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Hotel lighting plays a key role in the overall comfort of your guests during their stay. It can enhance the personality of your brand while also making the property more memorable. In this article, we will offer hospitality lighting design tips for interior designers and DIY enthusiasts as well.
Why Wall Lighting is Important in a Hospitality Setting
Wall lighting for hospitality settings is key if you want to have a balanced, well-lit space. It can shape the emotional and functional experience of a hotel’s interiors as it shines at eye-level, unlike overhead lighting.
Having the lights be against the wall that way can help guide movement and influence mood. In restaurants, bars and hotels, wall mounted light indoor fixtures can serve as visual anchors as well. Wall lights soften the appearance of architectural elements while defining the character of a room.
Interior wall lights for hotels also offer flexibility. You can use them as a part of your layered lighting scheme or turn them on on their own for dimmer, more indirect lighting.
How to Create Lighting Zones with Wall Lights
There are several different zone types in hotels that can each benefit from thoughtful, unique lighting of their own. Get familiar with these different areas and how to zone them out beautifully.
Entry and Reception Zone
Using warm white wall lights for guest comfort as a part of your layered lighting scheme can make the lobby and reception area feel more welcoming. Warm colour temperatures establish an inviting tone that sets the stage for the rest of your guest’s stay. You can layer the wall lamps with surface-mounted or recessed fixtures as well.
Lounge and Dining Zones
Bars and restaurants use light to create an atmosphere and mood with intimacy and rhythm. Bar wall light fixtures should be positioned between clusters of seats to create visual pockets of light. You can also use dimmable sconces or hotel lamps with directional beams to create contrast and mood throughout the day.
Guest Rooms
Guest rooms are the main focus of the property. They should be cosy and well-lit without being aggressively bright. Think about mounting wall reading light fixtures on either side of the bed and installing wall lamps to illuminate darker corners with soft lighting.
What Types of Wall Lighting Are Best for a Hospitality Setting
When it comes to LED interior wall lights in a hotel, there are a number of different types you can choose from.
- SURFACE MOUNTED WALL LIGHTS. Surface mounted lighting sits right on the wall. They are versatile and easy to install and can be used in most rooms in a hotel. They are best for reception areas, corridors and lounges.
- DECORATIVE WALL SCONCES. Decorative lighting for hospitality is important for communicating brand identity. This makes them ideal for themed bars, boutique hotels and trendy restaurants. Think brass, matte black metal and smoked glass on your picture wall light fixtures and other sconces.
- ADJUSTABLE SPOTLIGHTS. If you want to accentuate architecture or focal points in a space, spotlights are the answer. They offer precision lighting that lets you stay in control of the illumination with ease.
How to Choose the Best Finish and Material for the Space
The style and finish that you choose for your hospitality setting will depend on the decor of the space. It’s important to opt for finishes that match the existing design style as well as those that will further the look of your modern wall light designs.
To begin, think about the theme of the building as well as the personality of the brand. Align the fixtures with the design style, like vintage or modern styles. The finish should reflect the emotional vibe of the space as well.
You can coordinate the lights to the surrounding area, so you can harmonise. Whether you have exposed brick, timber panelling or painted plaster, the lights can play off of them and contrast against them.
Why You Should Integrate with a Smart Lighting System
Smart interior lighting is a quick way to propel your hotel property into the modern era. Convenience is something that hotel guests value, since they are staying at your property to relax and unwind. Beyond that, the staff can stay in better control of the lighting to set the mood for different times of day.
Smart systems let wall lights seamlessly shift between different lighting scenes: energising, bright tones during breakfast hours to intimate, warm illumination at night. These can be set on schedules so you don’t even have to manually make the shift each day.
Commercial wall lights in hospitality settings are also often always on in some space or another. Having smart lighting makes them more energy efficient and can therefore save you money on the lights that are consistently on.
Energy efficient lighting also lasts much longer than traditional bulbs. This means you can lessen upfront costs as well by not needing to replace them as often.
With smart bedroom and bathroom wall light fixtures, guests can also remain in control of the overall atmosphere and ambiance in their rooms themselves. Letting guests adjust the light colour or the intensity of the reading lights, they are more likely to have a pleasant and memorable experience. Having smart controls also adds a layer of luxury that your guests are sure to remember.
