What Is Salon and Spa Millwork?
Salon and spa millwork is the built cabinetry that a studio runs on: styling stations, colour bars, dispensaries, retail walls, reception desks and treatment room cabinets. It works in a tough environment. Water splashes from shampoo bowls, colour stains surfaces, heat tools sit on counters all day and everything gets wiped down between clients.
We build salon millwork with the same moisture-resistant boxes as our bathroom vanities and the commercial surfaces we use in clinic millwork.
Types of Salon Millwork
Styling stations
Stations with mirrors, drawers, heat-resistant tool holsters and built-in power. Laid out around chair spacing.
Colour bars and dispensaries
HPL counters with sinks, shelving for colour tubes and mixing space.
Retail walls
Lit product shelving at the front of the studio with back stock below. See also retail store fit-out.
Spa treatment rooms
Cabinetry with sinks, towel warmer niches and supply storage.
Salon Millwork Pricing
| Scope | Unit | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| Styling stations | Set of 4 | $7,500-$12,000 |
| Colour bar with dispensary | Per bar | $6,000-$10,000 |
| Stations + colour bar + retail wall | Package | $16,000-$24,000 |
Keep the tools away from the water
Tool holsters and outlets go on the dry side of each station, with drawers and sinks on the other. It is a CAD decision, and it prevents most station failures.
Common Salon Millwork Problems
Swollen station bases
Fixed with moisture-resistant HDF and PUR-sealed edges.
Stained colour bar tops
Fixed with HPL or Formica surfaces.
Cords across the station
Fixed with built-in holsters and power.
Planning a Salon Layout
Start with chairs. Count stations, then allow about 5 feet between chair centres so stylists can move without bumping. Mirrors should sit at the client's eye level when seated, and each station needs power on the dry side for dryers and irons. Shampoo bowls and colour bars need water and drains, so their location sets much of the plan.
Retail belongs near the door and the front desk, where clients pass on the way in and out. Back stock goes in closed cabinets below the display so shelves stay full without clutter.
Materials That Work in Salons and Spas
Moisture-resistant boxes
Sealed HDF boxes with PUR edges near sinks, shampoo bowls and treatment rooms.
Chemical-resistant tops
HPL and Formica on colour bars and stations, where dye and developer spill.
Heat-safe holsters
Holsters that take hot tools without scorching the cabinet.
Wood accents
White oak or walnut fronts in conversion varnish add warmth while staying wipeable.
Caring for Salon Millwork
Wipe colour spills promptly, even on resistant surfaces. Keep wet towels off wood fronts. Check that tool holsters are clear of hair and debris. Hinges and runners adjust with a screwdriver, and we provide service after opening.
Questions to Ask Before You Hire
- What box material do you use near water?
- How are hot tools stored and powered at each station?
- Can you install on our closed days?
- Can you match our brand colours?
- What warranty applies to commercial work?
Salons and Spas Across the GTA
We have built stations, colour bars and retail walls for salons on The Danforth and in Leslieville, barbers in Roncesvalles Village, nail studios in Bloor-Yorkville and spa treatment rooms in Rosedale Village. Stations are built from the same moisture-resistant boxes our Toronto cabinet makers use for kitchens and vanities.
