Lighting Design for Hospitality

The hospitality industry strives to provide customers with unforgettable experiences that keep them returning. One factor that contributes to this experience is light. Any lighting design for hospitality involves more than compliance with standards; it shapes the place's identity.

The light creates an atmosphere that can make the customer spend as much time as possible in that place or, on the other side, give him a tired and irritated state. There is no standardized solution, but Visioluce designers offer consultancy to all areas of this industry (restaurants, hotels, casinos, resorts, spas, etc.). We will find out in the following tips for lighting a restaurant and a hotel.

Lighting Design for Hospitality

A variety of key features must be considered when developing lighting plans:

lamp life
system efficiency
luminous flux
Colour Rendering Index
integration and control of natural light
light distribution
points of interest
COST
control system and flexibility.

In this field, custom lighting fixtures are often used to be in the same style as the hotel/restaurant/etc.

The architecture and interior design of the space, the flow of users, the height of the room, and the details to highlight are also analyzed.

All You Need To Know About Restaurant Lighting

Lighting in a restaurant is a combination between functionality and psychology. Even if the food is delicious, inappropriate lighting can make the customer uncomfortable and ultimately affect their opinion of the venue. And this can significantly affect your business, considering that most people are guided by the reviews they see on the Internet.

You need to define our target customers precisely to ensure that you give the customer exactly the experience they want. What kind of restaurant is it? Traditional, rustic, casual, fine dining, bistro. What type of food do we serve? With specifics from a particular country, international, only breakfast or just dinner.

From the lighting design for the hospitality series, this restaurant is lit by layers of light: general lighting, dimmed, so as to perceive space and ensure safe circulation; the useful lighting on the tables, much stronger than the general and accent lighting in the vaults that are specific to the interior design and on the plants, another specific details of the place.

In terms of lighting, we can divide the restaurant into 7 large areas:

Exterior lighting is practically the customer’s first interaction with the restaurant. It must be attractive but also portray the true personality of the place.
Kitchen lighting – relies more on the technical side: lighting level, colour rendering index and cool light to enhance the chefs’ concentration.
Table lighting – chandeliers above each table are usually used. This assumes that the tables will not be moved. The slightly diffused warm light ensured sufficient lighting on the table, but also semi-cylindrical lighting for those who ordered the food.
The lighting of the serving area – functional space for waiters, in which they must have enough light so as not to bump into things but not be more accentuated than the table area.
Bar lighting – usually, this is the focal point in the room. Thus, they opt for decorative lighting and LED strips under the bar, behind the bar, on the shelves, etc.

From the series of lighting design for hospitality, bar lighting in a restaurant is very important because it is the focal area of the room. In this example, the drinks shelves behind the bar are illuminated with LED strips, the glass detail in the bar is also illuminated, and the surface of the bar has an illuminance of over 500lx.

The lighting of architectural elements (accent lighting) – in this case, the possibilities and limitations are given by each individual room.
The lighting of the terrace (if applicable) – must be consistent with the entire identity of the place.

1. Provide Good Guidance and Perception of the Space

In addition to the atmosphere, light also has a functional role that should not be forgotten. For example, light helps to guide and orient the user through space. The lighting plan must be consistent with the flow of customers through the restaurant.

The lighting fixtures used in this example do not cause glare at all, creating an intimate and relaxing atmosphere, which is very recommended in hospitality lighting design.

2. Pay Attention to the Illuminance Level

The level of illumination must be chosen carefully. A dim light creates an intimate and relaxing atmosphere, making customers spend more time. But too low a lighting level that prevents customers from reading the menu or seeing the food will create the opposite of the desired atmosphere. Therefore, the challenge in this field is to obtain enough task light (e.g. on the table) and the atmosphere and style specific to the brand.

Semi-cylindrical lighting should also be considered when designing a restaurant’s lighting. We don’t want to sit at a table with someone and not be able to recognize their facial features.

