Hotel Decor

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By Megan Cook, Resort & Hotel Management Program

Selkirk College, Nelson, B.C., Canada www.selkirk.ca/ht/

 

In the resort and hotel industry, there are many competitors and a wide variety of choices for potential clients to choose from. The first impression people will get from your enterprise is the décor and design that is presented within. You need to consider that when people walk in to your facility, they are getting the feel for the environment by the way you decorate. You have the opportunity to express your style through the pieces of furniture you pick the art work and the paint colors you chose. Many things need to be considered when you are decorating a large facility. Some main considerations include the theme you choose for your organization.

You want to create a unique, functioning, livable design for your guests. First, you need to determine the style in which you are going to proceed with throughout the hotel. There are many options to chose from: casual, formal, retro, traditional, rustic, or western to name a few. It is necessary to ensure your interior style choice will compliment the design of the building. This will include the exterior, the general layout of the hotel as well as the scenic surroundings.

Once you have decided on a style, you will need to develop a detailed plan and it is recommended that a “story board” is put into effect. This will provide a visual aid for approval for your design plan. It is difficult to describe a design concept without visuals when seeking management approval. The planning part of the design process is extremely important; you should not rush this process. Thorough documentation should include floor plans, purposed furniture placement, as well as color schemes, and fabric choices. This process can help to identify problems that can be easily changed prior to making major purchases. Examine your measurements of walls, windows and doorways before purchases are made. Other considerations may include electrical outlets, cable, telephone, and Internet access. It is necessary to take into consideration who you are decorating the room for. Hotel rooms serve two purposes, sleeping and for either conversational area or a work area. With this in mind, you need to define each space whether there are walls that will define the space for you or if your design will have to do it through furniture placement and room set up.

Typically, hotel rooms utilize the least amount of square footage possible to allow for maximum number of rooms. This can be difficult because the rooms need to provide dual functionality. Keeping this in mind, some techniques for small space design should be considered, such as monochromatic color schemes and the use of negative space.

Monochromatic color schemes work well to enhance the illusion of additional space. This is when all the colors in the pattern are close in tone and value. The use of this type of color scheme helps to make rooms appear larger. When there are no contrasting colors, the eye can move through a room easily uninterrupted. A monochromatic decor also emphasizes the various textures within a room, and helps to create an overall mood that’s comfortable and restful.

 

It is important to buy good quality materials for the long run so that it has a longer life and doesn’t have to be replaced or repaired. Neutral tones are important because they are safe and pleasing to the eye. You don’t want a busy pattern for your furniture; this is an outdated look. Traditionally, patterns have been used to cover any unwanted stains and provide interest. The introduction of new fabric treatment and choices has allowed designers to move towards a more contemporary and appealing design scheme. More value can be attained through choosing fabrics with textures instead of patterns as this allows for future redecorating with out the cost of replacing all major components of the room.

The inclusion of negative space is an important element in a monochromatic design. Negative space is defined as the “area of emptiness that surrounds a subject” The use of negative space, as a balance to positive space, is a good design technique. The negative space gives the eye a “place to rest,” subtly increasing the appeal of the room. Negative space can be more important than color, texture or furnishings in a hotel room.

Increase available light and space to create an expansive feeling by choosing furniture with legs rather than skirts, using glass where possible, and reflective elements like mirrors, to enlarge a room’s visual size.

Soft furnishings such as drapery, bedding, accent pillows, towels, throws, are how you can introduce different textures and accent colors.  The addition of prints or bolder color can be achieved without overwhelming the ambience you are trying to establish in the room. Avoid trends or fads (animal prints, camouflage, neon colors, and geometric patterns) as these will usually make the room appear outdated very quickly and can offend your guests.  This is also the area in which you can easily update in the most cost efficient manner

The size and shape or style of furniture is one of the most important elements in hotel room design. Choosing larger furniture can be a good idea to incorporate as much seating as possible if you have a large room, but the use of more, smaller pieces is a better choice if the room is small. Armless chairs or couches will provide more visual negative space.  Contemporary furniture (sculpted and open pieces) will also give the illusion of more spaces but still provide the necessary comfort in the room.

Utilize natural lighting to your advantage; this helps lower costs, is pleasing to your eyes and provides a cozier atmosphere. This also helps to utilize a natural resource and aid in keeping your design as ecologically friendly. This will help to reduce operational costs and energy resources.

 In the sleeping area of the room, it is best to use side lamps or sconces because this gives this area of the room general lighting. For the conversational area of the room, consider using a floor lamp. Place these lamps to the left of couches because we read from left to right as this placement will ease strain on eyes when reading. If you have a specific work desk area in the room it is necessary to provide task lighting. The lighting in the bathroom should be layered. Sconces provide good lighting for grooming and you should consider a second light for the shower. Recessed lighting is a good choice for the general illumination of the bathroom.

Accents and art work are necessary to provide visual interest and unify the design.  Consideration of all other components is required when adding accent pieces.

It is important to establish a focal point in your design. This area of focus will help to ground the design and help to provide some cohesiveness to the room. Some focal points could include a fireplace, a center piece or even a view from a large window.

The most difficult design requirement for hotel rooms is to incorporate the “ugly” necessities that provide the conveniences to guests. Let’s  face it, there is no simple way to make a television, cable box, bar fridge, hair blower, coffee maker or ironing board look good, however, these are only a few of the modern day conveniences that people expect to be available. The only design solution is to try to “blend” these appliances into the theme or find adequate storage within your design to hide them.

The ultimate goal of hotel room design is to appeal to the majority of guests while establishing that sense of “home away from home” feeling with functionality and appearance.  The difficulty is to design an appealing room for the various individuals that will be occupying it within budget and that can be easily maintained and cleaned.

In conclusion:

Start your design with a theme that you want to carry through the entire room. Once you have selected you theme make a plan! Always start by planning your design with a story board. Make the room appear larger by using monochromatic color schemes and utilizing negative space with reflective surfaces such as glass or mirror. Choose neutral colors so that the atmosphere is soothing and not overwhelming to your audience. Incorporate layered lighting throughout the room design, in the bathroom try adding spa like features so that it has a relaxing environment for the guest. Use stone and dark wood for the textures in the bath. Don’t be scared to show your personality through the accent colors you chose and the prints.

 The ultimate goal of hotel room design is to appeal to the majority of guests while establishing that sense of “home away from home” feeling with functionality and appearance.  The difficulty is to design an appealing room for the various individuals that will be occupying it within budget and that can be easily maintained and cleaned.

Designing a room that is functional for the guest and pleasurable to stay in will make your hotel more popular and bring in more profit for the establishment. Making a room that is practical and well-designed will make the guest’s stay more memorable. It is essential to think of the future and to remember that hotels waste a lot of materials. When you are designing your hotel place in eco friendly shower heads that conserve water to reduce the amount of water each room will use. You can incorporate toilets and tap spouts that also conserve water. There are many ways to be green these days when you are designing your space. Also consider the materials you use to design your room. Bamboo and hemp are good alternatives for materials used in your room. There are also eco friendly paints available. Don’t forget to incorporate recycling to reduce as much waste as possible.