Interior design for a tattoo shop.?

My husband and I are moving to PA to open up a tattoo shop. We're kicking around ideas for different interior design plans and I thought I'd come on here and get other opinions and ideas from all of you. So, what is it in the initial 'look' of a tattoo shop that makes you decide to go in? Once you're in, what in the interior design makes you want to stay in and begin the tattoo artist 'interview' (the point where you talk to the artist and decide if they will be the one tattooing you) process? Any ideas or suggestions will be greatly appreciated :-) Thanks so much for all your help! I'm going to extend this question for a few more days, I'm really excited about the responses we've been getting, so please, keep answering! Thank you all so very much for all your help with this!!!

Public Comments

1. well maybe like pics of tattoos on red walls with black finish would look good. it has to look comfortable but its not a nail salon...
2. not too dark...i know that people think tattoo shop and they see black walls but that doesn't appeal to me....maybe like new and updated posters of some stuff that you've done...and a bright color for the wall...maybe like red or something....just my opinion....what would make me really want to go in is if there's not a whole bunch of stuff crowded together....and maybe a funky floor print....but all in somewhat of a color pattern....good luck!!!!
3. When initially walking up to a tattoo shop, I look for cleanliness. If there are smears of handprints all over the glass in the door, nothing outside to hold cigarette butts, and there's trash all around, I keep walkiing. Once inside, I still look for cleanliness and care. The floor needs to be clean, the display art in good shape, and the soda machine better not be empty with those annoying red lights on. I like the idea of being able to see work being done, but there needs to be at least one private room for tattooes or piercings in... ahem... sensitive areas of the human anatomy. Dueling stereos also tends to bother me, as I go to my safe warm place by breathing in sync with the beat of the music. A clean restroom is also a plus! Running out of toilet paper is bad, really bad. I like the walls to have tasteful art on them, not just pics of ink and metal. I also like shops that have something for you to do while waiting for your turn in the chair. A pool table or some video games would be a nice touch. I can reccomend a candy dispenser as well, as sucking on hard candy or chewing gum will help for those that are a bit nervous about getting inked. Just some ideas, hope that helps.
4. Well, some places are more "biker," others "zen," and other almost hospital-like. And really, it all works for me. What I look for is this: An organized, clean reception area which light-colored floors and counters (so dirt shows up). Otherwise, what's his personality like? He should decorate it according to that.
5. all the shops i've seen have either been really white and medical, or very dark. neither is really very appealing. one had samples on paper hung on the wall in photo sleeves. looked generic. i think i would have it look more like an art gallery, with big framed photos of tattoos on the wall, nicely spaced. you could do color or black and white. then you could have large photo albums, like portfolios, sitting on a big coffee table. the colors i see are deep red, purple, gold, and a little green. very warm colors, very inviting. couches and chairs, comfortable, in the waiting room. hardwood flooring with a big rug. for the actual tattooing area, i'd just have color on the walls, nice countertops, but allow the artist to decorate to display his or her personality and beliefs, make those rooms very personal. people like to feel like they know the person that is doing the tattoo, and for it to feel like you're going back to see someone you know is good for repeat business.
6. Bright colors. Animal print. Artwork painted on the walls. Pretty much artwork anywhere is intriguing. The floor happens to be one of the things I notice the most(kind of weird)...like one shop had pink glitter painted floor, and another had a 50's diner theme, so the floor was black and white tile. Definitely no carpet. Most importantly you want a clean, not crowded space. Oh, and no furniture picked up from the side of the road!
7. I apologize to trivial for giving her a thumbs down rather than a thumbs up scoring - ti was me, sorry. As a tattoo studio owner looking to move next year, I am fascinated by this question and I really like these answers.
8. I think the best possible thing to see when I walk into a tattoo shop is the artists' work on the walls, even more so by their stations. It's important to tell which artist has done what, because there may be a certain style that someone does best. It says a lot too if the artist is proud to display their work on the wall. The fisrt shop I ever got a tattoo at had other artwork done by the atrists as well, which I thought was a great way of saying, "hey, we can do more than just your standard Flash and we understand the fundamentals of art as a whole, not just on skin and ink". That says, to me, that there is a much wider range of creativity at work there. Oh, a comfy place to sit & calm your nerves before needle touches flesh is always nice too.
9. Hmm, good question. A star for you... I'm not into the "bikers only welcome here" look, even though I'm a biker. On the other hand, the super-Zen look I think gets away from the visceral feel of a shop. The shops I like here in Santa Cruz remind me vaguely of a cross between a dentists office, art studio and record store. It's pretty much a given that examples of the artists work will be seen, plus nice layouts of jewelry if it's also a piercing shop. Anyhow, the shops are all clean and you can see most tattoos being done - although at a distance so you don't disturb the artist or tatoo-ee. The piercings are all done away from the hustle & bustle. Music tends to play in the background, but it's never overpowering. I enjoy seeing the staff getting into the music and enjoying where they work. Happy artists = even better art. I like the idea of a junk food machine nearby, but with health regulations it seems like torture for the artists to have that close. I react well to the tattooing process, though, so this may be a selfish observation.
10. Whatever suits the artist's personality. Hospital waiting rooms and the Gap store lack "personality." Also, lots and lots of things to look at...even at the risk of making the place look cluttered. You need lots of things to focus on as a distraction sometimes. And some examples of exemplary tattoos. I find them inspiring, and something to talk about. Water cooler, lollipops.
11. I've been dreaming of my own shop in future...heres what I want to do... I'd like to use and older Victorian style house converted into somewhat of a office building. A large front/waiting room with a classy hotel feel. Warm colors, frilly fancy things, real art on the wall. Lots of seating in the waiting room with a pile of art/tattoo mags. A mini fridge behind the counter for fluids to keep everyone fueled throughout the day. Seperate rooms for each artist, so when doing long pieces they can listen to their own music and tune the rest of the mess out. I want each artist to decorate their own room though. And one small room(Like a walk-in closet) deicated to the autoclave and a stainless steel sink. Outside all I want is a 'open' sign in the window and a classy, old english sign above the door with the shops name.
12. If it were my shop I would go with purple walls and silver stands and what not. I would also display my favorite work of my own of course in big poster size prints. Keep the idea prints in books for people to look through I am not a big fan of the stencils all over the walls kinda look. I starred your question it definetly made me think of how I would like to decorate a shop!