Wall console or mobile double-sided salon station: planning one or two chairs
- 15 min reading time
Choose a wall-positioned hairdressing console when a styling chair will remain in one place against a wall and you want to preserve an open route through the centre of the salon. Consider a mobile double-sided console when you want to position a working mirror in the open room and potentially arrange chairs on opposite sides. Two working faces do not automatically create two usable stations: simultaneous appointments also require room for two chairs, two stylists, shelves in their open positions and circulation around both clients. Without that space, a double-sided console may be a flexible single station rather than a genuine two-station solution.
Three current Prohaar products illustrate the distinction. The Gabbiano B058 cherry console has a large mirror and storage shelves to the sides, and its current listing describes placement against a wall. The Gabbiano RA-006 is mobile and expressly has two mirrors, a black powder-coated metal frame, braked castors and folding shelves. The Gabbiano MI-03 is also described by its manufacturer as double-sided, with a folding shelf positioned at 90 cm, openings for holding a hair dryer and lockable castors. It would be inaccurate to call the MI-03 a confirmed single-sided alternative to the RA-006.
Decide in this order: establish the chair positions, mark the real working space for each chair, then add the console with the relevant shelves unfolded. Only after that should you decide which unit to buy. The dimension of an individual shelf or the compact outline of a parked unit is not the entire operational footprint. The checked manufacturer pages do not provide one complete, consistently specified operating envelope including unfolded shelves and chairs for all three models. Your floor plan therefore needs independent measurements for those elements.
1. Start with the number of genuinely usable positions
A salon station is much more than a mirror. The stylist needs to move around the chair, reach the client from various angles, place working tools somewhere appropriate and walk between the mirror, trolley and wash area. The client needs to approach the chair, sit down and leave without obstructing everyone travelling between reception, the waiting area and the exit. Planning only the console rectangle misses these interactions, which is why the chairs should be drawn first.
Sketch each chair's actual base and its useful operating movement. Add a second area for the stylist standing, passing and moving equipment. Use the dimensions and behaviour of your own chair and working methods rather than inserting a supposedly universal clearance in centimetres. Show door swings, fixed cupboards, wash basins, thresholds, power points and the principal walking routes. Place the console only when you can see whether these areas collide in a normal appointment.
Two mirror faces create two viewing directions, not automatically two appointments at once. Two stylists may also need two trolleys, dryers, cables and safe temporary tool positions. Test whether either chair can turn without striking the centre unit or another chair. Can a stylist reach one side while the opposite shelf is open? Does a client have a direct path out when both stations are occupied? A full-size mock-up with tape and chairs can reveal more than an attractive digital layout that contains only empty furniture outlines.
2. Wall placement: the useful role of the B058
A wall installation gives the mirror a clear permanent location. In a long or narrow room it can keep the main central passage free because the console does not stand between two chair rows. The B058 is an example of this approach. Its current product description confirms a large mirror, storage shelves on both sides and viewing windows through which the contents of some shelves are visible. It has a cherry-colour finish. Those decorative windows refer to storage presentation, not a second mirror face or a second styling position.
A vacant stretch of wall is not a sufficient test. Check access to the side storage, the alignment of the chair and mirror, the distance to the next styling station and the route behind the seated client. A nearby door, recess or cabinet door can make a seemingly generous wall bay difficult to use. The centreline of the mirror matters more than assuming the chair should sit at the centre of the overall furniture width. Where several wall stations are arranged in a row, each stylist also needs practical lateral movement.
Distinguish between putting a console against the wall and structurally fastening it to that wall. A sales description mentioning wall placement is not a verified fixing specification for every masonry, timber or plasterboard surface. Do not infer anchor positions, screws, load ratings or permission to use the item freestanding from photographs. Obtain the exact assembly and installation guidance, complete external dimensions and weight before drilling holes or commissioning fitted wall panels. A guess at the type of fixing could have real consequences for the installation.
3. RA-006: a mobile island with two explicit mirrors
The RA-006 is identified by the manufacturer as a mobile, double-sided hairdressing console. The confirmed characteristics are two mirrors, a metal frame finished in black powder coating, wheels with brakes and folding shelves. These facts make it a relevant candidate for chairs positioned on opposite sides of a central unit, especially in a salon where the walls have already been assigned to windows, wash areas, storage or doors.
