back. its soo much easier to bring in equipment in and out

PHD

We will be moving our salon to a larger location soon and have been trying to decide what to do too. Currently we have tile and will have tile in the new location. We also have solid walls, and will have that too. I know that the rooms will be much larger. When we first opened the rooms were made smaller because the beds were smaller now we can't get larger units in them. We have alot of men that tan with us so I don't want to make the salon look too girlish. I want to go with soft colors though, and chairs instead of stools in the rooms. Now we have light blue rooms and white halls. I think it's too bright and it needs to soften up alittle. I also don't want to have a solid counter I want to go with a tall table or desk like. I think the clients would feel more comfortable then? I have a counter now. I always look at different places like hair salons or day spas to see what kind for furnishings they have. One thing is the chairs. I am love the foyer chairs we have. I got them at Ikea, very simple but sooo comfortable. Everyone comments on them. I would get new satalite radio system and speakers in each room with on or off buttons. I know that some clients prefer to just relax without any music. And last a washer & dryer in the salon. Now I wash them at home and it is a pain. Good Luck with the decorating!

bambazon

Hello, I am opening a new salon in Dec. We are going with the Euro Walls and Acid Stain concrete for a rich look. We have a little over 2000 sq ft. so we will have 12 beds and I just purchased a my myst tan from Mystic tan. I am just not sure what to do about music in the rooms and I can really use some ideas. Any input any the above and what to expect with a new business is greatly appreciated (I am new to this). Also, ideas for software I was thinking Suntouch. Thanks Karen

certan

We have full walls with a drop ceiling and tile floors. Have not really heard anything bad about concrete floors but I do think the ceramic tile looks better. We have built in benchs in the room that are also tiled and flat wall mountable stereos in the rooms with beds that dont have built in stereos.

olydave

Steve, have to disagree with you on the floor issue. We have acid stained concrete and it wears well. Damp mop and then buff, no problem. If anyone was in Nashville and saw the acid stained floors in Opry Mills you had to be amazed. The finish was the highest gloss I have ever seen and not at all slippery. I talked to the Mall manager and got the phone # for the guy who does the floors and plan to get his secret. Will share when I know.