Modern Hotel Lobby Design Ideas

Have you ever walked into a hotel, and after one look at the lobby, you decided that maybe it’s not a place you would enjoy being in? It happens more often than not as many people still pay more attention to how the rooms look than the hotel’s entrance - that’s, however, a mistake.

The lobby is a crucial element of hotel design—it’s the first thing guests see before they even check-in, so ensuring that it reflects the hotel’s personality can significantly improve their overall experience. Remember—first impressions are lasting, and that also includes hotels.

Importance of a Well-Designed Hotel Lobby

A well-designed lobby is much more than just a lobby that looks pretty. Sure, the aesthetics are important—there’s no doubt about it. However, functionality is just as crucial. The lobby needs to be a welcoming place that guests use for more than just check-in. When you put a lot of thought into the design, your guests will be willing to spend more time there, chatting with friends, relaxing, or even working.

Many hotels nowadays also include spaces for restaurants and other businesses within their lobbies, providing you with even more design possibilities. However, it all needs to create a cohesive environment so that it all looks like a complete space rather than a few different spaces that are placed within the same hotel entrance.

All in all, a well-designed lobby is crucial for your customers’ impression of your hotel.

Key Elements of a Modern Hotel Lobby Design

Hotel lobby design involves a few elements that work together to create a stylish yet welcoming space for your guests. This includes:

Furniture

When it comes to the furniture for your hotel lobby, what you need to remember is that aside from being pretty, they also need to be comfortable. No one wants to sit in a chair that makes your back hurt, and the same goes for hotel guests. The reception also needs to be both functional for the workers and visually appealing.

Now, what about colors? There are two ways you can go about picking the right shades–you can opt for something that fits the overall vibe of the space and remains within the same color palette, or you can go the opposite direction and choose something that is the complete opposite, and make it the focal point of your hotel lobby.

Lighting

Lighting in a Hotel Lobby

Try to use ambient lighting, so lighting that comes from a number of sources rather than just one concentrated light, as it will make your hotel lobby appear more welcoming. This will give your guests an impression of a cozy space that they can come back to at any time. If possible, try to maximize natural lighting–it truly makes a difference.

Another thing to consider when it comes to hotel lobby lighting is light fixtures. For example, chandeliers work great regardless of the decor style you’re going for.

Color Palette

Most hotel lobby designs involve neutral colors, as you never know whether using a number of vibrant shades won’t overwhelm your guests - and when that happens, the first impression of your hotel won’t be the best one, to put it lightly.

What you can do if you want to use more intense colors is to use a neutral base and then spice it up with accessories or accent pieces in your desired color.

Smart Elements

We cannot talk about modern design without mentioning smart features. Adding smart features to the hotel lobby not only truly adds that contemporary element to it but also makes things easier for your guests.

Take as an example self-check-in.

What do you think your hotel guests would prefer—standing in a queue, waiting until someone comes up to them or until the worker is free to take care of them, or would they prefer to have a self-check-in station, where the process would take just a few minutes and require no interaction with other people?

We’re pretty sure, especially given today’s society, that most would choose the second option. Plus, it also provides convenience, as there’s no need to keep a 24/7 reception open–guests can take care of the check-in process themselves.

Materials

The materials you use play a crucial role when designing a hotel lobby. Glass, metal, or wood are just a few examples, all with their pros and cons. Using sustainable or eco-friendly materials is especially popular these days, so it’s also something to consider when preparing a modern lobby design.

Nature Elements

Another thing to consider when it comes to modern hotel lobby interior design is incorporating natural elements.

More and more people are becoming aware of the importance of being more environmentally conscious, and they start paying more attention to whether a hotel does care about sustainability. Of course, the materials used play the most crucial role in this case, but incorporating plants in planters or living walls can also make them more willing to choose your hotel. However, that’s only one of the benefits of it.

Using plants and including hotel landscaping in your design generally makes it seem more welcoming and appealing. Not to mention, it can also increase the quality of air in your hotel lobby space, especially if you opt for those plants that are known for being great purifiers and good for indoor air quality.

