Emma Radebaugh
So you followed your dreams and opened your own boutique hotel. Congratulations!
You’re sure to have quite a few things on your plate as you get everything settled into a routine. To keep burnout from rearing its ugly head, make sure to have “fun” to-dos in your planner as well. Like design—coming up with room layouts and bedspread colors is much more enjoyable than crunching all the numbers.
Next on your design list should be refining your lobby. Hotel lobby design is essential to capturing your guests’ attention right from the get-go—first impressions are crucial. Ensure your guests’ happiness after all your hard work; follow these tips for designing the perfect hotel lobby.
Pay Attention To Seating
Seating is one of the most important aspects of a lobby. If you walked into a hotel see folding chairs and futons (an exaggeration, but still!), you’d walk right back out again.
Make sure there’s a solid mix of comfortable seating for those weary travelers and flexible furniture for businesspeople who want to work outside of their rooms for a bit. In general, you want to keep your hotel’s design scheme and “values” in mind. If your hotel aims to provide a luxurious place to relax, then you’ll want the lobby to accentuate that. But if you’re a hotel for business workers, your furniture and seating choices will differ.
Make the Layout Fluid
All of the above ties into how you layout your lobby. Ask yourself—what’s the perfect flow from entrance to check-in to bag check to waiting area? You don’t want any obstructions from one point to another. Allow clear areas for guests checking in, and make sure there’s enough space between couches and tables.
Try Not To Stuff
At the end of the designing day, try not to stuff too much in your lobby. The mistake quite a few hotels make is trying to put too much into one area. Some lobbies just don’t have the space for all that. Less is more, cluttered reads chaotic, and standing room is better than overcrowded furniture.
Don’t Forget the Little Elements
By little, we mean not the main aspects—not the couches, chairs, tables, etc. What you need to focus on are the design elements. Things like artwork, rugs, pillows, fabrics, table decor—it all makes an impact on the space’s overall fluidity. Don’t leave your lobby incomplete!