For a central island, assess both chair positions separately. On the drawing, place a chair facing each mirror and reserve space for the stylist, the client and equipment at both stations. Then show the folding shelves in their working positions. Check the change of clearance as each chair turns or is moved, as a trolley approaches and as a person passes the island. If opening one shelf prevents access to the other chair, the unit's two mirrors will not remove that constraint. Allow for two sets of work tools where both positions will be used simultaneously.
Being mobile is not permission to roll the RA-006 through a busy room with loose equipment on an open shelf. Moving it, applying the wheel brakes and folding its shelves must follow the instructions applicable to the model. A braked wheel is not a documented guarantee of rigidity on every floor, under every load or movement. Where the layout changes frequently, include the transport route and parking position in the design as well as the active working layout. A mobile item that has nowhere to park can become a permanent obstacle.
4. MI-03: double-sided design, different confirmed details
The manufacturer's original MI-03 description explicitly uses the term double-sided. That matters because short descriptions sometimes focus mainly on its folding shelf. The same source confirms a large mirror, a shelf at 90 cm height, openings functioning as a hair-dryer holder and lockable castors. These are specific product features. They do not establish that the exact number, size and placement of every mirror or working shelf on its two sides duplicates the RA-006 arrangement. Check both actual faces before planning two fully equivalent stations.
Ask the same layout questions for the MI-03: which side is facing each chair, how does the stylist access it, and where does the shelf project when open? The documented 90 cm dimension describes the shelf height; it is not a recommended ergonomic working height for every user. Compare it with the chairs, trolleys and equipment you already own. The stated hair-dryer openings also need actual dimensional compatibility checks. The manufacturer's description does not establish that an arbitrary dryer will fit, nor a verified maximum temperature or supported load.
5. Three models compared on documented differences
| Planning question | B058 cherry | RA-006 | MI-03 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intended placement | Against a wall in current listing | Mobile centre or changing layout | Mobile, described as double-sided |
| Mirror information | Large mirror described | Two mirrors explicitly stated | Large mirror and double-sided design; check exact arrangement of both faces |
| Tool surface | Storage shelves at the sides | Folding shelves | Folding shelf at 90 cm |
| Mobility | Wheels not confirmed in checked listing | Wheels with brakes | Lockable castors |
| Distinctive feature | Viewing windows on one side | Black powder-coated metal frame | Openings for holding a hair dryer |
| Two simultaneous chairs | Not presented as a two-mirror island | Possible if both work zones fit | Check the two faces and clearance; do not equate it automatically with RA-006 |
The table deliberately stops at documented information. It is not a comparative engineering test of ergonomics, load capacity, installation, cleaning resistance or compatibility with specific equipment. Nor does it invent a complete overall operating footprint. 'Double-sided' describes a furniture characteristic; 'two independently usable salon stations' describes what happens after chairs, people and accessories have been arranged around that furniture. These statements cannot be treated as synonyms.
For any option, seek three different measurements: the outside dimensions with shelves closed, the maximum furniture outline with the relevant shelves open and the total area used by the chair or chairs plus working circulation. The depth of an isolated shelf must never be substituted for the total footprint. If a product card lacks a reliable drawing of both states, obtain model-specific dimensions before approving the final furniture layout or committing to the purchase.
6. Open shelves and circulation determine the real fit
A folding shelf reduces the space required only while it is folded. During an appointment it may be extended for brushes, clips or other working accessories. Draw two states of the same console: storage or movement with shelves folded, and active use with the necessary shelves open. For a double-sided setup, include the open shelf position on both working faces, not just the side most visible in the product photograph. Overlay the chair at the largest position that is relevant to your daily operations.
Walk through the route from entrance to chair, from chair to wash area and towards the exit. Imagine one stylist behind a seated client while another moves a trolley through the salon. Could a client stand up without brushing past an extended shelf? Could the second stylist work at the RA-006 when the first chair is occupied? Would the cable from a dryer placed at the MI-03 cross a walkway? At the B058, are the side shelves reachable when the adjacent chair turns? These specific tests are more useful than declaring an undocumented minimum distance to be sufficient.
Also consider circulation when treatment is not in progress. Deliveries, customers waiting for appointments, cleaning and people collecting coats can use the same passage as working stylists. A central island that looks elegant in an empty room can create a bottleneck at busy periods. One wall station and a clear corridor may be the more functional option in a narrow salon; an island with two opposed stations may be appropriate in a broad room. The distinction should follow measured use rather than a general claim that one type is always more space-efficient.