It is also advisable to pay attention to the contrast between the areas. A uniformly lit space could give the impression of being flat, dull. Instead, a contrast between the tables and the surrounding space accentuates the appearance of intimacy.

Contrast

Cold and uniform light in a restaurant may be appropriate if breakfast is served there. This light energizes us and doesn't make us spend too much time in that space.

Uniformity

3.Avoid Glare

We don’t want light sources to blind customers or to create weird reflections on the menu. This factor is important for customers and employees in the Horeca field.

4. Choose the Right CCT

Another factor that must be taken into account in lighting design is the light temperature (CCT- Correlated Color Temperature). It is measured in Kelvin degrees. The higher the value, the cooler the light. A warm light gives us the feeling of relaxation and intimacy, while a cold light gives us energy and increases our ability to concentrate. A cold light is recommended for restaurants where breakfast is served, while a warm light is perfect for dinner. For restaurants whose menu includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, “tunable white” light sources are possible. They can change their CCT.

Warm light

Cold light

5. Be Friendly to the Environment. Choose LED Lighting

It is recommended to use LED lighting fixtures for efficient and eco-friendly lighting. Also, using them alongside presence sensors and sensors that quantify natural light can bring serious energy savings. Since LEDs have a long life, maintenance costs are significantly reduced. This type of lighting is the most suitable for lighting design for hospitality, especially for restaurant projects.

All You Need to Know About Hotel Lighting

Designing the lighting for a hotel is one of the most complex hospitality lighting projects. No matter how many stars the hotel has, the customer must feel at home, and comfortable but functional for the users (customers and staff) at the same time.

Zonele care trebuie tratate din punct de vedere luminotehnic într-un hotel sunt:

The facade – as in the case of other lighting design projects for hospitality- represents the customer’s first interaction with the hotel. At the same time, it is recommended that the light be discreet and not penetrate through the windows into the rooms.
Lobby and reception – the focus is on the reception.
Corridors
Hotel rooms
The restaurant – all the necessary information can be read above
Spa – quality, not quantity! We recommend a light with low intensity, warm, which induces relaxation. Glare should also be avoided, primarily by using lighting fixtures whose light source cannot be seen. And the rendering of the human body should be correct at any angle of the spa. People don’t want to come and spend a day relaxing and notice all the imperfections on their bodies.
Casino– avoiding glare is the most important in this case. It can disturb the staff, the players or even the cameras. Therefore, it must be avoided!

Understandably, the last three points are optional, depending on the hotel.

Corridor lighting has to offer the guests guidance, intimacy, safety and also to be efficient

2. Pay Attention to the Illuminance Level

Dozens of activities occur in a hotel every day: from employees to guests on business trips, who probably have many meetings, or guests on vacation. The light must satisfy everyone’s needs. In a hotel room, the guest must have the right light for reading and writing and dimmed ambient light for relaxing activities. The light in the bathroom is also essential because the light in front of the mirror must correctly reflect the girl’s shape without creating shadows and strong contrasts.

Lighting design for a hotel room including general lighting, accent lighting and task lighting

An example of lighting design for hospitality suitable for a bathroom is made by Visioluce. Long, diffuse light sources ensure an excellent rendering of the model's facial features without casting strange shadows on the face's surface. The diffuser makes the light diffuse and does not cause glare.

The light from two sources, usually large and diffused, ensures a good rendering of the facial features, facilitating activities such as grooming, make-up, shaving, etc.

An example of poor bathroom lighting is a single light source positioned above the model's head, which creates a series of strong shadows on the model's face and areas of high luminance, such as the nose and forehead

Light from a single light source will cause shadows and strong contrasts on the face, which is not advisable.

4. Choose the right light temperature

For a warm and welcoming atmosphere, it is recommended to choose a colour temperature (CCT- Correlated Color Temperature) with values between 2700K and 3500K. These values represent warm light, which is very suitable for hospitality lighting projects.

