Creating a ‘Home-from-Home’ Experience

Holidaying here the UK has become more and more popular over the years and why not? We have exciting cities, historic places rich in heritage, stunning countryside and beautiful coastlines.

When it comes to accommodation, your guest often want luxury with a special atmosphere, combined with home comfort and a relaxed atmosphere.
At Hannah Barnes Designs, we have great ideas to help you renovate your commercial interiors, so that you can deliver stylish, boutique-style accommodation.

Many guests are attracted to a boutique hotel vibe, but with a smaller operation, meaning with fewer staff and amenities, with a homemade breakfast too! Fresh food is a must and it’s great to source your produce locally or even have your own allotment. Making each person’s stay individual to them and their needs is the key for the all important revisits and positive reviews!

An eye for detail and a homage to the area is required to complete your commercial interiors to the highest standard. Giving your visitors an idea of the lifestyle and surroundings/sites to visit whilst there is charming and relevant.

Here are our top interior design tips to give your interiors that Home-from-Home style:

1. Décor-wise in the guest rooms, many visitors will prefer a simple light and airy scheme. And we often suggest that business owners try using at least a couple of accent colours with a bit of pattern for an interesting and sophisticated interior. Gone are the rules of sticking with one bold accent colour (such as like the strong purple used in every Travel Inn in the country – this is very corporate). Your business and hotel is unique – lets make it stand out!
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3. Why not add a bedroom chair if space allows? Its always an added luxury to sit somewhere other than the bed, to read the paper or put on shoes. And its a great chance to mix in another fabric pattern or colour to build up the scheme.
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2. Combine soft lighting to allow you guests to use the room for several purposes – as they often don’t just sleep in a guest room. A practical desk lamp is perfect for someone working away, alongside warmer bedside or wall lamps for a more relaxed vibe.
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3. Don’t forget to make their stay convenient by locating easy-accessible switches next to the bed.

4. One huge annoyance when staying away from home, is when bulbs are missing or out. Make this a part of your house-keeping routine, or stick to LED bulbs which will last much longer than traditional bulbs.

5. For soft furnishings, we suggest blackout blinds in all the rooms – its essential your guests get a good night sleep.For a softened look, layer with drapes over the blind, and this allows patterns and colours to be mixed too.
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6. A large headboard in a co-coordinating fabric always gives the room a luxurious feel with cushions on the bed in a similar fabric for added sophistication. Corporate hotels often opt for solid headboards, but many guest sit up in their bed to read, eat and chat…we suggest you add some home comforts and opt for upholstery.

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7. Its important how the interior FEELS – not just how it looks, so make sure that the thermostat/heating/air con is set at a comfortable temperature and is in a convenient, easy accessible place.

8. And its the small luxuries in life which will please your guests, such like having enough towels in the room (us ladies like an extra towel for our hair!), Make sure they are clean, fluffy and big enough!

9. Finally, why not make their stay truly memorable? Go the extra mile and set up a decanter of Whiskey in the room, homemade Jam or even local homemade chocolates in their room. Giving your guests something to remember their time with you and add a new revenue stream by making some of your products available for purchase for example, sunscreens, shampoos or even towels for the beach.

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A home-from-home experience is a trend on the up! How could you add something extra to your business package?

For more ideas and interior inspiration, contact Hannah today.