One Month In: Life, Lessons, and Growth in the New Tattoo Studio

It’s hard to believe it’s already been over a month since I transitioned from running my gallery to working full-time in my new tattoo space at Sola Salon Suites inside the Temecula Promenade Mall. The shift was fast and challenging. Downsizing from a full 1250 sq. ft. gallery into a 10'x11' suite was one of the biggest spatial challenges of my life—especially since my former tattoo workspace was almost twice the size!

My gallery’s leftover furniture, display items, and products now clutter my home, while I had to get extremely creative in condensing my tattoo setup to fit the new room. But I did it. The ceilings are tall and the lighting is incredibly bright, which helps showcase my artwork on the walls and on the custom shelving I designed and installed myself. After a month of adjustments, reorganizing, and fine-tuning the layout, the room finally feels functional—and I passed my final health inspection this past Wednesday!

My new space is located in Suite 5 out of over 42 suites in the salon space on the second floor of the mall—right above the food court. That means there’s a fair bit of ambient noise: people chatting as they pass by, the children’s train that circles around and blows its whistle every 20 minutes or so, and neighboring suites having lively conversations. But I frosted the sliding glass door that allows me to keep things private and helps muffle the sound. Inside, I’ve kept my two TVs and Bluetooth speaker, so clients still have the option to relax with their favorite shows or music while we work.

I tried to make the space feel as cozy and welcoming as possible, despite the size limitations, and I’ve been grateful to hear nothing but compliments from clients who are impressed with how much I was able to fit into such a small space while keeping it comfortable.

One surprise—although I suppose it shouldn’t have been—is how much foot traffic the mall generates. I’ve had significantly more people stop in to ask about tattoos and pricing than I ever did at the gallery. While none of those curious passersby have officially booked yet, I feel confident that it’s only a matter of time. What also surprised me—in the best way—was how welcoming and supportive my fellow salon suite neighbors have been. I was initially nervous about having other tattoo professionals around and worried about competition. But the energy has been nothing but encouraging, collaborative, and positive.

So, here I am—fully transitioned, newly settled, and looking ahead with cautious optimism. I’ve come a long way from the big gallery to this small but mighty studio space.

As a classically trained portrait artist, I don’t limit myself to one tattoo style—I adapt my approach to bring each client’s vision to life. If you’re interested in booking an appointment, please head to my booking page at: 👉🏼 www.heatherpilapil.com/book-online

You can also reach out via call, text, email, or DM—but the website is the best way to grab a spot easily.

Thanks to everyone who has supported me in this big shift—it means more than you know. I hope to see you in the studio soon!