Top Tips for Decorating Communal Areas

It's not uncommon for us to have to share communal areas with other people. Whether it be the entrance hall of your building, or in the office at work, these areas deserve to be decorated and furnished properly.

Whether your apartment, the entrance hall of your building, a hotel lobby, or any other kind of common area, it’s important to get the right decor. Communal areas are often the first places we see when we walk into a new building and serve as a taster of what you’re going to find further inside.

We all want to feel happy and comfortable wherever we go, even if it’s just a waiting room. That feeling of comfort is often provided by the interior decor. Whether practical or more elaborate, the right decor is fundamental for helping us feel at home.

With that in mind, there’s no doubt that a little bit of thought, time and effort can go a long way to giving guests, customers, patients or visitors the right impression. Though many people underestimate them, communal areas really do play an important role.

Decorating communal areas: entrance halls

Entrance hall decor can vary hugely, from the simple to the spectacular. In many cases, it will depend on the type of building or the personal tastes of the residents. However, it’s always a good idea to keep your entrance hall looking great.

There’s nothing better than arriving home and feeling instantly at ease as soon as you walk in the door. That moment when you shut out the outside world, and enter your own private, personal space.

On the one hand, you could decide to go for functional decor, adding a few decorations to the walls using paint or decorative moldings, along with practical lighting.

Alternatively, you also have the option of incorporating items such as mirrors or paintings. If you really want to go all out, you could even display sculptures or vases on ornate plinths. If you’re looking for a more understated look, carpets and natural plants are essential.

Decorating communal areas: hotels

When you stay in a hotel, you expect the communal areas to be warm, welcoming and beautifully decorated. On the journey from the hotel lobby to your room, you have to pass through a number of different spaces, each of which should be furnished and decorated with the utmost care.

• Hotel elevators often open out onto a large lobby, which leads toward the corridors and guest rooms. It’s important to pay attention to the decor here, to make sure your guests instantly feel comfortable and happy.
• Carpets are essential, cushioning the floor and bringing a splash of color.
• It’s also important to remember to include side tables where you can display ornaments, paintings or mirrors.
• If it’s a luxury hotel, don’t be afraid to buy a large ceiling lamp, or even a chandelier, choosing glamorous colors such as gold and silver.
• The music can also be an important aspect to keep in mind. Setting the mood with some great background music can really help to create the right ambiance.

Offices

If you work in an office, it’s important to pay attention to any areas that are open to the public. This is the best way to reflect the professionalism of the company as a whole.

• If you’re looking for functionality, stick to office furniture. However, if you want to create a more interesting aesthetic, decorate the walls with eye-catching colors and interesting paintings, and choose warm, pleasant lighting.
• At the same time, it’s important to make your customers feel as comfortable as possible. Try to look for comfy seating such as armchairs and upholstered seats etc.
• Filling the space with green plants and fragrances will help to create a fresh and positive atmosphere.

Medical clinic

Whether it be a dental clinic, a physiotherapist’s office or any other type of medical facility, the first thing patients will see before heading to their appointment is the entrance hall and waiting room.

While the reception area of any medical clinic needs to be clean and functional, it should also feature small decorative items to give it that touch of originality. The same goes for the waiting room – it’s important for clients to feel at home.

Though it might not seem like it, making sure to pay close attention to the little details in each room can help win you more clients, tenants or patients, which should, in turn, increase your income.