Decorating massage room

[Raquel]

In the next month or so I plan on redecorating my massage room. I feel the room is way too boring and I don't get that warm fuzzy feeling when I walk in. I have been reading a book about feng shui and found it very interesting. I plan on using some of the ideas that I have learned. <br>I'm curious if anyone has any unique ideas they can share about how they decorated their room i.e.. colors used, curtains, sheets draped on the ceiling etc. Thanks!

[YogaLMT]

My advice would be to first, think like a client. Walk into the room and make sure it's obvious where you need to go. Where will you put your things? Is there a place to hang clothes, put jewelry, sit, put shoes, etc?<br><br>Lie on your table, too, to see if there's anything a client would see from that angle that you don't want them to see (or that you do want them to see).<br><br>Some other tips: shop in the bathroom & kitchen sections of stores, just for variety. I found the coolest "spa" style, Asian-inspired clothes hooks, hangers, and shelves at Cost Plus World Market in their bathroom section. My room is long & narrow, so I purchased a door mirror (long & thin mirror, app. $8 at Target) and hung it lengthwise in the room, at average head-height for people to fix their hair after the massage. It also widens the room visually. Set things at angles, too, esp. if you have limited space, including your massage table. In my opinion, it makes the energy flow a little better, and helps make the room look bigger.<br><br>Hope that helps! Have fun decorating!<br><br>Andrea

[Gator]

To me the key to decorating the room is make it an extension of you and your style.  If you are into the asian styles of bodywork then an asian theme would work.  You enjoy the tropics and beach, let it reflect that.  <br><br>My rooms are unique to me and express who I am.  Most of my furniture is antique and has that warm comfy look to it.  In my massage room I have one wall with a wolf picture on it.  I feared it might be a bit too intense since its a close up of a black wolf peering through a pine branch.  But that picture gets more positive comments than anything else.  One wall has a display frame with a folded flag and some of my military decorations in it and a framed version of the Gettysburg Address next to it.  Where my clients change their is an antique side cabinet so they can set their jewelery, purses, etc, a comfy chair and I made a clothes hook and mirrored mounting out of wood.  The whole office has a soft wood tone and outdoor theme to it.  It definately is designed for me and wouldn't work for most others.    

[patricia]

I to was stumped with my massage room. I did not want a clinical look, to boring for me, so I took a weekend off of massaging and decided to redo what I could for as little money as I could. One thing I did also was to lay on the table and look at the ceiiling. I then came up with the idea to hang three trellisis, I think I spelt that right, and wove ivy through them added christmas lights, not a lot but enought to give a soft light and added some curly willow also. I get a lot of compliments on that. <br>I also found that just rearranging the furniture and cleaning out what was not working was a great boost to me.  Hope this helps a little.

[art_of_zen]

For color, a restful shade of green is what I chose for my treatment room.  I never, ever turn on the florecents; I want to upgrade to recessed pot lights on a dimmer switch when I can afford it.  I covered my ugly ceiling tiles with grass beach mats; about $2 each @ Oriental Trading Company.  It looks organic and peaceful, and compliments the subtle Asian theme.  I made my own curtains with fabric in the same shade as the wall color, for a monochromatic backdrop.  My furnishings, other than my massage table, are some contemporarary wood Nelson-style benches and a couple of Chinese antiques, for storage.  <br>Accessories are minimal.  <br><br>My wood slat blinds were $5 at Lowe's (take measurements and swatches of everything with you wherever you go, and check the bargain bins often!)<br><br>For fail-proof redecorating, you can almost never go wrong with Asian Contemporary... it can be done inexpensively and always has a classy and peaceful minimalist look. <br><br>I am a Feng Shui addict, and I found that my office looks much better when I don't try to Feng Shui it too much.  I have had some interesting occurances after applying certain Feng Shui principles to my room, though.  ;-)

[C-Bear]

I always sem to get a few ideas from the design shows on t.v. . pier 1 has some cool stuff...sometimes if you think outside the box you can find something at a garage sale, goodwill,thrift store,etc.........used some dowels and picked up fabric at walmart($1.00 a yard) to crate a hanging fabric on the ceiling.....found some cool looking rocks and drilled holes into them to hold candles then put them into sand surrounded by pieces of thin wood... I also get some funky ideas from a magazine called Readymade...........good luck

[Sadiedawn]

When I had my own office....<br>Dark purple walls with sage green dry brushed over it (looked like someone took sandpaper to the walls)<br>Natural furnishings, unfinished wooden writing desk, unfinished sofa table (only thing that went over the radiator), papasan chair, water hyacinth chair, wicker laundry hamper, woven grass trunk, live bamboo, brown blinds with natural linen curtains. On either end of the room I had chinese calligraphy I created. One said healer, the other healing energy. I covered the ceiling with sheets (light green and natural). I ripped the sheets into two foot strips so the edges would be unfinished. I ran the natural colored sheets in one direction and the light green in the other and created a weaved pattern across my ceiling. Many clients said it looked like clouds. I didn't want something too distracting because I wanted them to relax with their eyes closed. Yet I wanted it to be a pleasant sight...not the water damaged ceiling tiles and aweful light fixtures. If i knew how, I'd add a picture but I don't, so I won't.<br><br>

[barefootbodyworker]

My favorite piece of print art for a treatment room is Salvador Dahli's "Meditation Rose."  The floating rose just says "relaaaxxx...."  I like the affordable selection of print art available from www.allprintsandposters.com.  <br><br>A sisal or bamboo mat under the massage table is an affordable way to give a prone client a pleasant view.

