Barbershop Décor 101:
What to Consider When Designing Your Ideal Shop
The way your barbershop looks matters.
You probably already know that, but we’re harping on this to make sure you understand just how much it matters. Spoiler alert, it’s a lot.
How your barbershop is designed, laid out, and decorated is basically the essence of your business. It’s a huge chunk of your physical branding, sets the tone for how you feel about your customers, and says a whole heck of a lot about you as a business.
No matter what type of shop you’re working with—a rental booth, a brick and mortar storefront, a mobile setup—presentation is dang important.
Consider your space an extension of yourself. You’re the best barber in the community, right? So, shouldn’t your space reflect that?
We think so. Actually, scratch that—we know so.
Not sure where to start when it comes to ramping up your décor? Don’t sweat it—we’re here to help.
Keep reading for a few must-know factors to consider when it comes to your first crack at decorating and designing your barbershop space.
The Five Factors to Consider for Your Barbershop Décor
Convenience First, Aesthetic Second
Okay, obviously you want your shop to look good—but that shouldn’t come at the expense of functionality. Above all, you need to make sure your shop is on-point for workflow. That means outlets shouldn’t be hidden, décor shouldn’t get in your way, lighting should be natural and soft, and you should never have to trip over anything to get to where you (or your customers) are going.
It is so tempting to come up with a clutch design in your head without considering safety, convenience, and workflow, but TBH, these things should be your top priority when it comes to your space. So, start there! Think about what you need in order to form your most ideal, seamless workflow, then work backward to make it happen.
Brand Continuity is Everything
If you’re not super familiar with the concept of brand, don’t worry, we’ve got plenty of brand resources to get you started. Our advice? Take a peek at our article here about Defining Your Barbershop Identity to get a better idea of what a brand identity is all about.
Branding is all about how you position yourself to your audience—so, think about that while you’re setting up your own, then translate that into your shop.
It might sound complex, but once you get a handle on what your brand identity is, you can easily start weaving this into your aesthetic.
Your Ambience Matters
Think about textures, colors, and how they all relate to your brand and your messaging.
Are you a place to relax and feel at peace? Are you more of a shop that’s about being bold and dramatic? The ambiance you choose is going to reflect an emotion—so it’s important to consider what you want your space to say and how you want it to say it.
Quality Over Quantity
It is so easy to get wrapped up in the idea of filling your space, but let’s be honest—that can get really expensive. We get it, you don’t want to deal with empty space and you certainly don’t want customers to think you don’t have the budget to create the ideal shop—but if you are working on a budget, that’s not a bad thing.
Our best advice is to focus on quality of décor over quantity. Yes, your shop might have a little more blank space than you’d prefer, but if you focus on good, quality pieces that add to your brand and your aesthetic, they’ll last you a lot longer and pay off in the long run.
If you buy up a bunch of cheap, silly stuff just to deck out your shop, it’s going to look, well cheap and silly—and honestly, it’ll all probably break pretty quickly after you buy it.
Your skills are top-notch quality, aren’t they? Match your décor to that idea and you’ll be set.
Think About Your Target Audience
AKA, think about what your clients will want. Don’t get us wrong—it’s your space. What you and your staff think and feel about the environment definitely matters.
But ultimately, it’s about finding a balance between what you like and what your clients will love, because TBH, it’s your no. 1 priority to make sure they’re comfortable, at ease, and totally relaxed in your space.
So, take a look around at your current décor (or your empty space if you’re just starting out) and ask yourself—what will my clients think? Get to know your target audience, understand your key demographics, and do your best to get into their headspace—that’s the best way to determine if a shop aesthetic is doing its primary job.
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