In the hospitality industry, the more eye-catching your aesthetics, the more successful your business will be.
Think about it.
A restaurant or café that has an Instagrammable interior design will attract more customers than one that has a more traditional layout. The same goes for hotels – the accommodations with more stylish and modern interiors will see more bookings than those that aren’t as flashy or appealing.
Thus, any business in the hospitality industry must have a functional and aesthetically pleasing interior design that optimises employee productivity, customer satisfaction and the customer experience.
The best way to achieve a successful interior design in your hospitality fitout is to hire one of the many interior design firms that suit your project.
In this article, we look at the 3 main reasons you should work with a professional interior designer who has experience in hospitality fitout projects.
The difference between an interior designer and an interior decorator
Before we delve into all the reasons you should hire an interior design firm to work on your hospitality fitout, it’s important that we distinguish the difference between an interior designer and an interior decorator.
Most people assume that these titles are interchangeable, but that is far from the truth. In fact, they’re two completely different jobs entirely that require different qualifications.
An interior designer is a licensed professional who uses the art and science of interior design to enhance the interior of a space to create a healthy, functional and aesthetically pleasing environment for all those that will be in it.
They plan, research, coordinate and manage each aspect of the enhancement project, as well as incorporating their knowledge and experience to craft a design that is both realistic and meets the client’s needs.
Interior decorators, on the other hand, do not need to be licensed or qualified in any way to carry out their work. Their job is to help determine the look and feel of a client’s home by selecting and placing decorative elements, such as paint, textiles, and furniture.
The core difference between the two is that interior designers have an in-depth understanding and knowledge of architecture and construction that allows them to restructure the entire space. Interior decorators can only make aesthetic improvements that do not require any structural changes to the room they’re working on – meaning, they decorate and furnish a space with beautiful or fashionable things only.
It’s important to know the difference between these two roles as most people tend to associate the concept of interior design with nothing more than decorating a room. And although this does fall within an interior designer’s job description, it’s not all that they do.
Why do interior designers play an important role in the hospitality fit out process?
Interior designers play an important role in the fit-out process. How well they execute their interior design plan will have a direct effect on employee productivity, customer satisfaction, and other factors that influence the success of your business.
This is particularly important for the hospitality industry, as the interior design of your hotel or restaurant will ultimately affect your bottom line. The appearance of your business and how well your employees do their job are the most crucial aspects of running a successful business in the hospitality sector.
Interesting facts on how important is interior design for a successful restaurant.
Below are 3 of the top reasons you should consider hiring an interior design firm when carrying out a hospitality fitout.
3 benefits of working with interior design firms
1. They know exactly what you need before you do
It’s important to hire an interior design firm that has experience in hospitality projects. This way, you can rest assured knowing that they’ll have the necessary knowledge and skill to execute your design plan with high-quality work, on time and on budget.
The specifications and requirements of a hotel or restaurant are vastly different from that of any other sector, so you’ll need someone who can anticipate your business’s needs. And this means knowing exactly what to avoid as well – especially when it comes to customer satisfaction.
The following areas are where you can expect to use an interior designer’s expertise:
- Considering your staff’s needs: Interior designers will ensure that your floorplan and layout is functional to allow your employees to navigate the space effectively, serve guests timeously and do their jobs to the best of their ability without any inconveniences or hassles.
- Understanding any location concerns: A beachfront hotel or restaurant will have different needs than its counterparts that are located in the middle of a city. The surrounding environment will have an impact on your interior design, and your interior designer needs to know how to handle these influences.
- Anticipating customer's desire: From the right number of electrical outlets in a hotel room to the perfect position of restaurant tables and chairs, an interior designer will ensure that every aspect of the customer experience is properly taken care of to ensure that your guests are always happy.
2. They speak your language
Hospitality interior designers know everything there is to know about industry standards, trends and regulations. They can produce and review scaled drawings, work within UAE and Covid guidelines, apply brand standards, adhere to building codes, and ensure that your budget expectations are met.
In addition, they also oversee every aspect of the interior design process, coordinate with architects and MEP consultants, and procure any specialists, general contractors and manufacturers that are needed.
They know everything there is to know about the technical and aesthetic sides of a hospitality interior design project – meaning, you don’t have to worry about a single thing.
3. They’re experts who know what they’re doing
Because your hotel or restaurant relies heavily on a functional and aesthetically pleasing interior design, you cannot afford to cut any corners. You need someone who has a wealth of knowledge, skill and experience in hospitality enhancement projects.
They know the science, psychology and art behind interior design and can use their expertise to craft the perfect plan on a programmatic level. Using computer-aided design, designers can show you exactly what a space will look like, as well as what works and what doesn’t. Everything is placed and designed with intent so that your business can thrive in the hospitality sector.
Do you need help finding a good hospitality interior design company?
If you need a reliable interior designer who’s an expert in the hospitality field, then you’ve come to the right place.
Don’t waste precious time and energy that can be better spent on running your business, when we’ve already done all the hard work for you.
Contractors.Direct offers a curated database of thoroughly vetted, quality contractors who can bring your vision to life, on time and on budget. Get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to connect you with the right people for the job.
Written by Kirsten Delcie
As a seasoned project professional, Kirsten has been curating and creating content for Contractors Direct since the company's inception. Her diligent research methods and style lend themselves to the valuable insight driven blog posts you see here. Outside of content creation Kirsten is an avid reader and scuba diver and combines both as often as possible!