5. Be friendly to the environment. Choose LED lighting

In the corridors of a hotel, the light stays on all the time. Therefore, the essential factor in choosing lighting fixtures is efficiency. At the moment, LED lighting fixtures have increased efficiency, and the long life span leads to lower maintenance costs. Even more drastic reductions in energy costs can be achieved by using sensors that quantify natural light and presence sensors.

FAQ

Whether you run a hotel, restaurant or bar, lighting design cannot be ignored. Here are 3 of the most common questions our specialists have received about lighting design for hospitality over the years.

Why is light so important in hospitality lighting projects?

Light affects the mood of customers. A light that is too strong or too weak, as well as a poorly chosen colour temperature, can create a state of discomfort for customers.
Light highlights interior design, materials, textures, surfaces, and food in the case of a restaurant. Good lighting will make all of this look appealing.
Light can bring savings in electricity consumption.

What color temperature is the best for a hospitality lighting project?

It has been proven that warm light creates a state of peace and relaxation, and cold light energizes. For most cases in this area, we would recommend warm light. But there are situations where a neutral or even cold light is a suitable choice (for example, the room/restaurant where breakfast is served, the conference room, etc.)

What do we have to take into account when lighting a hotel/restaurant?

Keep the theme, the concept. The infinite possibilities of lighting fixtures, light effects, and light colours can be very tempting. But a tip is to choose both the lighting fixtures and the lighting design in accordance with the identity of the hotel/restaurant.

Take into account the interior design. The idea is that the lighting has to emphasize the characteristics of the interior design: materials, textures, and colour range. For example, a reddish brick wall will look dull when lit with cold light, while using warm light will bring out its colour.

Make sure the light is adapted for each area. We should not use the same type of lighting in the kitchen, dining area, corridors, etc. Each separate area has its own functionality and imposes certain lighting principles to ensure the safety and comfort of users.

Invest in quality lighting fixtures. Imagine that you have chosen low-quality lighting fixtures with inevitable failures in short periods. Flickering or changing light temperature will impact the overall atmosphere. And their maintenance involves both time and cost.

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Office

On average, a person spends a third of their life at work. Today, companies are doing everything possible to create the most dynamic and pleasant atmosphere in the office. One of the factors that contribute to the well-being of users is light. Light directly affects the mood, energy and productivity of employees. Therefore, a crucial aspect is qualitative lighting for offices.

Retail

How often have you bought a coat that is an entirely different colour when you get home or in the daylight? Light influenced this result. But, in reality, light is one of the factors with many attributes in a store. We will discuss the following several tips & tricks for lighting commercial spaces.

The precise technique additionally includes background lighting. Thus, the shadows created by the mannequins on the background behind them will be much blurred.

Places of Worship

Light in most religions has a symbolic function representing the presence of the divine. For a church, mosque, synagogue or any place of prayer, light has a special impact. It must convey and create a specific state of calm and safety. That is why the role of lighting design for places of worship is crucial.

Example of church lighting. Lighting for religious building has different lighting scenes and lighting layers.

Museums

The primary role of light in a museum is to highlight works of art without damaging them. The lighting designer considers both the conservation standards of the works (depending on the materials used), the architecture, and the limitations of the exhibition space. In a museum, light should create a mood for discovery, exploration and learning in a creative environment. But very often, it is difficult to fulfil the task of conservation and the desire for discovery at the same time. If you've ever wondered how we approach museum lighting projects, read the paragraphs below!

Public Spaces

Lately, lighting for public spaces has changed radically. Lighting designers are much more oriented towards human experience than strictly on meeting technical standards. Thus they create areas that convey a sense of safety and are much more attractive to users. Public lighting must fulfil the following functions: traffic safety, deterring criminals and highlighting urban spaces.

Industry

Lighting in the industry can influence productivity, the rigour of quality control, but also the safety and well-being of employees. Find industrial lighting tips and principles below.

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Lighting Design for Hospitality