A refurbished luxury hotel lobby can make an impression with its polished marble floors, ambient lighting and carefully curated furniture. Yet, even the grandest of designs can be lacking without the soft presence of flowers in it. In the hospitality world, flowers play the role of the silent host - welcoming, comforting and setting the emotional tone long before a guest cheques-in.
Consider a newly-renovated lobby with high ceilings and modern sleek finishes. Place a dramatic arrangement of orchids or hydrangeas in the centre table and the whole mood changes. Flowers add movement, colour and fragrance to an area that may otherwise be too structured. Seasonal changes of floral works of art also guarantee that the lobby never seems dead, but instead offers returning visitors a sense of freshness with each visit.
In luxury spaces flowers do more than decorate - they are a means of communicating values. Exotic blooms will give the sense of exclusivity but locally sourced arrangements have the benefit of sustainability and connection with culture. For travellers tired of long journeys, flowers provide a gentle hug, soothing nerves and the reassurance that they are entering a place where care and attention to detail are important.
Conclusion / Area of Thought: Renovations make the structure of a luxury hotel, but flowers make a personality. They are the intersection between architecture and hospitality as guests should feel not only awe-inspiring but comfortable. The next time a hotel lobby has to be rethought, one question should be the driving force of design: what silent story will the flowers tell each guest walking through the door?