Small Salon Interior Design On a Budget

How to Decorate a Salon on a Budget

For salon owners, cultivating a salon aesthetic that is stylish, functional, and aligned with your vibe and brand identity is crucial to your business's success. You want the interior design of your beauty salon to be as high-quality and luxurious as the services you provide, without breaking the bank. 

If you're on a tight budget, operating in a small space, or a combination of the two, here are some simple, low-budget beauty salon interior design tips and tricks for decorating your salon boujee while saving money.

Steps for Implementing Small Salon Design Ideas

1. Identify The Brand Identity For Your Beauty Salon

Before diving into how to decorate your salon on a budget, define your business's brand so you can incorporate décor elements that align with your style and overall vibe. This will help you create an inviting and functional space.

It's easy to get swept away when decorating a space, so highlighting your salon's core values by drafting up a mission statement as well as outlining the interior design style you want to achieve, whether it be natural, rustic, boho, or modern beauty salon interior design, is a great place to start when figuring out the look and feel you want your salon to portray.

Check out our Style Guide to find design inspo for every budget

2. Design Tips: Optimize Your Salon Floorplan Layout

When decorating a small salon space on a budget, planning and laying out your floor plan before shopping for salon equipment and décor is the most important low-budget beauty salon interior design tip.

Laying out your salon floor plan in a way that is both stylish and functional ensures you are maximizing your space's total square footage and natural light. Minerva's 2D Space Planner is the perfect tool to help you arrange, design, and layout your salon's floor plan on a budget (and did we mention it's free?!) This innovative 2D Design Tool lets you lay out fully customizable floor plans featuring Minerva salon furniture. It's a great way to map out how to arrange stylish furniture and salon equipment to create an inviting space.

Need inspo to help you get started? Check out some of our ready-made floorplan ideas and layouts to help you decorate your small salon space while maximizing your square footage with functional feng shui.

Explore 3 different space-saving 800-sq-ft salon floor plan layouts

Find 4 unique 100-sq-ft salon suite layouts with thoughtful design

3. Shop Smart

When it comes to low-budget beauty salon interior design, knowing which essentials are worth investing in versus where it's okay to seek more economical options helps you stay in budget and make smart purchases that will save you money. 

Here are a few key tips to keep in mind while shopping for salon equipment on a budget:

• Invest in the equipment that receives the highest traffic volume. They take the most wear and tear, so you can avoid spending more money later. Don't compromise quality and function when shopping for salon chairs, styling stations, and shampoo systems. Use our salon equipment buying guides to help you narrow down your options and find the best value.
• Finance your salon equipment through one of Minerva's reliable financing partners. Salon financing lets you make an upfront investment in your business so you can get everything you need to build your dream space (without taking out high-interest loans).
• When decorating a small salon space on a budget, consider versatile equipment that can be used across different areas, including all-purpose chairs, mobile styling stations, and salon carts and trolleys. Complement with minimalist furniture pieces that fit multiple styles and are budget-friendly.
• Choose equipment packages to get a friendlier price on matching items.
• Use Discounts to save: Shop sales and clearance to find great items at better prices. Many of our popular items are often on sale. We also offer promotions, such as email sign-ups, that will allow you to take advantage of other discounts.

Shop the Avant Salon Styling Chair in 15 colors and the Luna 36” Round LED Backlit Mirror with dimming control

Shop the Cayman Shampoo System with White Bowl, available in 9 colors & backwash/sidewash capable

Shop the Exodus Double Sided Styling Station in Distressed Wood and Steel for tons of storage & functionality with a small footprint

4. Mirrors & Lighting

Mirrors and lighting are two budget-friendly décor components that will elevate the look and feel of your salon's interior design. If you're looking to make the most of vertical space to create a warm atmosphere, mirrors and lighting are the perfect choice. Vertical mirrors, such as our Leggero LED Full Length Mirror, help create the illusion of a larger space, while round mirrors like Luna create warmth.

Take advantage of the natural (and free) light the sun provides wherever you can in your space. Prop open your salon doors on a sunny day, or add lightweight curtains to your windows to let sunlight glow throughout your space.

Adding mirrors throughout your salon's interior is also an affordable way to cultivate a luxurious aesthetic and create an illusion of space, making your salon look larger. This is a great low-budget beauty salon interior design tip, especially when figuring out how to decorate a small salon space.

Shop the Adelaide Arched Mirror with a black or gold frame

Shop the affordable Corsa Salon Styling Chair in 10 colors & pair with an oversized mirror for instant glam

5. DIY & Budget-Friendly Salon Décor

Adding budget-friendly, decorative items throughout your salon is a great way to tie together your salon's aesthetic without overspending. Once you've invested in your salon equipment essentials, you can enjoy shopping for attractive, value-priced salon decor to add personality to your space and ensure a pleasant atmosphere.

A few budget-friendly décor items to incorporate into your salon's interior design include:

• Cute potted and/or wall-hanging plants
• Printable wall art
• Open shelving decorated with stylish trinkets and/or retail products

Adding multiple rows of open shelving is a simple & low-cost way to spruce up any salon space and create a welcoming space.

• Vintage finds from thrift stores
• Decorative throw pillows
• Plush rugs
• DIY statement/accent walls

A curated collection of thrift store bargains in the same color family is a great way to add style on a budget. Complement them with task lighting and as much natural light as your salon has to create a welcoming atmosphere.

An abundance of plants enriches the space around our budget-friendly Vantage Stainless Steel Shampoo System with White Bowl

Framing your favorite art prints adds visual interest & our Avant Shampoo System with White Bowl (Ottoman Included) comes in 10 colors to complement your décor

Adding multiple rows of open shelving is a simple & low-cost way to spruce up any salon space.

• Vintage finds from thrift stores
• Decorative throw pillows
• Plush rugs
• DIY statement/accent walls

A faux-floral wall is a cost-effective way to enliven a spartan space (add LED string lights if it suits your style!)

A curated collection of thrift store bargains in the same color family is a great way to add style on a budget

Stick-on wallpaper, plants & globe lights can transform a small space without overspending

Looking for More Inspiration?

Want more inspo? Check out 2026 salon interior design trends for even more inspiration - there are endless creative ways to incorporate trending colors, shapes, and textures without blowing your budget! And don't forget to explore our salon equipment clearance section - it's a great place to snag limited-time deals on premium salon furniture and supplies.