When considering hospitality interior design for your business, you may be tempted to look around and try to piggyback on other space’s success. This could include butterfly wings painted on a wall, neon signage, or an excessive amount of plants. However, if you want to create a truly unique space that’s comfortable for customers and employees, you’ll need to think outside the box. 

The best way to do that? Consider working with an interior designer on your hospitality space. Not only can an interior designer keep your project and budget on track, they can also help create a space that’s truly unique without compromising functionality.

What kind of space can a hospitality interior designer work with?

There are a wide range of spaces an interior designer can help you with in the hospitality sector. Basically, if it’s an indoor space and people visit it, an interior designer can help you maximize on form and function. Some hospitality spaces include:

• Casinos
• Bars
• Restaurants
• Gaming Spaces
• Dispensaries
• Hotels
• Country Clubs
• Spas
• Salons
• Coffee Shops
• Retail Spaces
• Recreational Spaces

There are also subcategories for reach of these spaces that are dictated by the business’ target audience. 

For example, a boutique hotel that plans to primarily cater to families in a small town will be designed very differently from a hotel that wants to hold conferences and caters to business travelers in a major metropolitan area. Changing tables, kid-friendly furnishings, and kitchenettes may be more important to families, whereas the business travelers may prefer a quiet lounge to answer emails and a grab and go breakfast bar. 

This is where a knowledgeable hospitality interior design expert can shine and give helpful, practical styling suggestions.

Why should you consider hiring a designer for your hospitality space?

Think about the last time you tried to do something new. There was probably a learning curve until you started to master the activity. Or maybe you gave up before you mastered anything.

Designing your own hospitality space isn’t something you want to attempt to master – the learning curve could negatively impact your timeline and your budget. The scope of work, budget, and space planning is especially complex when designing a hospitality space. It’s smart to partner with an expert to ensure it’s done right the first time. 

Creating a great retail space is hard because unlike a primary residence, it’s not about what one person loves, it’s about creating a memorable experience and evoking desired emotions for lots of people. Often all at the same time!

Different people also have different motivations for being in your space. For example, a hotel guest may be excited to get to their room as fast as possible, whereas a front desk manager needs to be comfortable while working in the front lobby all day. 

A great interior designer can maximize functionality for financial gain. In your space, you need to fit a comfortable amount of patrons that helps you make as much money as possible. Interior designers can balance things like the total number of tables in a restaurant, and pathways wide enough for servers to carry giant trays through.

You’ll also want to elevate your space with a style and mood of the space. Interior designers are experts at using lighting, texture, color and space to evoke specific emotions for your visitors. 

What can an interior designer who specializes in hospitality help with?

Interior designers wear quite a few hats when it comes to planning for hospitality. They influence the design across form, function and execution.

Interior designers act as project managers

Managing timelines and budgets is common for interior designers, depending on the overall scope of work determined ahead of time. As a project manager, an interior designer takes a concept and creates a tangible form.

They work with architects, contractors and manufacturers to pull all the pieces together and create a space. Your interior designer should also ensure the space is safe and up to code for patrons and the employees who will work in the space. 

Interior designers create an aesthetically pleasing space

If your space isn’t beautiful, or doesn’t evoke the right emotions, it can leave people feeling out of place. When people feel out of place, they don’t stay as long and are less likely to return. You can’t afford to have an uncomfortable space in the hospitality industry. 

For example, picture a spa with bad lighting. There’s a good chance that even if the services are great, the patrons won’t feel relaxed.

You need an area that makes people feel like they’re in the right space. Some of the decisions an interior designer can help you make to help people feel comfortable include:

• Color
• Furnishings
• Acoustics
• Lighting
• Flooring 
• Ceiling features
• Finishes
• Artwork
• Space planning
• Smart technology 

How does sustainability fit into hospitality interior design?

Commercial design offers a huge opportunity to support not just the people who visit and work in your space, but good design supports the planet. While sustainability has always been important at Spark Interiors, more and more brands are looking for ways to reduce, reuse, refuse, repurpose and recycle.

When the world shut down in 2020, people realized how highly we value natural spaces. Sustainable interior design allows you to make a connection with nature because often you’re using more natural products. From 100% cotton drapery to teak tiles, or big windows with lots of natural light and reclaimed stone walls, sustainable products help us connect with the natural world. 

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, health has also taken a prominent role in interior design. A contactless experience is essential for a seamless visitor experience. With that also comes an increased awareness of products and their potential impact on the planet and our health. Today, most consumers expect low or no VOC paints, and look for cabinets that won’t offgas. These standards are important to your guests and your employees.  

When brands champion sustainability, it also gives them a way to connect with customers who care about protecting our future. Transparency around the waste created and diverted from your build, or the products you’ve selected can elevate the emotional connection being made by the aesthetics and functionality of the space. 

There are plenty of opportunities to create a memorable guest experience that’s practical for your staff, safe for everyone, and has a minimal impact on the planet.  

The Spark Interiors difference when it comes designing a space

If you need an expert designer who specializes in modern, full-service, eco-conscious remodels and renovations for commercial spaces, look no further. With over ten years of experience, Spark Interiors has helped numerous clients create functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces. We love working on hospitality interior design projects, from large hotels to 500 square foot boutiques.  

We partner with our clients to create a collaborative space where you can express your opinion, while being guided through the interior design process by an expert. We also understand that your timeline and budget is of the utmost importance. With strategic vision and exceptional organization, we’ll help your build happen on time and on budget. 

We’re available to support those in the Denver Metro area, Summit County and Vail Valley for in-person, full-service interior design. Those who are outside of those areas can still be supported with design, but will need someone else to facilitate the execution. 

Ready to get started on your hospitality space? Fill out a contact form, we can’t wait to meet you!