Exclusive Feature: You've heard the word 'holistic' used before, but perhaps not when it comes to design: In general, holistic means we treat every aspect of something to improve it, rather than focusing on a single part.
For example, a person with a disease might see a traditional doctor and receive medication to fight the disease alone. A holistic practitioner would work to heal both the physical symptoms, as well as any other mental or social factors that could be worsening the person's condition.
Through holistic interior design, experts mesh all of the ways a person might use their space to create a functional, intuitive living environment. It makes sense, because we all spend a lot of time inside — our living spaces can significantly affect our mental and physical health, too.
Hotels fall under this umbrella and make great candidates for a holistic approach to design. Here's how hoteliers can do it.
1. Think About Flow
Interior designers who focus on holistic layouts start by revamping the flow of a space. They have to think about their clients' daily routines and how a few tweaks to a home's design can make those steps easier.
The same should go for a hotel designer, especially one laying out holistic accommodation. Start by learning your guests' morning routines. Do they go to the fitness center before heading to breakfast? If so, how simple is it to get from point A to point B? A resort might ask the same question about guests traipsing from the pool to their rooms. A non-holistic pathway might have wet feet walking through the lobby to get to the elevator bays, which no one wants to do.
Some hotels already have such holistic floor plans. For instance, some brands, including Marriott, have special concierge-level lounges for their most loyal customers. In some of their hotels, they put concierge-level guests in rooms on the same floor as the lounge, making it simple to pop in for breakfast or a beverage.
2. Design It Into the Landscape, Too
Architects have to get involved with holistic hotel design, too. They will survey the area in which you plan to build your hotel. Then, they will come up with a design that complements the pre-existing skyline. Conversely, a building constructed in the middle of nature would create a small footprint and take advantage of the gorgeous landscape surrounding it.
Some holistic hotels consider the area's local residents, too. For instance, some lodging might also contain for-rent apartments, so the hotel has a live-work-play vibe. In an area inundated with apartments, the team at Denver's Union Tower West decided to make their building mixed-use. This change would liven up the heavily residential area with activities locals and hotel guests alike could use. In other words, it'd be a seamless addition to the local landscape — just as holistic design requires.
3. Choose Local Materials and Styles
Another must-have in holistic design? A style that reflects the local aesthetic. Once upon a time, branded hotel chains won guests by providing the same comforts at every location, right down to the design of every hotel. Now, though, guests want to stay in bespoke lodgings, even if they stay in hotels built by the same brand. They now expect, for example, to stay in a Hilton in Bali and have it look and feel entirely different from the Hilton in Iceland or New York City.
So, start by studying the local design aesthetic before ordering the natural and synthetic materials you need to replicate that look in your hotel. This practice will help with the previous step of ensuring the hotel fits in with its surrounding landscape. Respecting the local customs and culture and incorporating that into your hotel's aesthetic is peak holistic design.
4. Make the Room Intuitive, Too
Now that you've mastered the art of holistic design for the hotel overall, consider implementing its tenets in each room design, too. This tip touches back on the first piece of advice on this list. You want to make the room intuitive and easy to use. Get into your guests' mindsets — what will they need when they check into the hotel? Perhaps you can pre-stock the space with extra pillows, towels or even a cot, should you have a family staying with you.
From there, make it easy for guests to customize their rooms so they feel like holistic spaces. For instance, many hotels use a smartphone app that allows guests to adjust their room's lighting, temperature and more. Technology might not seem to fit with the idea of holistic living, but in hotel room design, it can make the space work perfectly for every guest — and that's what this design style's all about.
Wow Them With Thoughtful Design
There's a good reason experts believe holistic design is the next big thing in interiors — it makes sense. Building a hotel with a nod to the local design and culture and to guests' needs, too, should be how we do it from now on. So, keep a holistic mindset as you build or revamp your accommodation. This style is precisely what today's guests want, and now you know how to give it to them.
This is strictly an exclusive feature, reprints of this article in any shape or form without prior written approval from 4Hoteliers.com is not permitted.
Kacey Bradley is the blogger behind The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations and cultures, all while portraying her love for the world around her through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts. Along with writing for her blog, she has written for sites like U.S. News, SUCCESS, Ruffled, and more!
www.driftercollective.com
