F. Scott Fitzgerald said that the worst thing in the world is to try and sleep and not to. I tend to agree with him – there’s no underselling the importance of a good night’s sleep. After sleeping in many hotels, I have seen the best and worst of sleeping away from home.
For hotels, that importance is amplified. Hotels are, quite literally, in the business of selling a good night’s sleep.
From families who want to be well-rested for a day of adventures to business travelers who need to be alert for the big meeting, all of your guests need to be able to have a good night’s sleep.
One of the top complaints from hotel guests relate to noise. Whether it’s a noisy neighbour or a rattling ice machine, guests have little patience for anything that separates them from their sleep.
What can be done? You may be surprised to learn that how a room is designed can minimize your noise complaints. Let’s look at how that can be accomplished.
1. Furniture Placement
This is the easiest way to lower noise. We design rooms so that one room’s activity is not affecting the adjoining room. For example, if you have a bed on one side of the wall and a TV on the other, you run the risk of one guest missing sleep because the other wants to watch an action-packed movie!
We design rooms that work as an individual unit, but also give consideration to the fact that those rooms connect with other rooms.
2. Lighting
We talk often about how great natural light is and how bringing in as much natural light as possible really transforms a room. That is true…except for when you are trying to sleep! Hotels need to have a fine balance. We design our hotels so that you can take advantage of natural light during the day, but be able to block it out when it’s time to sleep.
3. Colour
There is a psychology to colour – some colours make us feel energized, while others are calming. For example, shades of blue or green are consistently noted for their calming qualities. Using calming shades in a hotel tells our brains that this is a place for rest, even if we are not even thinking of sleep yet.
You also want to work with complimentary, instead of contrasting, styles. This is not the place for a dramatic affect! Using natural elements such as wood also give a sense of tranquility and peace.
Our Guest First Design Strategy considers what guests truly want when they visit your hotel. By creating a design that minimizes noise and maximizes the elements of a good night’s sleep, your guests will have a positive experience.
At Lesley Wong Interiors, we design spaces that have your guests wanting to return. Reach out to us to let us know how you help your guests get some rest or how we can help elevator your space.
