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Design do's and don'ts

Hotel guestroom design, for the most part, just gets better. I love todayâ€â„¢s carefully considered amenities, easy-to-use technology, clean lines and touches of whimsy. But bad design in some form will always be with us. I abhor clutter, poor lighting and lack of bathroom counter space. Hereâ€â„¢s a list of some current design yeahs and nays:

Hooray for…

∑ Casters on furnishings. Itâ€â„¢s great being able to maneuver a desk or table for work or better TV viewing.

∑ Padded headboards

∑ Flexible wall-mounted bedside lighting

∑ Big magnified makeup mirrors

∑ Roomy bathroom countertops

∑ Nightlights

∑ Stainless steel coffee carafes (itâ€â„¢s time to nix the fragile glass pots)

∑ Big button, easy-use clock radios

∑ Framed photography that conveys a sense of place

∑ Full length dressing area mirrors

Lose the…

∑ Bed scarves. Do they serve a purpose?

∑ Superfluous pillows and bolsters. Like the bed scarves, they usually end up on the floor.

∑ Silly graphics. Whatâ€â„¢s with this trend towards cutesy contrived sayings such as "wash" "think" and "eat" "relax" (plastered on soap wrappers, pencils, food covers, pillows)?

∑ Mountains of promotional literature. Pamphlets and table tents spread around the room conveys cheap and cluttered.

∑ Dusty and dated silk flower arrangements

∑ Bulky armoires and tubby tube tvs

∑ Low-to-the-floor platform beds

∑ Pedestal bathroom sinks—pretty but pretty useless. No place to store oneâ€â„¢s stuff.

∑ Hair dryers hidden in storage bags—I like mine mounted on the wall within easy view and reach.

Those are a few of my faves and pet peeves. What design elements do you applaud and/or boo?

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