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Boutique hotel lighting is instrumental in conveying the aesthetic of your brand. With the right boutique hotel lights such as designer hotel lighting fixtures, you can create a memorable environment with a unique atmosphere that your guests will remember when choosing their hotel next time. Below, we explore modern hotel lighting and how it can help you illuminate your hotel.
What Is a Boutique Hotel?
Boutique hotels came about during the 1960s and 1970s when chain hotels were growing in popularity. They first began to crop up in trendy cities such as London, New York City and San Francisco as an alternative to cookie-cutter chain hotels.
What separates a standard hotel from a boutique hotel comes down to six main points: To be considered a boutique hotel, the property must:
- be located in a popular and fashionable district of a city
- be smaller in size
- pay attention to the design and the theme it is trying to fulfil, including the hotel lighting
- have a unique character
- be surrounded by exciting things to do
How To Use Lighting to Create Atmosphere in a Boutique Hotel
Hotel interior lighting and hotel outdoor lighting are equally as important, no matter what kind of property it is. When it comes to a boutique property, however, it becomes even more important, especially in terms of hotel mood lighting.
Below, you’ll find a few ideas for using LED hotel lighting to enhance the atmosphere:
- ILLUMINATE A STAIRCASE. By lighting up the handrails, the walls next to the stairs or the steps themselves, these areas succeed in separating the day and nighttime areas of the property.
- CREATE ZONED AREAS. In your boutique hotel, you have more than just sleeping areas. These types of hotels tend to zone areas to reflect dressing areas, reading areas, eating areas and so on.
You can layer lighting and give each zone a different level of brightness to suit the mood. LED reading lights, LED wall lights and LED downlights can all be used to achieve this effect.
- STATEMENT LIGHTING. LED hotel lights in boutique hotels can be as decorative as they are functional. Statement ceiling lighting is a must in these trendy hotels.
When considering hotel foyer lighting or hotel entrance lighting, think about adding a large and dramatic pendant light to take up all of that empty space. This will also make a statement to guests as soon as they step into the space.
- DEDICATE LIGHTING TO DIFFERENT EVENTS. If people intend to host weddings, conferences, birthday parties or other gatherings at your unique hotel, you should have lighting that accommodates all. Using various colour temperatures, dimmers and brightness levels, you can create unique, atmospheric spaces for all of the above and more.
- PAY ATTENTION TO THE POOL. Using underwater lighting and wall lights, you can create an inviting and moody-looking space for night swimming.
Ideas for Ways to Use Lighting in a Boutique Hotel Bedroom
Hotel bedroom lighting is especially important on your property, as this is where guests will spend most of their time in your space. A lot of the above ideas can apply here, too, such as zoning the room or adding a statement pendant lighting in the space.
A few other tips for lighting a bedroom include:
- USING WALL LIGHTS. Indirect lighting in a hotel bedroom is an important consideration for the tired eyes of your guests. Wall lights are an excellent way to achieve this while lighting up the areas of the room that typically remain dark and shadowy with only overhead lighting.
- BOLD BEDSIDE LIGHTING. At a boutique hotel, you have ample opportunity to make each room pop to life. A common sight in boutique hotel rooms is dramatic lamps on the bedside tables.
- CONSIDER TASK LIGHTING. Illuminating reading areas and workspaces, such as desks, can dedicate certain areas to certain tasks, which can make the hotel room feel more like home.
- MODERNISE THE ROOM. By bringing in smart lights, you can instantly modernise your boutique hotel rooms. This will also add to the convenience factor for the guests since they won’t have to get out of bed to set the light levels.
How To Light a Boutique Hotel Bathroom
Hotel bathroom lighting is instrumental in your hotel suites, just like bedroom lighting.
Below are some tips on how to use LED bathroom lights to your advantage in a boutique hotel:
- LAYER THE LIGHTING. To avoid harsh light when your guests look in the mirror, be sure to layer lighting. Having ambient and task lighting will prevent unflattering shadows on the face. For this reason, it is also a good idea to place lights on either side of a vanity mirror instead of directly over it.
- CHOOSE THE RIGHT COLOUR TEMPERATURE. In a similar vein, having warm lights as opposed to cool lights will create a more flattering reflection in the mirror.
- STICK WITH THE THEME. Whatever the overall mood and theme of your hotel bedroom may be, the bathroom should be a continuation of that. Choose light fixtures that are similar to the ones in the bedroom in terms of finish and material.
