If there is one part of the High Street that is thriving, it’s beauty – especially barber shops. Barber shops are culturally significant in the UK, serving as hubs for social interaction as well as personal maintenance.
Customers will seek a style of barber shop design that reflects their own identity, so the right aesthetic will form a large part of the decision-making process. In this guide, we’ll cover the all-important brand aspect, together with practical layout tips and essential features.
Why Barber Shop Design Matters
There’s a very tribe-led undercurrent when it comes to barbers, with patrons proving extremely loyal and new customers looking for the perfect fit. In fact, barbers themselves are now famous, with sport stars showing off their fresh trims on social media while still wearing their cape and sitting in the chair. As such, barber shop design is just as important as modern office refurbishment solutions.
Customer Experience
First, a barber shop design will need to draw in customers from the street or tempt them away from their current barber, then it needs to deliver a service that keeps people coming back again and again. A successful barber shop design will take into account a waiting area that makes killing time for an empty chair an enjoyable experience, and offer a level of comfort that makes customers feel truly pampered.
Operational Efficiency
When creating a barber shop design, it can’t be all style over substance. The nature of the industry means there’s a high turnover of foot traffic and staff who operate dynamically. When MPL works in the healthcare and beauty sectors, its approach is very different from its professional office design solutions.
The focus is on freedom of safe movement and an exemplary delivery of service, born from the strategic placement of chairs, reception desks and wash basins. The Purcell Rooms is our latest hair and beauty fit out where the workplace is eye-catching and efficiently planned.
Brand Identity
Brand aesthetics are vital when it comes to barber shop design, as customers are visiting to improve their own identity and conform with design fashions. A barber shop design should reflect the clientele, whether the vibe is modern and fresh, old school traditional or spa-like luxurious. Well-chosen interior décor themes, signage and colour palettes will create memorable impressions.
Key Elements of Barber Shop Interior Design
There are four cornerstones of barber shop design, each working in harmony to create the best experience for customers and staff.
Layout and Space Planning
Examining how a barber shop runs – the flow of people and the movement of the barbers – is the starting point when creating a barber shop design. There are distinct front-of-house zones that need planning: a waiting area for customers, barber chairs with associated mirrors, wash basins, a reception/payments desk and displays for products. Essential is enough space for each barber to move 360° around their chair. Back-of-house may include cloakrooms, storage and a kitchen.
Furniture and Fixtures
While designer chairs may look the part, they are not functional or durable enough to be included in a barber shop design. Industry-specific barber chairs are a must and any waiting area seating should blend comfort and cleanability.
And just because there’s no need for desks, furniture plays a huge part in barber shop design. The position and composition of work stations can affect how many barber chairs are included, balancing mirrors and integrated storage with space to move.
Lighting
MPL’s complete shop fitout services always take lighting into account but there are exacting requirements when it comes to barber shop design. Task and overhead lighting lead to the most accurate (and safe) cuts, so the infrastructure for lighting is prioritised during the planning stage (no trailing wires or hazards). We balance the brightest areas with natural and atmospheric lighting, also taking into account the sun’s position during the day, providing shades or canopies, if required.
Colour Schemes
The psychology of colour is fascinating and is something we have explored in this blog. A brand colour can convey whether your barber shop is modern and cutting edge ortraditional and classic, just by looking at it. Our barber shop design involves mood boardsand computer-generated designs so clients can play with themes and colours. Try the richbrowns and deep hues of a vintage barber shop, see how a crisp, monochrome schemewould look, or play with fresh, zesty shades, such as lime green and tangerine.
Materials and Finishes
Although aesthetics matter, so does hygiene – especially in a setting where blades and scissors are being used. All surfaces should be easy-to-clean, and capable of withstanding disinfectant. MPL’s work for clinics such as Skin Transform and dentists including the Marylebone Implant Centre, have given us a deep understanding of durable, hygienic surfaces, which we apply to barber shop design. Tiles, glass and luxury, join-free vinyl make excellent options for walls and floors, while leather and moulded plastic are our preferred choices for waiting area seating.
Popular Barber Shop Design Styles
Although there are a myriad of barber shop design themes to choose, from there are a few that are tried, tested and much loved by customers. You can choose one of the below to create a comfortingly familiar environment and let MPL create a unique spin for your business.
Traditional & Vintage
Harking back to the days when barbers also carried out small medical procedures, such as bloodletting, the vintage barber shop design relies on a classic barbershop pole outside, wood panelling, leather chairs and gilt-edged mirrors.
Modern & Minimalist
Slick hairstyles sometimes call for slick designs, with clean lines and a bright décor the order of the day. A contemporary barber shop design could be based around a chic black and white theme with one accent colour, LED feature lighting and unframed, oversize mirrors propped up against the wall.
Urban & Industrial
One of the most inviting barber shop design schemes reflect the raw but homely loft livingvibe. Opt for an exposed plenum ceiling, so heating ducts and pipes are on show, andadd in other industrial touches such as exposed brick walls, polished concrete surfaces, simple metal pendant lamps and Crittall-style glass partitions.
Luxury Grooming Lounge
If your business plan is to expand beyond haircuts to include male grooming and beauty treatments, a spa-like atmosphere may be more suitable. High-end finishes, leather Chesterfield sofas and ambient lighting will provide a great barber shop design base. Accessorise with piles of fluffy towels, houseplants and exquisite product displays. Don’t forget you may need to plan in private treatment rooms.
Small Barber Shop Design Ideas
Business rates and High Street rents are high, that’s why MPL can offer bespoke barber shop design packages for small premises.
Maximising Space
MPL can help if you’re working with a compact footprint. Our barber shop design prioritywill be to plan in the required number of barber chairs (essential if you rent chairs out), while not making the space feel cramped. Light can be amplified with the use of reflective surfaces, such as installing one wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling mirror instead of several smaller mirrors, and using wall-mounted tables and equipment holders instead of salon trolleys on wheels.
Creative Design for Limited Space
Wall-mounted storage can free precious floor space and create a design focal point, especially if you incorporate LED lighting. Tailor-made waiting area seating will also ensure even the most awkward of spaces are utilised, whilst allowing you to specific colours and materials.
Design Regulations and Practical Considerations
Wall-mounted storage can free precious floor space and create a design focal point, especially if you incorporate LED lighting. Tailor-made waiting area seating will also ensure even the most awkward of spaces are utilised, whilst allowing you to specific colours and materials.
Hygiene and Safety
Health and safety is of paramount importance when you run a barber shop. As well assurfaces that can be cleaned and disinfected daily, MPL will create a working environment that allows for the safe storage of liquids such as barbicide, the disposal of hazardous waste/materials and the development of ergonomic working routines.
Our barber shop design service will ensure you comply with:
- The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
- The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulation 1992 (COSHH)
- The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
- Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
- The Fire Precautions Act 1971
Ventilation and Acoustics
Your customers deserve to be comfortable, whatever the season, so plan for heatwavesand sub-zero temperatures with a comfort cooling/heating system that can be adjusted byremote control.
And don’t forget barber shops can be noisy with the buzz of clippers and phones ringing. Your acoustics should be balanced enough so you can create the right ambience with musicbut still hold those all-important barber-customer conversations. Ask MPL about creating different zones where the sound can be contained or curated using different design elements.
Barber shops continue to be an important part of neighbourhoods but they also present very unique design challenges. Nowhere else do you need to blend image and ergonomics, safety and style, professionalism and friendship in quite the same way. Professional barber shop design will ensure you have a happy customer base, productive staff and an exciting business prospect on the High Street. Talk to our experts about your barber & retail needs today.
