How to set up a home hair salon

Know the rules: Legal & practical considerations

Before you start moving in the backwash basin or setting up your styling station, there are some key considerations to ensure your home salon is compliant, professional, and successful.

Check with your local council

Depending on where you live, you may need to inform your local authority or apply for permission to run a business from your home. This could include:

• Change of use classification if you’re converting a residential space into a commercial one
• Compliance with local business rate exemptions or adjustments

Some councils are more flexible than others—always check early to avoid issues down the line.

Sort out your insurance

Running a home salon means you’ll need to protect yourself, your clients, and your equipment. The types of hairdressing salon insurance you should consider include:

• Public liability insurance (essential if clients are coming to your home)
• Professional treatment
• Contents or equipment cover

 Check for home insurance adjustments – your standard policy may not cover business activity

Follow health and safety standards

Even though you’re working from home, your salon still needs to meet basic hygiene and safety standards:

• Proper ventilation, especially when using chemicals or colourants
• Safe storage of sharp tools and products
• Regular cleaning and disinfection routines
• Slip-resistant flooring and a clutter-free environment

 You are responsible for your client’s safety from the moment they step into your property, so following compliance is essential.

Understand licensing requirements

In many areas, hairdressing and beauty services require registration with the local council or trade authority. Licensing ensures:

• You meet hygiene and training standards
• You’re permitted to carry out treatments legally
• You’re registered for inspections, if applicable

 Check whether your area requires a personal services license or home business registration.

Review your mortgage or lease terms

If you own your home with a mortgage or are renting:

• Mortgage terms may prohibit business use, check with your lender first
• If you rent, your landlord may need to approve any business activities from the property
• Make sure you’re not violating residential-only clauses

Consider planning permission

Substantial changes to your property, like adding signage, building a salon pod, or altering access—might require planning permission. You may need it if:

• You’re changing the building structure (e.g., garage conversion, garden room)
• You’re installing plumbing for a backwash
• You’re expecting regular client traffic to your home

Parking and client access

Your salon must be easy for clients to access:

• Is there off-street or free parking nearby?
• Can clients easily find your home?
• Will frequent visitors disturb your neighbours or household?

 A smooth arrival and departure experience helps your salon feel polished and professional.

Choosing the right space in your home

Before you start installing mirrors or choosing colour schemes, it’s essential to step back and look at the bigger picture. Running a home salon means creating a dedicated, fixed-use space where paying clients will regularly visit, this isn’t a setup that can double as a playroom, guest bedroom, or laundry station.

Here are some popular areas you can convert into a mini salon:

Garage conversion

Perfect if you want a fully separate, private space with room to grow. Garages typically offer more square footage and the opportunity to create a salon that feels truly detached from the rest of your home. Clients can enter without walking through your house — a big bonus for professionalism.

Common adjustments needed:

• Insulating walls, floor, and ceiling for year-round comfort
• Adding plumbing and electrics for backwash and styling equipment
• Installing proper lighting (overhead + task lighting)
• Replacing garage doors with French doors or windows for natural light
• Flooring upgrade to non-slip, waterproof surfaces
• Heating or cooling installation

 Ideal for full-service salons or stylists planning to work full-time from home.

Garden room or salon pod

A stylish and separate solution that offers total privacy and peace. A garden salon can feel like a retreat for your clients and gives you a serene, branded space you can design from scratch. Great for luxury or specialist services.

Common adjustments needed:

• Purchasing or building a prefabricated structure (E.G a pod, or shed conversion)
• Full fit-out with electrics, heating, and plumbing
• Pathway lighting and signage for easy access
• Ventilation and insulation for year-round use
• Interior design touches to create a high-end, calming feel

 Best for those offering premium or wellness-focused services — and for stylists who want to fully separate work from home life.

Spare room or inside space

Perfect for those just starting out or with limited space. This option allows you to make the most of your existing home layout without major building work. It’s accessible, affordable, and still offers privacy if planned well.

