Hotel guestroom design, for the most part, just gets better. I love todayâ€â„¢s carefully considered amenities, easy-to-use technology, clean lines and touches of whimsy. But bad design in some form will always be with us. I abhor clutter, poor lighting and lack of bathroom counter space. Hereâ€â„¢s a list of some current design yeahs and nays:
Hooray for…
∑ Casters on furnishings. Itâ€â„¢s great being able to maneuver a desk or table for work or better TV viewing.
∑ Padded headboards
∑ Flexible wall-mounted bedside lighting
∑ Big magnified makeup mirrors
∑ Roomy bathroom countertops
∑ Nightlights
∑ Stainless steel coffee carafes (itâ€â„¢s time to nix the fragile glass pots)
∑ Big button, easy-use clock radios
∑ Framed photography that conveys a sense of place
∑ Full length dressing area mirrors
Lose the…
∑ Bed scarves. Do they serve a purpose?
∑ Superfluous pillows and bolsters. Like the bed scarves, they usually end up on the floor.
∑ Silly graphics. Whatâ€â„¢s with this trend towards cutesy contrived sayings such as "wash" "think" and "eat" "relax" (plastered on soap wrappers, pencils, food covers, pillows)?
∑ Mountains of promotional literature. Pamphlets and table tents spread around the room conveys cheap and cluttered.
∑ Dusty and dated silk flower arrangements
∑ Bulky armoires and tubby tube tvs
∑ Low-to-the-floor platform beds
∑ Pedestal bathroom sinks—pretty but pretty useless. No place to store oneâ€â„¢s stuff.
∑ Hair dryers hidden in storage bags—I like mine mounted on the wall within easy view and reach.
Those are a few of my faves and pet peeves. What design elements do you applaud and/or boo?