Spa Therapy Spaces
Treatment rooms offer guests a private, personal treatment space that will be tailored to their needs and goals. The following outline the minimum requirements for these spaces. The project treatment room mix is dependent upon the project’s size, market, culture, budget and other regional influences.
There are several types of treatment rooms, however there are some commonalities amongst them.
The first impression upon entering the treatment room is one of calmness and comfort. Operational equipment and tools should be out of site yet easily accessible by the therapist.
A seat for the guest, although not essential has benefits. Guests can sit to remove their footwear or in the case of Discovery Well Being beachfront locations to wash sand off. However, a seat can also be used as a tool for consultations, or for introducing touch points such as breathing or meditation at the beginning of the treatment. These are useful techniques to make guests feel comfortable prior to beginning a touch therapy.
Therapist ergonomics and welfare are vitally important and enhance the guest experience. The treatment bed should be positioned with 90cm clearance around all sides so that therapists can move easily around the bed whilst keeping connection with the guest. Operational equipment should be easy to access, we’ll talk more about equipment later in this document.
The guest often spends 50% of their treatment time lying face down. Give consideration to what the guest views when they look through the face cradle on the treatment bed. Wires should be out of view and whenever possible an unexpected design detail should be included.
Air quality should be healthy and flooring must be easy to clean solid surface, as spills do happen.
A well-designed massage room should be functional, comfortable, and relaxing for both the massage therapist and the client. Here are the key areas to consider while designing a massage room:
- Room Layout: Design the room layout to maximize efficiency and facilitate easy movement. Consider the placement of the massage table, storage areas, and additional seating.
- Ambiance: Create a soothing atmosphere with soft lighting, pleasant aromas, and calming artwork. Choose low-intensity lighting sources such as table lamps or sconces, and consider using essential oil diffusers or scented candles.
- Colors and Textures: Select colors and textures for walls, flooring, and furnishings that evoke a sense of calm and relaxation. Neutral and earth tones such as beige, brown, or soft green are popular choices.
- Massage Table: Invest in a high-quality, comfortable, and adjustable massage table with proper cushioning and support.
- Linens and Towels: Use soft, disposable, or washable linens and towels that are easy to change between clients.
- Storage: Plan for enough storage space to keep supplies like massage oils, sheets, towels, and props organized and accessible.
- Soundproofing: Incorporate soundproofing elements like acoustic panels, heavy curtains, small water features, or a white noise machine to minimize external noise and maintain client privacy.
- Ventilation and Temperature Control: Ensure proper ventilation and maintain a comfortable room temperature that's adaptable to individual client preferences. Provide individual controls and HVAC zones for each treatment area/room.
- Sanitation and Hygiene: Design the space to facilitate easy cleaning and maintain high sanitation standards using materials and finishes that can be easily wiped and disinfected.
- Privacy: Use window treatments like blinds, curtains, or frosted glass to provide privacy without blocking the flow of natural light.