 Common adjustments needed:

• Removing all non-salon items (no toys, beds, or storage overflow!)
• Installing salon-grade flooring (laminate or vinyl is ideal)
• Adding mirrors, wall storage, and compact workstation furniture
• Consider plumbing access if installing a wash basin (or use a portable one)
• Soundproofing or door seals for privacy

 Ideal for part-time stylists or those building a small, client-by-client business.

Trailer or caravan conversion

A quirky, flexible, and completely unique solution. Convert a campervan, horsebox, or trailer into a fully mobile salon or keep it parked at home as a creative fixed-location space. 

Common adjustments needed:

• Full vehicle conversion (electrics, plumbing, seating)
• Interior re-fit with salon chairs, mirrors, and storage
• Heating/AC for comfort
• Branding and signage for mobile marketing
• External power source or portable battery setup

 Perfect for stylists offering event services, bridal hair, or wanting a standout social media presence.

Designing your home salon for style and function

Once you’ve chosen the space, it’s time to transform it into a salon that not only looks beautiful but also works efficiently day to day. Remember, functionality is just as important as aesthetics, your layout, lighting, and equipment all need to support safe, comfortable, and seamless services.

To get it right the first time, consider bringing in a qualified tradesperson, ideally someone with experience in salon renovations.

Whatever your style, here’s some ideas to create a client-ready space:

Must-haves

• Professional styling chair & mirror
• Backwash basin or portable wash unit
• Ample lighting (natural + LED ring lights)
• Secure storage for tools, colours, and towels
• Waiting area (even a stylish chair and coffee station)

Space-saving ideas

• Wall-mounted tool organisers
• Fold-out styling stations
• Storage benches that double as seating

Decor inspiration

• Use a calming, cohesive colour palette
• Add a feature wall with wallpaper or mural
• Hang certificates or branding to give a pro touch

Client experience at home

Creating a professional yet welcoming environment is key:

• Offer refreshments and relaxing music
• Keep it tidy and clutter-free at all times
• Send appointment reminders and follow-ups like a salon would
• Have separate towels and capes for each client

Create a mini retail area to sell your favourite haircare products and boost income.

What does it cost to set up a home salon?

The cost of setting up a home salon can vary depending on your space, goals, and how much renovation is needed. Here’s a rough breakdown of what you might expect to invest:

Start-up costs for a basic setup in a spare room might range from £1,000–£3,000. A garage conversion or garden salon could be £5,000–£15,000 depending on the spec.

What should you charge?

Setting your prices in a home salon is about balancing professional value with your reduced overheads. Clients expect a quality experience — not a bargain haircut in a living room.

Here’s how to approach your pricing:

• Benchmark local salon prices – aim to be competitive, but don’t undercut the market
• Factor in your experience, skills, and specialisms
• Consider your setup: clients will still expect professionalism, even at home
• Remember to include product costs, time, and overheads (insurance, cleaning, energy)

Example: If a local salon charges £50 for a cut and blow-dry, pricing yours at £40–£45 is reasonable if your service level matches. Avoid going too low, it devalues your work and can be hard to raise prices later.

Marketing your home salon

Even at home, you still need to attract clients. Here’s how:

• Sell your niche
• Use Instagram and Facebook to showcase your space and work
• Encourage word-of-mouth with referral programs
• Get listed on local salon directories or Google My Business
• Offer “soft launch” discounts to get your first bookings

Pros and cons of home hair salons

Pros:

• Low overheads
• Flexible working hours
• More personal client relationships
• Full creative control

Cons:

• Limited space for multiple clients
• Boundaries between work and home can blur
• Zoning and regulation challenges

Setting up a salon at home can be an incredibly rewarding step offering freedom, flexibility, and the chance to create a space that truly reflects your brand. But it also comes with responsibilities: from legal requirements and space planning to maintaining a professional experience for every client who walks through your door.

If you’re ready to commit to a dedicated space, keep business and home life separate, and deliver a high-quality service without the overheads of a commercial salon, then a home salon could be the perfect next chapter in your career.

*Disclaimer – This blog has been created as general information and should not be taken as advice. Make sure you have the correct level of insurance for your requirements and always review policy documentation. Information is factually accurate at the time of publishing but may have become out of date.