Furniture plays a key role in any hospitality business, so selecting the right furniture can be a challenge. You need to consider your clientele, what they will be expecting from the space, the size of the area and the colours and finishes you think will draw people in and make them feel welcome.
Jason Brown, Director of Design & Development at Knightsbridge Furniture, highlights the impact the furniture choices you make can have on a hospitality environment.
First impressions are so important, when you first walk into an establishment, you can tell a lot just by scanning around the room. Take the lobby or reception areas for example, they’re the first room a visitor will see and they need to set the tone for the rest of the building. Client research will massively impact this, if you’re based in a busy city and a lot of people visit on business, they will probably be expecting something sleek, sophisticated and bright with lots of work stations, close access to plug sockets for charging devices and comfortable seating if they have to wait for long periods of time.
On the other hand, if you often get families and large groups visiting – you might consider something more family friendly with lots of soft furnishings and comfortable sofas, but nothing to encourage long periods of time spent in the lobby when it gets busy. Creating an environment that meets your customers’ expectations is key to them staying loyal to your brand.
Combining comfort and practicality can be a difficult balance, furniture pieces need to be easy to clean and manoeuvre if needed, but still comfortable and inviting. Vinyl fabrics are easiest to wipe down and clean quickly, whereas soft fabrics may require more in depth cleaning techniques. There’s no right material to use, it completely depends on your environment. Finding a balance between the two can be made simple by getting in touch with a contract furniture manufacturer.
When it comes to colour schemes, you can play it safe by sticking to neutral, earthy colours to create a calming environment. Alternatively, you can select colours such as red, yellows and blues to create a vibrant and exciting atmosphere. The colours you pick should align with your brand for consistency, while meeting expectations.
Knightsbridge Furniture is a contract furniture company that offers a range of commercial services for hospitality business. We have decades of experience crafting bespoke furniture pieces that are luxury, adaptable and versatile so you can create the perfect lounge space, waiting room, bedroom, dining room and/or foyer.
As you have read, there are many reasons why you should carefully consider the furniture you purchase for your hospitality business. Understand your customer and what they expect from you, consider the colours you use, the comfortability and the practicality of the furniture you select and whether the style of furniture you want really aligns with the feel of your brand. Working alongside a contract furniture company can take the stress out of selecting the right furniture for your space.