How do you differentiate a standard hotel from one which is steeped in luxury?
Luxury shouldn’t just be defined by the price per night – but rather by the way that guests experience and become immersed in the hotel they choose. A luxury hotel is one which feels exclusive and comfortable, delivering the kind of setting that merits a higher price tag.
There are some aspects of a hotel stay that all guests expect, regardless of the status of the hotel and its price. The difference between a standard hotel and one with luxury status lies in how the hotel designers bring those elements to life – and enhance them with added details and luxury touches.
In this blog post, we’re taking you through some of the most important details when creating a luxury hotel, focussing on the importance of detail and how it impacts guest experience and overall satisfaction.
Defining Luxury in Interior Design
It’s easy to spend a bit more on materials and opt for expensive finishes, before calling a hotel “luxury” and charging more per night as a result.
However, if you are truly committed to delivering a high end, luxury hotel experience to guests, you need to think beyond the use of expensive materials.
A luxury hotel is one in which craftsmanship is met with unique designs, and with those small details that really consider the value of a customised experience. A luxury hotel should feel exclusive from the moment a guest walks in, with interior details that don’t just deliver on what guests expect but surpass those expectations.
Consider how every area of the hotel looks and feels from a guest perspective, how cohesive the different designs and spaces are, and how the look of the space contributes towards its function and how guests become immersed in their stay.
Materials and Finishes
Perhaps the easiest place to start when building a luxury hotel through interior design is with the materials and finishes you choose.
Some materials are effortlessly luxurious – think marble, hardwood, and bespoke textiles. But luxury doesn’t just lie in the choice of material; it also impacts the way the material is used, how it is balanced within the space, and the quality of the finish.
If you’re going to use a bespoke textile, for example, it’s important to make sure that the fabric doesn’t overpower the space – with subtlety a core hallmark of timeless luxury.
Custom Furniture and Fittings
Bespoke furniture may not sound necessary – after all, there are plenty of furnishings for rooms of all shapes and sizes available on the market.
However, if you’re looking to inject luxury into the design of your hotel, you’ll be amazed at the impact bespoke and custom designed furnishings will have. Not only do these furnishings and fittings impact the functional use of space and the ergonomics of each area in your hotel, but they allow you to use furnishings that are attractive, if not beautiful.
Art and Decorative Elements
There’s a lot to say for art in the interior design of any hotel – be it paintings, installations, sculptures, and areas of hotel branding.
Finding a way of filling blank walls and spaces with subtle, timeless art and décor is a good way to further solidify the theme of your hotel. It can also provide memorable moments for guests and contribute towards the creation of a setting which feels exclusive and unique.
Consider pieces which are representative of the surrounding area, and which appeal to your target guest demographic.
Lighting Design
When it comes to interior design, lighting is a crucial element – yet it is so often an afterthought in business, commercial, and domestic settings alike.
While access to natural light is preferred across many spaces, considering the right balance of artificial light as the day runs into evening and then night is crucial – with one of the hallmarks of a luxury space being a well-managed system of different light fittings.
Consider offering a larger light as well as smaller and more intimate lights as you might find on individual restaurant tables, highlighting targeted areas of a hotel room and details in communal spaces.
Technological Integrations
Another effortless way to take a hotel from standard to luxury is to integrate modern technology – spanning both the comfort and functional purpose of each space across your hotel.
In communal areas, consider technology that supports work on-the-go, that facilitates guest comfort, and that makes it easy for guests to access the information they need. In hotel rooms, look at ways of using technology to automate certain settings – including lighting, curtains, and climate control.
Attention to Small Details
Finally to those small and refined details that elevate your hotel design and take it from every day to extra special.
Features such as your door handles, accessories, the use of cushions and soft furnishing details, and even the amenities and little extras you add all have the power to make guests feel a little bit special when staying in your hotel. And with the delivery of luxury underpinned by both what guests see and how they feel when staying in your hotel, the more you can do to make them feel exclusive and well looked after, the better!
Here at Carroll Design, we have worked with hotels all over the world – delivering expert advice and guidance on how to bring to life a hotel that ticks all the boxes that both you and your guests are looking for. For more information on how we work with hotels big and small, get in touch to book a consultation call today.