Decoration in the hotel room: few pieces, firmly placed
Decoration gives a hotel room character, but it also creates work in day-to-day operation. Every object has to be dusted, checked and put back in its place after departure. Loose small items get lost, are damaged or get in the guest's way. A restrained approach has therefore proved its worth: a few well-chosen pieces with a fixed position that shape the room without blocking surfaces or prolonging cleaning. This applies to city hotels just as much as to smaller establishments.
Few pieces with a clear purpose
Two to four decorative elements per room are generally enough. A focal point opposite the door or above the bed makes sense, complemented by one or two smaller pieces. Choose Decoration that suits the size of the room: a single larger object looks calmer than a group of small figures and is cleaned more quickly. Each piece should have a recognisable purpose, such as structuring a wall, filling a niche or providing light. Anything that does not fulfil such a purpose can be omitted without the room appearing empty. This saves time at every change of guest.
Placing firmly and securing
What is firmly fixed stays in its place. Wall objects, mirrors and pictures can be secured against being lifted off with suitable hanging fittings. Free-standing objects on consoles can be fixed with removable adhesive pads or concealed screw fittings. This reduces losses and prevents guests from rearranging pieces so that rooms differ from one another. Housekeeping no longer has to put things back, and the room check becomes shorter. Make sure that the fixing does not damage the furniture surface and can be removed without residue during a renovation. Record the position of each piece in the room checklist so that deviations are noticed immediately.
Keeping surfaces clear
Guests need space for suitcases, telephone, keys and drinks. The desk, the bedside tables and the area next to the kettle should therefore remain clear. Decoration belongs on walls, on high surfaces or in niches that are not used anyway. If objects stand on surfaces in use, they are moved aside and end up on the floor or in the wardrobe. Check each room from the point of view of a guest arriving with luggage: anything they would first have to move away is in the wrong place. This also applies to the luggage rack and the window sill, which guests like to use for putting things down.
Coordinating material and style
Materials that withstand knocks and frequent wiping are suitable for hotel operation: metal, synthetic resin, lacquered wood or thick-walled ceramics. Fine porcelain pieces, dried flowers and textiles with fringes are maintenance-intensive. Anyone using Baroque furniture in the room already has a great deal of ornament in the space; a candelabrum, a sculpture or a framed mirror is then sufficient as a complement. Repeat the shade and finish of the furniture, such as gold or silver, instead of setting new accents. Keep a few spare examples of each piece so that all rooms in a category remain uniform. This also makes replacement easier after damage.
Related categories: Mirrors, Consoles, Beds. The full range: Baroque furniture.
Read more: Coffee table with a glass top: maintenance effort and effect in the room, Chair in the conference room: sitting time determines the upholstery, Extendable dining table: when the mechanism makes sense in commercial settings, Sofa in the Centre of the Room: Planning and Upholstering Freestanding Upholstered Furniture, Chair with Armrests: When There Is Enough Space at the Table