Top 10 List: Interior Design Tips for your Spa’s Reception Area

While it’s the spa services that attract a client to the spa, it’s the feeling they get when they enter the spa that will keep them coming back.  This is why the interior design of any spa is critical to its success because it’s this feeling that people will remember long after they have left the spa. That starts with your reception area.

Luxury and relaxation are the two most important things to remember when designing a spa.  People want to feel transported to a far-off land, so surround them with rich fabrics and soothing palettes of warm colors to make them feel pampered as soon as they walk into the spa.Provide both open spaces and private areas for clients to relax in.  The size of the spa will dictate how much space you can dedicate to each area, but try having a larger, welcoming space for the reception area and smaller, private relaxation areas for client to unwind.

Think about how you feel when you’re there and imagine why you would go there yourself as a client.  Overall the spa’s design should make you feel as comfortable as if you were at home, yet as remote as if you were on an exotic vacation.

Your spa reception area is the first and last thing your clients will see in your spa, so make sure to create a good first impression, as well as a lasting one, while considering these decorating tips.

1. Studies have shown that lower desks without walls make people feel more comfortable.  You can use low walls to hide computer cables, but make sure the receptionist has a clear view of the entire waiting area.
2. Choose a warm color palette for the walls, floors, and furnishings.  Stay away from pastels, primary colors, or busy patterns that can be distracting.
3. Provide plenty of comfortable, cushioned chairs for your clients to relax in.
4. Use incandescent lights over fluorescent lights to create a soothing atmosphere.  Add aromatherapy candles for added ambiance.
5. Thoroughly clean the reception area daily and tidy it up throughout the day.
6. Have refreshments available, such as tea, water, fruit, or cookies.
7. Add a saltwater fish tank rather than a TV or magazines.
8. Dedicate one side to check-ins and the other to check-outs that flows logically.
9. Play soothing satellite music without commercials.
10. Welcome each client with a smiling face and friendly attitude.