How to Decorate the Perfect Hotel Lobby

The first thing guests see when they arrive at a hotel is the entrance hall. As such, it's important to make sure your hotel lobby is beautifully decorated, so that your guests feel instantly at home.

The hotel lobby should give your guests a taste of what to expect in the rest of the hotel. So, if you’re not sure how to decorate your lobby, try to ensure it contains all of your hotel’s most notable stylistic and aesthetic features.

When you arrive at a hotel, the first place you go to is the lobby. It’s here that you gain your first impression of the place you’ll be staying, and where you have your first interactions with hotel staff.

With this in mind, decorating and maintaining the hotel lobby becomes all the more important. This is the highest traffic area of any hotel, with guests normally visiting the lobby multiple times during their stay.

The importance of decorating your hotel lobby

Hotels go to great lengths to decorate and maintain their lobbies. Whether big or small, it’s important to pay special attention to this space, so that guests arrive and leave with a great impression.

Quality always sells and having a beautiful and comfortable hotel will help attract more guests. This is especially true as many people post photos and reviews of their accommodation online.

Do it well, and your decor will define your entire image, and become the public face of your hotel. As such, it’s important to pay close attention to every aspect of your lobby, right down to the last detail.

Furniture layout

If you want to get the perfect layout for your furniture, it’s important to study your lobby beforehand to get a better understanding of the space you have to work with.

• It’s best to have a large spacious entrance hall so that guests can access reception without any unnecessary obstacles in the way. They need plenty of time to orient themselves before checking in.
• The reception desk needs to be fully visible, ideally placed directly opposite the main entrance. There should always be someone on reception to greet guests and answer any questions they might have.
• There should also be a seating area where guests can sit down and relax. It’s important for guests to feel comfortable, so Chesterfield-style armchairs and coffee tables are a great option. Make sure that there are enough chairs for large numbers of people at a time.

You don’t need to clutter your lobby with lots of furniture and decorative elements. Remember, while they must be beautifully decorated, lobbies are functional spaces.

Decorating your hotel lobby – color and materials

Choosing the right color palette is an important part of decorating your hotel lobby. The walls, floors, and ceilings should be in harmony with one another and complement the furniture.

• Brown, maroon, ocher, and green marble are popular choices for hotels. Its matte finish will give your lobby a touch of elegance and style.
• Light or dark-colored wood will give your lobby a slightly more formal look, while still remaining fairly casual. In hotels, wood is normally used for walls and works really well with stone.
• Tiled flooring is a great option, both in terms of durability and elegance. The color you choose will largely depend on the rest of the decor in your lobby.

Lampshades and lighting

When decorating any room, it’s important to get the right lighting. It can have a huge impact on the decor, as well as the overall atmosphere.

• Natural light: it’s best to have as many skylights and large windows as possible to allow plenty of natural light to enter from the street.
• Warm light: perfect for creating a relaxing atmosphere. It also works great with marble.
• White light: probably the least well-suited to hotel lobbies, white light is too cold and stimulating for a place designed for rest and relaxation.

Additional elements for your hotel lobby

When it comes to choosing additional elements for your hotel lobby, you might want to keep the following elements in mind:

• Rugs: choose large, soft, thick rugs that will fill your lobby with a sense of comfort and luxury.
• Plants: the natural touch is a must for any hotel lobby. It’s important to make sure your plants get plenty of air and sunlight, so it’s best to place them close to the windows or doors.
• Fragrances: while it might not seem like it, choosing a great smelling air freshener can make all the difference to your lobby. Subconsciously, it will help your guests feel great, and give them a great impression of your hotel.

When it comes to hotels, taking care of the lobby is one of the best ways to ensure your business is a success.