- DON’T NEGLECT ACCENT LIGHTING. Even if your hotel bathroom isn’t anything special, you can make it so by using accent lights or statement lighting.
- INCLUDE DIMMERS. With dimmable lights, guests can choose the level of light they need when performing basic grooming tasks like shaving or bathing.
- USE MOTION SENSOR LIGHTING. With lights that turn on and off depending on if anyone is in the room, this will add convenience and comfort for the guest walking into an unfamiliar area in the middle of the night.
Why Is Lighting so Important in a Modern Hotel?
As mentioned, hotel lighting plays a crucial role in the appearance of your hotel. It can:
- INFLUENCE THE MOOD. The kind of lighting you choose can create the right mood and atmosphere in your space. Whether your brand is bright and cheerful or darker and moody, lighting can reflect that easily.
- PROVIDE SAFETY AND CONVENIENCE. Having ample lighting in a hotel can not only make it easier to navigate, but it can give guests a sense of security while on your property if it is well lit.
- SHOW OFF THE ARCHITECTURE. Oftentimes, boutique hotels will have a unique shape or architectural features that chain hotels do not. Using accent lighting, you can highlight architectural oddities and artwork to make the hotel more visually engaging and stimulating.
What LED CCT Should You Use in a Hotel?
There are many factors to consider when choosing your boutique hotel lighting. One of them is the CCT of the light.
What Does CCT Mean?
CCT, or correlated colour temperature, is a way to describe the warmth or coolness of a light. The colour temperature is measured in degrees Kelvin; when the Kelvin rating is higher, the light will be cool in nature. On the other hand, low Kelvin ratings indicate warmer shades.
What CCT Is Best for a Hotel?
Since hotels are meant to be warm and inviting, having lighting that is equally as warm is ideal. You can make the space feel like home by choosing light colours you might also find in a domestic setting. Among the most popular are lights that range between 3000k and 3300k, as they provide ample illumination while still being gentle on the eyes.
How To Light the Exterior of a Boutique Hotel
There are a few ways you can make the exterior of your boutique hotel pop to life:
- LIGHT THE PATH. Hotel path lighting will include places such as staircases, sidewalks, garden paths and entryways. Lighting these areas can not only make the hotel feel safer and more approachable, but it can also decorate the exterior of the hotel.
To achieve this kind of lighting, you can use a variety of fixture types. This includes inground lighting such as stakes and posts, recessed lighting and low level surface fixtures.
- THE PATIO AND POOL AREA. Using wall lights, low level lighting and underwater lighting, you can create a resort or spa style outdoor area for guests to relax and have fun. Layer the lighting with overhead ambient lights to enhance the safety of the area without making it too bright for nighttime.
- LIGHTING ARBORS. If you have trees on your property, you can draw attention to them using uplighters on the ground.
- ILLUMINATE THE PROPERTY. Using outdoor wall lights on your hotel property can brighten up shadowy spaces while also decorating the exterior.
Ideas for Hotel Lighting Fixtures
When layering the lights in your hotel room, reading lights are crucial to the comfort of your guests. With the LWA322 3 Watt Recessed LED Reading Wall Light placed on either side of the bed, each guest can have access to their own light source. The light is especially suited for relaxing in bed at night and comes in black and chrome finishes to suit the decor in the room. The product shines 120 lumens of 3000k warm white light.
Perfect for lighting hallways, the LWA466 6 Watt Black and Gold Interior LED Wall Light is a decorative light that provides soft illumination for a pathway. It features a black cylindrical base that plays host to a golden rod that shines 600 lumens of 3000k warm white light back onto the wall.
The LDC724 8 Watt 800 Lumen Recessed Anti Glare LED Downlight allows you to use recessed lighting around important areas without causing a glare. The recessed light fitting is unique in its design, with the lights deeply set inside of it to prevent glare. It has a neutral silver exterior that allows it to be placed in any decor style and works especially well over reception areas. Each one shines 800 lumens of 3000k warm white light.
Bring out the best in the bathroom with the LWA431 6 Watt Round IP65 Bathroom Wall Light. This wall light has a soft, circular shape that shines indirect light back onto the wall, washing it with 600 lumens of 3000k warm white light. It is available in a black or white finish to suit the aesthetic of any bathroom and has an IP65 rating to protect it from water damage.
Create a modern bedroom suite with the LBL281 4 Watt Wooden LED Ceiling Light. This light features a contemporary wooden base that plays host to a globe light, giving it an exposed bulb look. The light comes in your choice of black or white with wooden accents and outputs 300 lumens of 3000k warm white light.