Furnishing a hotel room: six choices the guest notices straight away

The average hotel guest has formed an opinion about the room within a minute of checking in. They put down the suitcase, look around, test the bed and search for a socket. In that minute, the points below count for more than the colour palette.

The bed and the bedside tables

The bed is the largest piece of furniture in the room and the first thing you notice. A tall upholstered headboard creates a sense of calm and protects the wall. Bedside tables with a socket and a USB port at eye level stop guests having to hunt under the bed for a power point.

Storage that matches the length of stay

A business guest staying one night hangs up a jacket and wants to be able to leave the suitcase open. A family staying a week needs hanging space and drawers. A luggage rack or an open wardrobe with hooks is often a better fit than a closed wardrobe. For every hotel, we look at the average length of stay before we draw the wardrobe.

A workspace that doubles as a dining table

In a hotel room, a desk is used for the laptop, room service and make-up. A table at least 100 cm wide with a genuinely comfortable chair, and a socket on the top. For most guests, that is enough.

Lighting in layers

A single ceiling light makes any room look flat. A reading light by the bed, a lamp at the desk and indirect lighting by the wardrobe give the guest control. Switches by the bed are part of that, so nobody has to walk to the door in the dark.

Materials that can cope with housekeeping

A room is cleaned every day. Table tops have to withstand a damp cloth, fabrics have to resist stains and floors have to cope with wheeled suitcases. That is why we choose hard-wearing fabrics and washable finishes, without the room looking clinical. You can read more about this in our article on hotel furniture for intensive use.

One recognisable detail

A room that guests remember has one thing they see nowhere else. A custom headboard in the brand colour, a local material or a piece of art. At Aldiana Tropea on the Italian coast, that calls for something different than at The Gast House in the mountains of Zell am See. That is why we start every design with the surroundings, and only then with the collection.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to furnish a hotel room?

That depends on the number of rooms and whether custom work is involved. For a sample room, allow several weeks from the final design. We plan a complete wing in phases, timed around the period when rooms can be taken out of service. After the first meeting, you receive a schedule with fixed dates.

Can you furnish rooms while the hotel stays open?

Yes. We work floor by floor or wing by wing, so the remaining rooms stay available to let.

How much storage does a hotel room need?

That depends on the average length of stay. For one or two nights, hooks and a luggage rack are enough; for a week, a guest wants hanging space and drawers. For every hotel, we look at the guest mix before we draw the wardrobe.

What lighting belongs in a hotel room?

Lighting in layers: a reading light by the bed, a lamp at the desk and indirect light by the wardrobe. Switches by the bed are part of that, so nobody has to walk to the door in the dark.

How big should the desk be?

At least 100 cm wide, with a genuinely comfortable chair and a socket on the top. The desk is used for the laptop, room service and make-up, so it has to do more than hold a laptop.