What does the perfect hotel lobby look like? Is it a luxurious space, adorned with real marble and extravagant seating options? Or is it something a little cosier, designed to let your guests know that they’re in safe hands from the minute they walk in? Whatever the perfect lobby looks like to you, the contract furniture you use will be integral to defining the atmosphere.
The world’s most legendary hotels are all known for their distinct looks and feels, so it’s important to pick your fittings and furniture with a clear vision in mind. Hotel lobbies are where the stories begin, so this blog will offer some guidance on how to bring your ideal lounge/waiting area to life.
Start by defining your goals
It’s important to create an atmosphere as soon as your guests arrive. Are you offering a boutique, family-run experience or are you offering arrivals a more premium stay? Determining these goals will make choices like materials, colours and layout a lot more straightforward. For example, a more kitschy space might benefit from Scandi-inspired, natural wooden coffee tables, while a cutting-edge, modern hotel might use minimalistic metal coffee tables.
Consider your space and layout
Whether you’re trying to elicit your own Caesar’s Palace or curate the Great British Seaside B&B, it’s not enough to have an idea, then immediately start buying hotel lobby chairs, coffee tables and contract sofas. You need to be considerate of what your space will allow for and how you want customers to move through the space.
Make sure to map out clear zones with an easy sightline to the reception desk, with parts like:
- Reception space where guests make first contact and check in
- Lounge space for waiting, relaxing or greeting fellow guests
- Pathways to the lifts, stairs, restrooms or dining areas
Smaller spaces might benefit from a cosier, simple hotel lobby design, while grandiose areas have more flexibility to either lean into spacious minimalism or bohemian exuberance.
Essential furniture for every hotel lobby
It could be a luxury hotel lobby or a relatively miniature waiting room – there are a few pieces of contract furniture that every hotelier needs to keep on hand.
Seating options
The hotel lobby is going to be defined by waiting, which is why you need to offer your guests plenty of seating options. Consider a combination of chairs, poufs, benches and sofas to accommodate different dwell times and comfort desires. Make sure your material choices reflect the atmosphere you’re trying to orchestrate.
Tables
The guests in your hotel lobby could be in there for some time, whether waiting for room information or having business meetings. That’s why a variety of tables, ranging from coffee to more communal, can be useful. Providing people the surface from which to enjoy coffee, water or even just a good slouch is an important part of creating a more hospitable lobby experience.
Places to sit, drink and converse are essential for making your hotel lobby as comfortable as possible to guests.
Finishing touches
Beyond the essential furniture, it’s also important to consider the touches that will help define the space. A Casablanca-style hotel lobby piano can be an addition that sticks in people’s minds, while some plant life can also do wonders for making guests feel more welcome.
Other elements can include:
- Art/decorations
- Serve-yourself coffee machines
- Charging/connectivity ports
- A selection of books and magazines
These are the little touches that your guests will remember for years to come, ensuring you remain a go-to spot for them when they’re next in town. With a combination of essential furniture, quality service and finishing touches, a hotel lobby can become the start of a wonderful relationship with your guests.