Salons

Styling Stations 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 low upholstered bed and open route beside the bed
Rest-space inspiration: consider approach and transfer space around furniture.

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
Set stations in a repeated rhythm with clear turning space behind chairs and a shared tool route along the wall.
Detail
Use mirror lighting with high color clarity and wipeable surfaces for product and hair residue.
Trade-off
More stations increase appointment capacity but reduce stylist working room.
  • Move around a chair with a trolley
  • Check lighting on hair from front and side
Bathroom layout diagrams illustrating alternative fixture arrangements
Care planning reference: review bathroom movement and fixture positions together.

The Elixir portfolio

Details worth a closer look

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

Related design guides

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