The spa experience begins from the moment your clients walk through the door. The way in which they’re greeted by the front desk, the refreshments available while they wait, and even the music softly playing in the background in your waiting room all play a role. It’s a delicate balancing act to create an atmosphere that makes your guests feel at home while maintaining professional decorum.
Your waiting room should be a reflection of your brand and contribute to the relaxing, guest-focused spa experience you’re trying to create. Designing the ideal spa waiting room is about more than just choosing comfortable furniture or picking out a color palette. It’s about creating a wellness haven through the use of sound, color, scent, taste, and even temperature.
Here are some helpful tips to help you design your spa waiting room.
1. Consider the flow of traffic.
When designing your reception area, it’s important to consider how your guests and staff will be moving. Be aware of where guests will enter the room and the proximity of the entrance to the front desk. There’s nothing worse than arriving for an appointment, walking through the front door, and having no idea where to go next. Design your waiting area to avoid creating a bottleneck between guests coming and going – you might even consider creating a separate exit.
2. Be mindful when choosing furniture.
Furniture is an essential addition to your spa waiting room, both the reception desk itself and the chairs available for your guests to wait in. The front desk should be the focal point of the room, clearly visible and accessible from the entrance. Choose something with adequate storage so clutter doesn’t build up on the surface of the desk and think carefully about the style, so it matches the ambiance you’re trying to create with your spa. Be sure to double-check your measurements before you order as well.
When it comes to waiting room seating, you need to find something attractive but comfortable. Uncomfortable seating can be distracting and may make your guests’ wait time seem longer. You want your guests to feel at home from the moment they arrive, especially if they arrive early and will be waiting before their appointment. Consider the upholstery material for durability, the size of the chairs, and be sure to leave enough room between chairs for guests to move around easily.
3. Know the power behind your color palette.
Color plays a significant role in creating the ambiance at your spa. Think about color from all angles, from the color of the walls to the color of your furniture. Take advantage of ordering color samples from your vendors so you can swatch them in the space and get a feel for how all of your décor elements work together before making your final decision. Consider choosing calming colors like blue or green but avoid aggressive and anxiety-inducing colors like red and yellow.
4. Be intentional with tasteful décor pieces.
Once you’ve selected your furniture and your color scheme, choose a few decorative pieces for the space. A few tasteful art pieces can elevate the space or a saltwater aquarium could add to the relaxing atmosphere. Avoid going overboard with decoration – less is often more when it comes to decorating a spa waiting room. You want to make your guests feel at home without overwhelming them.
5. Set the right tone with soft lighting.
Lighting works in tandem with your color palette to set the mood in your spa waiting room. Soft lighting creates a sense of calm while warmer tones can create that homey feel. Be sure to adjust your lighting to showcase your retail offerings and take advantage of natural light when it’s available. Opt for bigger windows in your reception area if you have the ability to customize your design. Artificial lighting can be harsh and may throw off the mood for your guests.
6. Add a natural touch with plants and flowers.
A few natural pieces like live plants or flowers are the perfect finishing touch for your waiting area. Natural elements like these can have a calming influence on your guests and they can really elevate the ambiance as well. Keep a few larger plants by the windows and add smaller plants or flower arrangements to the front desk and tables. If you have the budget for it, you might even incorporate a water feature into your original design.
7. Create the desired ambiance with sound and music.
One of the final things to consider for your waiting room is the music you’ll play. Choosing the right music makes a big difference in creating a relaxing atmosphere for your guests and it can help reduce sound transfer between the waiting area and the treatment rooms. Consider whether you’ll be playing the same music throughout the spa – in both the waiting area and treatment rooms – or whether you want to create a separation between the two experiences with different music choices.
8. Offer refreshments before and after treatments.
Offering your guests a cup of tea before their treatment can help them to relax while a cold bottle of water after they exit the treatment room gets them prepped to return to their day. Providing refreshments is a simple thing you can do that really elevates the total spa experience for your guests
No one likes to waste their time waiting but by implementing some of the tips above, you can turn your spa waiting room into an oasis for calmness and relaxation. While your guests wait for their treatment, their wellness journey will have already begun, and they’ll enter the treatment room in the ideal state of mind.
Take the time to make sure your waiting room experience matches your brand identity and supports the kind of overall guest experience you want to create.