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LEARN + GROW

Design Tips for Creating a Positive Space

January 11, 2020 | Michele

POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTS

TO ENJOY SUCCESS IN BUSINESS, POSITIVITY IS KEY

As we enter into a New Year and decade, positive changes can bring optimism and hope which leads to fulfillment, happiness and meaning, all contributing to your success.  Just like starting a new diet program, creating a new image can bring about positive change.  After all, positivity is contagious and when you focus on creating it, you can have that for your staff, your clients and yourself.  Here are 7 positive-feeling environments and how to trigger those emotions through design.

“POSITIVE THINKING IS AN ATTITUDE THAT CAN BE IMPRESSED THROUGH THE SALON ENVIRONMENT.”
– Michele Pelafas

JOY

Creating Joy:  As anyone knows, color can change your entire mood and painting a wall with a fresh new color can do that.   Bright warm colors such as yellow, red, orange and pink are considered happy colors.  But vibrant color isn’t the only answer.  You can also brighten up your space with lighter neutral hues, to open it up and illicit joy.

Other ways to create joy in a space is to bring the outdoors in with plants and organic elements.  Studies have shown that plants improve your mood and reduce stress.   Another easy way is to simply declutter and clean your space.  Decluttering produces positive feelings such as freedom, space and priority, key emotions closely related to joy and happiness.

INTEREST

Creating Interest:  Unexpected design elements in a space evokes our innate desire for discovery, learning and experience.  Architectural sculptural art walls and over-sized lighting are a few examples.  Drama is another principal for creating interest, by placing contrasting (strikingly different) elements or colors next to each other.  You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make your space more interesting.  Create your own artwork or go thrift store shopping for serious conversation starters.

SERENITY

Creating Serenity:  Consider updating your space with elements that engage the senses with lots of soft textures (walls, pillows, throws, etc), relaxing scents, soothing music, healthful snacks   such as a bowl of fruit and dim lighting where you can (waiting and lounge areas) to promote a sense calm and relaxation.  These elements help our brains to slow down and impact the mood for tranquility and relaxation

HOPE

Creating Hope:  A place that is bright and beautiful triggers the emotion of hope.  When your guests enter your space, they have an expectation and desire for a positive change and meeting that expectation is crucial.  White is the color of new beginnings, it offers an inner cleansing and purifying of the thoughts creating a blank canvas waiting to be written upon.  White doesn’t have to be sterile.  When paired with warm, luxurious textures and lighting, white can be elegant and open up a space for the creation of anything the mind can conceive.  It creates a sense of order and efficiency, to strengthen, purify and refresh giving hope and potential for well being over time.

GRATITUDE

Creating Gratitude:  Create gratitude through the finer points of your interior.  A simple bud vase at each styling station reflects appreciation and thoughtfulness.  Introduce a letter board with messaging capabilities to convey your heartfelt thanks.  If you space is designed to support the emotional and functional needs of its participants and it is filled with love, you will radiate a grateful space.  It will serve a deeper purpose.

KINDNESS

Creating Kindness:  Comfortable seating, warm natural light and an approachable venue radiates affection, consideration and generosity.  A space that seems friendly, inviting and appealing expresses the warmth of a relationship and connection.   Warm colors convey energy, sociability and happiness which caters to the needs of the guest and the worker.  I love the idea of a kindness wall that communicates inspirational and good-natured thoughts.

CONFIDENCE

Creating Confidence:  First impressions matter and that means you don’t have much time to establish credibility and clearly communicate your value.  Tactful aesthetics and intuitive usability are the two base ingredients for building trust in an environment.  Good usability such as easy access to concierge stands, service menus, retail graphics and lounge seating instills confidence, peace and calm.  Consistency found in the repetition of color, shapes and brand image is strongly connected to reliability which builds trust and integrity.  The color blue is another way to instill confidence.  Blue is conservative and predictable, a stable and non-threatening color, and the most universally liked color of all.   Creating a caring and orderly structure in your space leads to a sense of safety, responsibility and loyalty which gives the impression that your business knows what they are doing.

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