From Tools to Tranquility: Styling a Hair Salon with Heart

When Jamie first walked into my store, she wasn’t just shopping — she was dreaming. A talented hair stylist preparing to open her very first salon in Corrimal, NSW, she told me she fell in love with the feel of Indigo Rose Home Living. Something about the calm, the textures, and the layered warmth spoke to her. Not long after, she asked if I’d help bring that same feeling into her new space.

The space itself was a blank canvas — but not in the dreamy sense. It was dark and rough, with old damaged timber floors, green paint patched across the walls, stick blinds covering most of the windows, and very little natural light. Before Jamie took it over, the space had been used to hire out tools and machinery — it felt masculine, heavy, and tired.

But I could see the potential. I always find that when I’m standing in an empty space, that’s when the ideas truly start to flow. I can see the whole vision in my head — and for this salon, the vision was clear.

Jamie wanted something that felt stylish and luxe, but also calm and inviting. A space where women could relax, feel good, and truly enjoy their time. It had to feel beautiful, but also be practical for a working salon.

We chose Lexicon Quarter white for the walls to create a light, fresh base. The floor was replaced with a floating timber tone — warm enough to ground the space but not too dark. For the waiting area, I brought in a large round solid Suar wood coffee table, curved black occasional chairs, and lush greenery. Framed on the wall were large-scale images of Jamie’s own hairstyling work — not magazine cut-outs, but real transformations by Jamie and her team. I believe customers should see your work on the walls — and now, her styling is proudly displayed throughout the space.

Texture played a big role too. A standout feature was the coconut paneling — made from tiny curved coconut shell tiles, each about 3cm x 3cm, arranged into 42cm x 42cm squares. We used this to create a showstopping feature wall just behind the front counter. The colour was a beautiful mix of white and natural speckles, but with a soft white overall tone — a finish that felt textured yet clean, modern yet warm. The wall served as a divider — giving customers a glimpse of what was beyond without revealing everything at once. It created curiosity and a gentle sense of discovery.

Behind that wall, we designed the space for function and flow. While I’d hoped to create recessed horizontal insets to display hair products beautifully, the builder opted for open shelving instead. Even so, it worked well to house all the salon’s essentials — shampoos, styling creams, and tools — in a clean and accessible way.

To the left, we created four glamorous styling stations — each with a large, full-length bevelled mirror, black swivel chair, and one of our custom coconut-panelled side tables for drinks and a small potted plant. To the right, three more customer stations mirrored the layout, creating a balanced and intuitive flow through the space.

At the back of the salon, we revealed a once-hidden gem: a large panelled window that flooded the space with natural light. We removed the heavy stick blinds, painted the window frames crisp white, and added soft floaty sheers to gently filter the light. The outlook beyond wasn’t picture-perfect, but the curtains brought in a romantic, boujee feel and completely lifted the mood of the room.

In the centre, the stylists’ trolleys were carefully positioned so that everything had its place. It was important that the space worked as well as it looked.

There were other rooms — including the shampoo area — that I gave suggestions for, but the focus was on the main space at the time. Jamie has since completed the rest, and while I haven’t seen it yet, I’m so happy she brought the full vision to life.

When I visited the finished salon, I felt so proud. Jamie and her clients loved the space — and the atmosphere we created. You could feel it from the moment you walked in.

That’s what styling can do. It helps a space tell a story — one that feels personal, beautiful, and made to be remembered.