Salons

Manicure Area Colour Palette for Salons

Choose colour against the surfaces that will stay. Test it on a large sample at the room's brightest and darkest points.

Explore the ideas
Bedroom with a clear bed approach and softly lit wall niches
Rest-space inspiration: keep bedside lighting and approach points easy to identify.

Compare the options

Set the brief
Collect samples of permanent finishes, upholstery and hardware before picking a paint or laminate.
Compare
Assign a background colour, one wayfinding or feature colour, and contrast where people need to distinguish edges.
Before buying
Check painted or laminated samples vertically beside the same light source the finished room will use.
Worked example

Imagine a person with reduced contrast perception struggling to distinguish a pale door edge from the surrounding wall in a familiar room.

Test stronger visual contrast at the door edge and key controls using large samples in the room's actual light. Confirm choices with the resident and any occupational or vision specialist involved in care.

How to test it

Compare the samples in daylight and artificial light, and check that handles and door edges remain easy to distinguish.

Apply it to this space
Layout
Place manicure tables away from the main hair-drying zone and provide staff access on the working side.
Detail
Choose solvent-tolerant surfaces, a local task lamp, and a neat storage caddy for active tools.
Trade-off
A separate manicure room adds calm but uses more floor area.
  • Check task light at hand level
  • Verify the setup does not obstruct neighboring seats
Bedroom with a low upholstered bed and open route beside the bed
Rest-space inspiration: consider approach and transfer space around furniture.

The Elixir portfolio

Details worth a closer look

Photographs for design inspiration
Bathroom layout diagrams illustrating alternative fixture arrangements
Care planning reference: review bathroom movement and fixture positions together.

Related design guides

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