Author
Symmons Industries
Your lobby is to die for, social media influencers are snapping pictures by the pool, and your public spaces are getting rave reviews. But the words “dated” or “old-fashioned” keep cropping up in reviews. If your lobby and other areas are making a great impression, but your rooms are an afterthought, updating your hotel’s bathrooms could be one quick way to give your property a design boost.
According to USA Today, hotels are upgrading bathrooms at a surprising rate, simply to satisfy consumer demand for a soothing, spa-like space during their stay.
Since furniture and textiles have a naturally shorter lifespan than your faucets and fixtures, they are more likely to be up-to-date – or at least acceptable to modern sensibilities. You’ve renovated one or more times already, and it shows. Bathrooms sometimes don’t get the same attention, but regularly updating this space that every guest will use multiple times ensures that your entire property is seen as modern, comfortable, and shareworthy.
Thankfully, most dated baths are easily fixed by making a few simple changes and opting for more modern lines and materials. Take a fresh look at your bathrooms. If the finishes and colors are outdated, the bath area is too busy, or you simply haven’t updated to meet modern attitudes about “green” living, it may be time to make some changes.
3 Things Making Your Rooms Look Dated
Outdated Finishes
Those brass fixtures may have been stunning and right on trend when you installed them in 1999, but trends and materials have changed significantly. If the shapes, materials, or colors of your fixtures or countertops are outdated, your entire bath area will look old and out of date as well, no matter how clean it is or how nice the other amenities are.
Fortunately, it is easy to update these items and get a fresh new look. Simply swapping outdated faucets and shower systems for newer models will have a big impact on the look of your guest rooms. Select updated silhouettes and materials for these areas and your entire space will benefit.
Having a hard time parting with your existing brass faucets? Upgrade to the Dia® two handle widespread lavatory faucet in Brushed Bronze, an updated finish that tones down the brass shine yet adds a pop of color to any room.
A modern classic like the Dia lavatory faucet updates both the lines and the color of the sink area, making it easy to bring clean and contemporary design to a once dated space.
Busy, Busy, Busy
That bright printed wallpaper may be easy to clean, but add in the cheerful shower curtain, vibrant countertops, and shiny drawer pulls and you have a lot going on in a very small space. Once you add toiletries, towels, and other items, the space will be positively overwhelming.
According to Forbes, too many colors, textures, and shapes in a small space like a bathroom makes it look cramped and crowded. Too many design features also make your bathroom look dated and small–not an impression you want visitors to come away with after their stay. Fix this problem by carefully evaluating your space and removing any nonessential items, particularly those with loud or prominent patterns. If you’re going for a spa-like oasis, but you have an overly busy mix of styles, you simply won’t be able to impress your guests.
Switching out fabric shower curtains for doors or patterns for white or neutral colors can help as well since these will visually expand your space and make it less jarring for your guests. Opting for special, spa-like touches, like the Sereno® showerhead, can add value and appeal to even this space and ensure your rooms match the aesthetic you’ve created in the rest of your hotel.
Not Environmentally Friendly
Travelers expect to see sustainable fixtures as part of the overall hospitality experience. In some cases, guests even opt to skip housekeeping or to reuse towels, simply to maintain an eco-friendly lifestyle. When your baths still have high-flow showers and sinks, it may send the wrong message to these green-loving visitors.
According to the American Hotel and Lodging Association, initiatives that allow guests to choose to reuse towels also result in significant savings. Pair this eco-friendly initiative with a low-flow shower and bath system that lets visitors know you share their sensibilities. Your rooms will look fresh and up to date, and you’ll get the benefit of water and energy savings, too.
Reading your recent reviews to see what guests have to say about your bathrooms, visiting properties for yourself, and taking a good look at what you have in place (and how long those pieces have been there) can reveal the areas that are making your bath look dated. Careful attention and a regular remodel schedule can ensure that your guest rooms truly live up to the promise of your brand and the rest of your facility. Contact the Symmons Hospitality team today to get your bathroom renovation started.
