Eight considerations when designing your B&B bedrooms
Your bedrooms can be a big part of making or breaking the success of your hotel or B&B – after all, your guests will spend most of their time there.
I’ve created a handy guide to help you get started when you refurbish or re-design your bedrooms. I hope you find it useful, and don’t forget that I spend time on bedroom design and facilities as well as passing on all I’ve learnt in my B&B training course.
1. Whilst a refurbishment can have often have an effect on your bottom line by being able to charge a higher room price, be careful not to overspend. How long is the lifetime of the products, décor or furniture?
2. Customers’ expectations are rising constantly. Small dark rooms with tiny en-suites are no longer acceptable. Make sure you think of the market you’re trying to attract and also future proof the room. Guests will want at least what they have at home as a minimum.
3. Think about good lighting for all tasks, plug sockets where needed and the layout of the room. Make these decisions before thinking about things like plastering or decorating.
4. If you’re going for a high-end market then ensure the bathroom feels as luxurious as the bedroom. No matter what you do to the bedroom, if the bathroom is pokey with old fashioned tiles they’ll feel let down. If the suite is white, it may mean you can get away with just tiling over the old tiles if the room size is ok.
5. Everyone is used to tech in their homes. From Smart TVs to iPads, fast wi-fi to movie streaming, your guests will have it at home. Unless you are creating a “no technology” retreat in the middle of no-where, then you need to ensure your guests have the ability to access the internet easily in all bedrooms at the very least. Remember that technology changes quickly so make sure it can be replaced, updated or removed easily. Also think about usability. A flashy lighting system or shower might sound good but if it needs an 80 page manual and a degree to operate it then it has no place in a hotel room.
6. Think about how the room will be used – don’t just make everything look great but an annoyance to use. The first thing l want is a cup of tea when I arrive (if I’m not offered a complimentary welcome drink like you are at The 25 Boutique B&B!). I don’t want to have to play hunt the kettle and find it hidden in the wardrobe, then uncurl the wire, clear a space on the dressing table for the tray then try and find a plug socket. When I’ve made the tea, I expect the bin to be next to me, not to drip tea whilst I walk across the room. Sleep in the room yourself before letting guests in there to check if tweaks are needed.
7. Think about durability. Use materials that are long-lasting and repel dirt and stains. Some paints are easier to wipe down. Do you need glass tops on wooden furniture? Do you have big enough splash back areas? Can the carpet be scrubbed and bleached? Is the bed base upholstered in a dark colour so you don’t see the kick marks? Will your runner and cushion covers wash easily and dry quickly?
8. Don’t get carried away and run out of money. Make sure the basics are there before the fun stuff. It’s more important to buy a better bed for instance than to have to buy a budget one as you spent hundreds of pounds on a flashy mirror. A nicer mirror and further accessories can always come later when you’ve made some money. If the basics are not right, your guests won’t become repeat ones.
I hope you found this blog on the refurbishment of your B&B and hotel bedrooms useful.
You’ll come away from my training course bursting with great and helpful ideas to make sure you get things right from the start.