Some of those include:

Any of these plants will look great in indoor planters, and due to the amount of shapes and colors available, you can choose ones that will perfectly materialize the vision of a hotel lobby you have in mind.

Space Layout

Space Layout in a Hotel Lobby

Whether we’re talking about modern or simple hotel design, we cannot forget about the layout. Depending on the look you’re going for when designing a hotel lobby, there are three main layouts that you’d be using—each of them serves a different purpose and has its pros and cons.

First of all, we have an open concept. In this case, your hotel lobby is one huge space with no or almost no division. This can be a great choice for increasing the amount of natural light available in the lobby or for those who don’t have a lot of space to work with and want the lobby to appear bigger than it is.

Then, we have segmented zones–in this case, your hotel lobby is divided into separate zones that still create a cohesive whole, with each zone having a clear purpose, such as relaxing or working. This layout is very helpful when you want to have clear distinctions within one space, and, especially if you want to have a working space available for your hotel guests within the lobby, it can increase productivity and focus.

Finally, there are also multifunctional areas, which, to put simply, are when the hotel lobby is divided into different areas, but those areas don’t have a set purpose and can be changed depending on the specific needs. This one is great for when you want to use the space in the most efficient way.

Art Statement Pieces

Finally, we have art pieces—this is especially important if your goal is luxury hotel lobby design. Adding statement art pieces, especially well-known ones, can significantly improve guests' first impression of the space you design.

Here are some examples of famous art pieces that are actually located in hotels (in lobbies but not only) around the world:

These are just a few examples - many hotels around the world are known for their art collections, located all over the building, from the lobby to corridors and rooms.

Small Space Lobby Design Ideas

Do you have a limited amount of space to work with? No worries, you can still achieve a beautiful and modern hotel lobby design - and we have a few suggestions on how to achieve that:

• Try to involve as much natural lighting as possible – If the hotel lobby has large windows, using sheer curtains, especially those in light colors like white, beige, etc., will do the trick. When choosing artificial light, don’t use white light, as it will not only be very tiring on the eyes, but it might make the small space appear unwelcoming and smaller than it already is.
• Opt for minimalist and multi-functional furniture – When working with a small space, you need to be smart about how you utilize it. Choose compact or multifunctional pieces to maximize the use of space.
• Use mirrors to your advantage – Mirrors are a great way to make a space look appear bigger than it is, as when placed strategically, they create an optical illusion.
• Go for vertical not horizontal storage – One mistake many of those who are restricted by the space they have to work with do is not utilizing walls - they’re there, so why not use them for storage instead of occupying floor space with cabinets?
• Consider round furniture – Depending on their specific layout, small lobbies can feel boxy; hence, round furniture helps soften the space and feel more welcoming.
• Create a contrast between the space and the front desk – If you decide to go for a single color scheme, your front desk can get lost in a small space. That’s why using a distinct color or pattern for it might be what you need. For example, if your whole space is white, a wooden, black, or gray front desk will look great.

The Bottom Line

The design of a hotel lobby is a crucial element of creating a first impression for your guests–if your lobby is not designed in a way that makes people want to stay in it, your guests’ overall experience might be affected because of it. However, as you can see, coming up with a gorgeous design is not impossible as long as you know what things to consider. Whether the lobby is big or small, there are ways to make it welcoming and cozy, guaranteeing a lasting impression.

We only mentioned planters briefly, but they can also significantly improve the appearance of the space, whether it’s one designed from scratch or one that needs a little bit of improvement. These versatile decor pieces can be used both inside and outside of the hotel and are a great way of introducing a focal point when you don’t want to commit to bigger furniture pieces.

At Pots, Planters & More, we have an extensive collection of planters that can be customized in terms of size and color, ensuring that they fit the aesthetic of the place you’re decorating perfectly.

Take a look at our selection and find your hotel lobby planters today!