A beautiful lobby is essential for every hotel. The lobby is the room where first impressions are made, and a first impression can make or break the guest experience. At Front Desk Supply, we’ve worked with many boutique and independent hotels that have small lobbies, and we’ve learned about the challenges these properties face in overhauling their lobbies without breaking the bank. If you’re trying to give your lobby a fresh look, here are a few simple and small hotel lobby design ideas to help you brainstorm.

Simple Hotel Lobby Designs

If you have a small hotel lobby, then it’s best to stick with a minimalist design.

You’ll notice that both of these lobbies use the color white to add brightness and airiness to the rooms, which makes them feel less small.

They’re not cluttered by decorative elements or too many colors. Instead, they strategically use just a few simple accent colors and textures.

Related Article: Modern Boutique Hotel Lobby Design Ideas

Use Rounded Furniture in Your Hotel Lobby

Small hotel lobbies can feel very “boxy.” This might cause guests to feel a little claustrophobic or cramped, especially if there are a few guests checking in.

You can use rounded furniture to add a little curvature to the space and get rid of that boxy feeling.

If you have a small lobby, you might want to avoid pushing chairs and tables flat against the wall; it can make the space feel like a waiting room in a doctor’s office.

Rounded furniture often looks nicer and more inviting.

Use Your Wall and Ceiling Space

If your hotel has a small lobby, then you won’t have as much space to add freestanding decor, such as decorative plants or sculpture art. However, you can add beautiful design elements to your walls and ceiling.

Decorative plants are one of the best lobby decor ideas to freshen up your hotel lobby, but they can be difficult to add in a small space—they can get knocked over by rolling luggage, or your guests can trip over them.

However, you could add greenery via wall art.

A chandelier or decorative ceiling light can make your lobby so much more dazzling. They don’t have to be expensive, either. They can be made from any material, so long as they have a unique design that matches your hotel branding and lobby decor. [Unless you’re a luxury hotel, most guests won’t care whether your light fixtures are made from diamonds or faux crystals, as long as they look nice.]

You could also add hanging chairs; they reveal more of the lobby floor, which makes the space feel roomier. Plus, they’re fun and unique!

Create Contrast With Your Front Desk

Sometimes, the right juxtaposition of color is all you need to make your small lobby pop.

Making your front desk stand apart from your wall colors is the easiest way to add beautiful contrast. You can also add strip lighting to the edges of the desk to add a luxurious glow.

Add Greenery in Your Lobby

Decorative plants can infuse your lobby with a nature-inspired ambiance.

If you’re going to place decorative plants on the floor, make sure you put them in places where they will not snag guests or luggage. Or, you could place small plants on top of the desk.

Key Cards and Key Holders

When you’re redesigning your hotel lobby, don’t overlook the items behind your front desk: key cards and key holders.

luxurious wooden key cards

Wooden key cards by Front Desk Supply.

 

key-folder-small-hotel

Key folder by Front Desk Supply.

 

In the same way that a dazzling lobby makes a stronger first impression, well-designed key cards, and key holders can also boost the elegance of your property in your guests’ minds.

Custom Supplies to Brighten Your Guest Experience

Hopefully, these small hotel lobby design ideas will help you come up with some excellent ways to overhaul your presentation.

Construction isn’t quite our specialty, but we’re happy to assist if you need to order brand-new hotel supplies! With Front Desk Supply, you can customize your key cards, key holders, signage, stationery, and more with your hotel logo and branding! We offer a free graphic design service and can help you get the most out of your budget.

Reach out to us today and get a quote.