7. Power supply, dryers and storage are separate decisions
A console does not replace a plan for power outlets. An opening intended to hold a dryer does not confirm a universal opening diameter, a heat-rated tool holder, built-in wiring or compatibility with every dryer. Map the sockets from which equipment will actually be used, then identify routes that keep cords away from customers' feet. Changes to fixed electrical installations should be evaluated and performed by qualified personnel. Relying on a permanent extension lead across a busy route is not a sound substitute for planning the electrical points.
List the equipment used at one station: hair dryer, brushes, combs, sectioning clips, styling products, trimmer if required and perhaps a trolley. Decide what really belongs on the working shelf and what should remain in a separate storage unit. For two simultaneously active chairs, make that assessment twice. Two mirror faces do not create two sets of equipment, an extra safe location for hot tools or additional electrical sockets. The load of everything placed on the shelves also needs to stay within model instructions, not an assumed capacity.
The B058 offers side shelves with some visible contents, but display windows do not turn that furniture into a lockable cabinet. At the RA-006 and MI-03, check whether tools remain reachable when shelves are open and whether the console is positioned in accordance with the relevant original instructions. Avoid promising an untested maximum load, heat tolerance or cleaning resistance. Those technical claims require evidence for the precise product, not general expectations about professional salon furniture.
8. A decision method before placing an order
Make a scaled floor plan after obtaining complete and current dimensions for the unit you are considering. Mark every candidate as a fixed one-chair station, a mobile one-chair station or a potential two-chair station. Add the chair when fully moved into its relevant working position, the open shelf outline and the route between each area of the salon. Include a parking area for a mobile console when it is not in use. This exposes important conflicts before they turn into daily frustrations after delivery.
Verify the exact product identifiers: B058 cherry SKU 124727, RA-006 SKU 125921 and MI-03 SKU 148995. Before ordering, confirm external dimensions, shelf travel, configuration of both sides, original assembly instructions, which components are included and the packed dimensions. For bulky deliveries, measure doorways, stairs, lifts and turns along the actual access route. Do not treat a delivery time or cost quoted for another market as a guarantee for your order.
Frequently asked questions
Does every RA-006 provide two fully usable salon stations?
No. It has two mirrors, but simultaneous work requires space for both chairs, stylists, open shelves and walking routes. The manufacturer does not provide one universal room area that applies to every salon layout.
Is the MI-03 a single-sided alternative to the RA-006?
No. Its manufacturer describes the MI-03 as double-sided. You still need to compare the exact mirror and shelf arrangement on both faces instead of assuming it is identical to the RA-006, where two mirrors are expressly specified.
Can the B058 be placed freely in the middle of a room?
Its current sales description directs it against a wall. Without a verified construction and installation guide, a freestanding island configuration should not be presented as supported. Confirm the installation requirements first.
How many centimetres should I add for an unfolded shelf?
There is no verified universal allowance. You need the exact fully open shelf dimensions, the chair's dimensions and usable circulation for the stylist. Calculate those separately and test one or two occupied positions.
Does a wheel brake guarantee that the console cannot move?
No. A wheel brake is a stated feature, not a universal performance guarantee for every surface, load and direction of force. Follow the instructions for the exact model and do not assume an unspecified load rating.
Will any hair dryer fit the MI-03 openings?
That has not been established. The manufacturer describes openings acting as a dryer holder but does not provide a universal compatibility list in the checked product text. Compare the actual opening and equipment dimensions.
What measurements should I request before ordering?
Obtain complete external dimensions, the working envelope with shelves open, an illustration of both faces, packaging and assembly details and any product-specific load limits. A photograph or a single shelf depth cannot replace them.
Choose the layout first, then the furniture
For permanent wall placement with lateral storage, see the B058 cherry console. For a mobile island with two explicitly confirmed mirrors, compare the RA-006. For another mobile, double-sided construction with a 90 cm folding shelf and dryer openings, review the MI-03. The wider selection is in hairdressing consoles and styling stations, with more layout topics in Prohaar Magazine. Confirm the actual open furniture outline and both chair zones before purchasing.
Prohaar editorial team · Product and source review: 14 October 2026. Manufacturer descriptions confirm model features, not a universally safe or workable floor layout. Original manufacturer pages: B058, RA-006, MI-03. Verify the current model-specific instructions before installation.