The right hotel cares about guest experience investing in the minute details to enhance guest stays. Lighting is required to create the right ambience. Buy Hotel Lights from trusted experts at The Lighting Company – we’ve got you covered.
Location.
You’ll find that there’s no one perfect type of hotel lighting. Each hotel and the area within it has its own unique needs. Make sure you choose the right kind of lights for your space. Lighting for hotels, bars and restaurants lighting to create the perfect mood can be problematic without a clear brief.
When it comes to hotel lighting, there are many things to consider. For example, if you want to create a romantic atmosphere, soft light is best. If you want to create a business environment, then bright lights are needed. In addition, if you want to highlight certain areas of the space, such as reception, restaurant or lobby then accent lighting is necessary.
Consider the image and brand values of the hotel what elements are able to be translated into the scheme. Many hotels now want distil the essence of their location within the design to create that all important uniqueness is their USP. honing in on the heritage, the spirit of the space is called Genius Loci where the history landscape and industry of the area form part of the unique. For example if the hotel was in an area where red deer roamed for generations then some kind of nod to a stage maybe perfect where as it may be totally wrong for a city hotel.
Unique lighting in hotels especially for front of house areas helps to light the space and delight guest with a visual stimulus, making the space feel memorable and inviting. The hotel lobby has traditionally been the space for a large light fitting to set the tone. However not all hotels have the atrium or ceiling height. Luckily luxury lighting comes in all shapes and sizes, giving no end of options no matter the ceiling height.
Mix of Styles
There are three main categories of hotel lighting: task lighting, ambient lighting, and accent lighting. Task lighting is used to illuminate work areas, such as desks, tables, and counters. Ambient lighting is used to provide general illumination throughout the rooms. Accent lighting is used to highlight objects and add visual interest.
Functionality.
A good hotel lighting system should offer functionality that meets the needs of guests. It should also be easy to operate, simple to maintain and efficient.
The function of each light that can be operated by a guest should meet their needs. Todays guests expect dual lights at the bedside a wall mounted reading light with 2 separate lights one shaded and one to spot light for reading. In addition to this as most guests travel with tech bundles such as phones and tablets providing a USB charger at the bedside either in a socket or integrated into the light is a must.
A word on LED Lighting.
LED lighting comes in 2 types built in LED or retro fit LED. Hotels looking to improve efficiency should plan to upgrade lighting. Be that replacing incandescent or fluorescent light bulbs with LED versions or when installing new lighting replace with integrated LED.
Explore Integrated LED Lighting for hotels.
“Each space is an opportunity to impress guests”
“Hotel Rooms inhabit a separate moral universe”
Hotel Bedroom Lighting
A well lit room creates a welcoming atmosphere. When guests enter a hotel room, they want to feel comfortable and relaxed. To achieve this, hotels invest in quality lighting fixtures and bulbs. These fixtures should be placed strategically throughout the room. For a successful guest bedroom, some particular areas must be lit. paying special attention to the below areas within the space is recommended.
- Hotel Bathrooms especially the vanity lighting
- Bedside lighting, wall lightings with reading lamps
- Dressing tables and desks should be lit by task lamps
- Reading lamps next to chairs
- A mixture of lighting allows guest to customise the light level to suit them.
Crafting the relaxed mood for a hotel bar takes a little consideration as the space will be lit generally and will need layering up with pools of light. The pools of light will not show up in good enough contrast to the surrounding light if it’s not bright enough. The accent lighting should be brighter potentially 3 times brighter. Being very bright can cause harshness unless they are diffused or shaded.
There’s a few good options often used as accent lighting.
Pendants, metal, glass
Bare Bulbs
Picture lights
Spotlights
As in any scheme certain key locations require light fittings to mark them out as special of course the bar will need decorative lighting above. A dramatic row of feature lights adds to the theatre of the experience as well as lighting the taps and bar top for practical reasons the light puts every drink in a spot light further tempting guest to perhaps try that cocktail they’ve noticed being poured.
Booths always deserve to have a pendant light of feature light above. This should compliment the decor but have a marked difference to the bar area. Within large spaces mix styles of lights to show a differing look between spaces. Bar are spaces for entertaining, stimulating vibrant social spaces, be playful with lighting, be unexpected or choose something that eco’s the history of the building. Even a purpose built chain hotel will want guest to treated to something a bit different in each of its locations. If a similar look is requested try to mix it up and be less predictable with positioning.
Cafes often have their own brand identities, signature looks that enforce the recognition of the coffee house. No self respecting coffee shop has a basic unlit counter top, it must be lit from above. Rows of pendants are the order go the day, often all lined up and spaced evenly. This highlights product and delineates the place to peruse all the delights the vendor has to offer.
Dependant on the type of restaurant lighting will vary. Fast food restaurants are generally brighter and have an energy that attracts families. The aims to be clean well light and fast-moving to promote faster service. However most hotel restaurants are far more relaxed allowing diners to dwell longer and indulge themselves. Lighting should be dimmer with lower level background lighting and a higher ratio of accent lights. Candle light or small battery table lamps make the dining table more intimate. Having lights above every table bring the food and drink to the fore.
Large dining rooms may have a feature light repeated throughout the space spaced generously. Or a large version centrally and smaller similar styles to echo the theme, smaller spaces may instead opt for one large pendant. The key to the aesthetic look in dining spaces is to let the shape of the room lead you when it comes to feature lighting. The planned layout of the space will delicate where over table lights should be installed.
Hotel Corridor Lighting
Above eye level lighting is best in corridors. Bright but spaced enough to give a contrast. It’s recommended to light above the door so guest feel secure, the can use the keys speedily and can clearly see the room numbers.
Emergency lighting must also be installed in hallways bedrooms and stairways. Most often these are functional taking the form of spotlights and or signage wall lights.
Hotel Reception & Lobby Lighting
First impressions count. The guest expects to feel impressed when entering a hotel, not overwhelmed. It needs to be warm, welcoming and interesting. New format hotels avoid the traditional chandelier but still may opt for a lager statement often a bespoke light to dazzle guests. A large installation is almost certainly required for a double height space. Older heritage hotels may still require that luxury crystal light fitting but modernised.
Lighting above the check in area at reception helps signpost guests immediately. Feature pendant lights work well. Console tables, shelves etc require statement table lamps, mix them up so not all are carbon copies this make each vista an event.
Exterior Lighting
Ground around the hotel should be lit, especially walls and pathways for safety and to bring some interest. Occasional lighting within shrubs in garden areas provides a good view from inside to out and helps the space to be elevate. Making the approach to the hotel an event in itself.
Outside seating, courtyards, smoking areas and the like should also be lit, as the interior is with varied forms of lighting.
Carparks can be lit with lampposts and bollard posts.
Explore further the entire hotel lighting collection or filter by destination.
