In the past, hotels were plain buildings that served the utilitarian function of providing a place to sleep for weary travelers. Hotels were often simply decorated and lacked a clear design style or color scheme. Over the past decade, however, hotels have been transformed to adapt to shifting customer tastes. Nowadays, modern hotels are often tastefully decorated and feature well-designed rooms. In creating these modern hotels, designers have established several strong principles to follow in hotel planning pertaining to both decor and design.

Guest Rooms  

The most common room in a hotel, the guest room is where most travelers spend their stay. Here, guests desire a sense of relaxation and enjoyment. In these areas, designers focus on creating a space with an emphasis on comfort and rest. Of course, the style often dramatically differs between the luxurious hotels and the more simple ones, but the rooms almost always share a few common features: a nice color scheme, a decent layout and thoughtful design elements.  

For the color scheme, most rooms feature a few different colors that look good together, whether they are complementary or analogous. For instance, most higher-end hotels try to match the furniture to the wall colors. Their designers want to make their rooms look as good as possible to the guests, so why would they choose a chair that clashes with the other décor?  

Hotel designers also make sure that the rooms have a well-planned layout. They want the guest to feel welcome and relaxed–not stressed out because the bathroom door is blocked by the bed. Planners work hard to make sure that the guest has plenty of space for themselves and their luggage plus room left over to relax.

Thoughtful design elements are also important to designers. Much of this pertains to furniture, and designers do a lot of thinking when placing chairs and tables in guest rooms. They want to be certain that guests have a space to sit and read or do work, if necessary. Obtaining furniture that matches the room is also important to the designer. In a hip, modern hotel, for example, the furniture needs to match the architectural style. In larger spaces, designers often choose to put comfortable sleeper sofas in the rooms to accommodate larger groups. Overall, designers make sure that guests have all the furniture they need to be comfortable.

Lobbies

Some hotels may have simple lobbies designed to funnel guests straight from the front desk to their rooms. However, many other hotels desire to make their lobbies a common area for guests to enjoy if they wish. Thus, hotel designers will often design large lobby spaces filled with art and furniture. Many hotel lobbies feature several tables and chairs guests can use to relax, read or work if their hotel room is too confined or quiet. The lobby may also be the area where a continental breakfast is offered, so it may include counter space and storage areas.

 

Designers focus a lot of attention on these areas, as they are the first thing guests see when they walk into the building. Modern hotels feature spacious areas full of art designed to attract the visitor's eye and maybe even spark some conversation. Lobby colors are usually bright, with white used frequently. Other parts of the lobby in a modern building may be designed for meeting areas, workstations and simple places to enjoy some coffee or tea. In more traditional hotels, the lobby is often smaller, with darker colors, usually designed to create a cozier feel.

Luxury Rooms and Suites

Many hotels offer fancy special suites for important business guests, honeymooners, etc. In these rooms, designers make sure to add extra comfort, style and entertainment options. Hotel designers know, for example, that honeymooning couples love to see larger beds with softer bedding, bigger bathtubs, layouts featuring separate bedrooms and living areas and more space to relax and unwind.

More furniture is often placed in these rooms, and it is usually fancier and higher quality than the pieces found in regular guest rooms. Whether it is more tables, an easy chair or a nice couch, designers make sure to make the room extra special. Also, to make sure the guests are entertained and enjoy their stay, many hotels install televisions with larger screens and sometimes even place a few books in the room for them to read. Luxury rooms and suites may also include things like whirlpool tubs, desks and comfortable office chairs and other amenities. Overall, designers strive to create a romantic and cozy atmosphere for those staying in the luxury rooms.

 

Business and Entertainment Spaces

Hotels are commonly used for weddings, conventions, business meetings and other events. Designers thus focus their attention on creating modern and energetic designs that are suitable for any occasion. Conference rooms tend to have darker, more traditional colors, and designers will usually install business-focused tables and chairs in them.

For areas that are often used for parties and weddings, there are several principles designers follow. Usually, the rooms are large with plenty of space to set up equipment, chairs, decorations, etc. Designers know how much space it takes to host a large event, so they plan accordingly, sometimes planning for several side rooms where smaller groups can meet and converse. However, party and convention rooms can often dramatically differ between hotels. In a traditional hotel, designers plan for smaller rooms with clean, focused designs. The large spaces will be suitable for business or parties and will have furniture and decor to match the hotel’s style. In modern hotels, designers often go far outside the box with the party and conference rooms. They will put in bars, unusual art, and sometimes, even beanbags or pillows to sit on.

In Conclusion

A lot of careful planning goes into designing and decorating modern hotels. From the tiniest details to the large furniture pieces that dominate the various spaces throughout the facility, every aspect is carefully considered to ensure optimal guest comfort and convenience.