[bodyworker]

I love the painting by Michaelangelo "The creation of man".  My husband bought me a poster size copy and had it framed in this dark wood fram, very nice.  I used to have it at home, but when I started leasing space I moved it into my massage room.  The picture is total representation of "Touch", which is what what I do is all about.  I love the pic and had it put on my business cards as well.  This picture was the basis for the rest of the decor in my room.  I have a couple of pics of angels and a couple of little angle figurines.  I get alot of compliments on the Michaelangelo pic. Oh, I also have a water fountain and soothing music.  Sometimes I will turn a small fan on, just to create a small noise, sounds weird but it's rather calming.  I also use some soothing essential oils in a burner.

[massagengel]

Light blue, sage green and a natural/cream color are the colors I choose. A couple of plants and pictures on the wall. Like I would at home but just a slight bit more "clinical" That way it is still professional.

[red]

I painted the ceiling tiles one shade lighter than the walls.  They now look the same shade as the walls, an earthy brown.  I took tan fabric and used fabric tape to hem it the size of the flourescent lights and hung it on dowels just below the lights.  The texture of the fabric is very visible with the light softly shining through.  <br>  The grass mats on the ceiling tiles sounds even better though- but painting may be the way to go if you are pressed for time or money.

[Nanette]

I too find myself with a massage room to decorate.  I keep coming back to the idea of positive quotes written in a bunch of different languages?  Especially Oriental...  not sure yet.

[sagetherapist]

My room is pretty ecclectic, and I want to change (or create??) its focus a little. I have an ugly overhead flourescent light that is never used (except when I need to deep clean the room). I want to cover it safely, so it can be used to add ambiance. I keep thinking about how I can brainstorm something with bamboo or rattan, etc. I have I-Ching coins on all 4 walls. I love them. They please me every time I gaze at em. I have another idea brewing in my vault too:   there's a beautiful book I have on Mudras, Gestures of Power. I keep thinking if I can photograph my favorites, they could be framed in similar framework. The idea of those various, beautiful "hands" decorating the room appeals to me.<br>Jill/Sagetherapist

[art_of_zen]

I have an ugly overhead flourescent light that is never used (except when I need to deep clean the room). I want to cover it safely, so it can be used to add ambiance.

I gave up on mine....LOL!  Until I can get my pot lights and dimmer switch, I have two small low wattage rice paper lamps for low light.  It's just enough to see, but not too much.

I have another idea brewing in my vault too:   there's a beautiful book I have on Mudras, Gestures of Power. I keep thinking if I can photograph my favorites, they could be framed in similar framework. The idea of those various, beautiful "hands" decorating the room appeals to me.

Jill/Sagetherapist

That sounds absolutely beautiful!  What is the title of this book?  I would love to know  :)

All hung in pretty matching frames in a nice grouping.....I can see it now!  I have pieces from my hand collection on one of my tables.  I like hands made from any material, but I only collect Eastern and tribal hands and  sculptures.... I don't care for victorian.

[Nanette]

I too am interested in the name of that book.  :)

[sagetherapist]

The book is called "MUDRAS Yoga in your Hands" by Gertrud Hirsch. Its great. I'm not having much luck finding royalty free photos of these gestures though. I think I'll take some with my digital camera... recruit some of the gals from the salon to pose, etc. Maybe some with Mendhi (henna painting) on them, etc, or with shadows of bamboo cast over the shot, etc. I will share my photos or finds with you all when I get them completed.<br><br>About that flourescent light...<br>I keep thinking (since I looked around Lowes & Home Depot at their flourescent lights) that I could build a lightweight "frame" of molding & stretch/attach a custom cut of bamboo or rattan blinds inside it. I just have to get up there to figure how to safely hang it. I think that would not only go with my room, but turn that blue/white shocking lighting into a more pleasing object. AND make it useful again. I do have other lighting on a dimmer for my work, but I would love to change things up a bit. <br><br>With my luck, I'll probably create something nice & then start sweating over how to change the rest of the ceiling! HA. It's never-ending!<br><br>Jill/Sagetherapist

[stonegirl]

One thing I did in an old massage room of mine with ugly water stained ceiling tiles - I spent about $50 on fabric - 2 sheer panels and 1 with a light design. I then draped them on the ceiling in "waves" (thumb tacs to hold them in place). the designed one in the middle, with the sheer panels on each side, all flowing together. It gave it a plush spa-like look to the room, very cozy and I got a TON of compliments on it. I'm sure if you looked around, you could find some fabric that would work for less money, or use sheets mentioned above.

[Galaxy]

Hi Raquel! I've just returned from Thailand, where my husband and I have enjoyed our honey moon. There, we had the greatest massage ever, in a relaxing and comfortable atmosphere, all created by the bright and natural colors used in the room decoration scheme. What caught my eyes were these beautiful white oak flooring, which made the room seem cleaner and wider, just offering a natural and relaxing touch to the entire room. After this experience we decided to cover our floors in oak flooring and we just got our flooring order from here: http://www.codot.net/detail/link-14724.html - only low prices for quality and beautiful products. Hope that my experience will help you!

[cabwy]

I am due to paint my home based massage room. One of the things that I am debating is to paint the walls and have the shade start a litte darker at the bottom of the walls and gradually lighten the shade as it works its way up the walls and then carry that lightest shade up onto the ceiling. Someone on here had shown her rock salt lamps. I so want one of those. I want my room to reflect the colors of the beach, varying shades of tan/taupe with pale sage greens and a little touch light blue.