How to Integrate Wall Lighting with Other Lighting
Hotel and restaurant wall lighting work best when they are a part of a layered lighting scheme. Layering them provides a sense of depth and balance while also giving you better control over the lighting levels.
Layered lighting schemes consist of three layers: ambient, task and accent. Ambient lighting provides the main foundation of illumination and usually comes in the form of ceiling lights.
Task lights generate more focused, direct illumination for performing certain activities. Finally, accent lighting helps set a mood or provide a focal point. You’ll often see architectural lighting as the accent layer.
Wall lights can serve as both task and accent layers. For example, having evenly spaced wall lights through a hallway can guide guests down it. Meanwhile, you can add accents of an LED toilet sign or an LED hotel room number to enhance the visibility and style of the transitional space.
When you layer your lights, it is important that you are coordinating the colour temperature. Colour temperature, or CCT, lets you know how warm or cool a light is.
CCT is indicated on a spectrum of Kelvin units ranging from 1,000 to 10,000K. Cooler lights have a higher rating, while warmer lights have a lower rating.
Generally speaking, hospitality settings benefit from inviting, warm light. Avoid mixing them with cool lights in order to prevent visual clashing. You should also get dimmable lights when possible to ensure more even transitions between the different light layers.
Wall lighting can be used to soften the overhead illumination as well, making it more pleasant and balanced. This counterbalance introduces horizontal layers of light to make it more intuitive and comfortable on the eyes.
How Wall Lighting Can Enhance the Brand of a Hotel
The personality of your hotel is important to communicate. Figuring out the best wall lights for boutique hotels comes down to paying attention to its existing style and learning how you can accentuate what you are already working with.
Fixture design allows for visual storytelling using finish, form and placement. Boutique hotels with vintage appeal, for example, could use brass sconces to draw attention to the nostalgic design style. Modern bars, on the other hand, might work better with minimalist fixtures with matte finishes.
The lights can be used to reinforce the emotional tone of the space as well, considering how lighting influences mood. Soft, indirect wall lighting promotes a calmer space, while vibrant lighting in a restaurant can lift the energy of the atmosphere.
How to Light Different Areas in a Hospitality Setting
Whether you’re wondering about how to light restaurant walls for ambience or how to make a hotel room cosier, there are different ways to accomplish your goals.
- LOBBY AND RECEPTION AREAS. Create a strong first impression by using wall lights to frame your reception desks or show off architectural features. Warm, diffused lights create a softer atmosphere and can reduce glare, ideal for tired eyes.
- DINING AREAS. For intimate dining environments, opt for recessed indoor wall lighting with a soft glow. If you want something more energetic, consider having brighter lighting with a cooler colour temperature instead.
- STAIRWELLS AND CORRIDORS. One of the best wall lighting ideas for hotel corridors is to use low-glare fixtures that are evenly spaced along the stairway or hallway. Narrow beam angles can direct light in one direction to help guide your guests.
- GUEST ROOMS. Prioritise comfort in a guest room by choosing soft, diffused lighting. Warm colour temperatures are also a must here.
How Wall Lighting Can Enhance Guest Experience
Wall lighting should not be a mere afterthought in your lighting design. When incorporated thoughtfully, it can play a huge role in the impact on your guest’s experience in your space. This is because lighting can influence mood and perception, and wall lighting is incredibly versatile in that regard.
One of the most popular ways to include wall lighting in hospitality settings is to guide movement. You can create visual rhythm to help lead guests down hallways to their rooms or other areas of interest. Keeping guests well-oriented can make them feel safer and more relaxed on your property.
Wall lights can also support emotional transitions through the building. For example, a soft and welcoming glow can greet guests in the reception area. In the hallways, you can prioritise navigation through wall lights and then balance out the final destination with those lights once they arrive.
Conclusion
Wall lights in hospitality settings give you better control over the atmosphere and the functionality of the space. By incorporating them thoughtfully, you can reinforce your brand and make the property more memorable.
In this article, we have offered tips on how to incorporate wall lighting into your hospitality environment. Keep this article close as you begin designing your lighting scheme in order to make the most out of the guest experience.
