Hotel Lighting: Lighting Design for Lobbies, Rooms, Corridors and Restaurants
Short answer
Hotel lighting shapes the guest's first impression and comfort. Warm white of 2700K–3000K and CRI 90 in lobbies and rooms, about 300 lx at reception, 100 lx in corridors with light dimmed at night, layered (general, reading, concealed) lighting in rooms and scene control via DALI are recommended.
In a hotel, light is part of the experience from the moment guests walk through the door until they fall asleep in their room. It needs to be impressive in the lobby, restful in the room, safe in the corridor and appetising in the restaurant. Because each area has a different task, a layered lighting scheme planned area by area is needed instead of a single luminaire type and a single colour temperature.
Typical values by area
| Area | Illuminance (lx) | Colour temperature | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reception | 300 | 3000K | Staff faces and documents must be clearly visible |
| Lobby | 100–200 | 2700K–3000K | Decorative luminaires and accent light take the lead |
| Corridor | 100 | 3000K | Can be dimmed at night; room numbers must be readable |
| Room, general | 100–200 | 2700K–3000K | Dimmable; reading light at the bedhead |
| Bathroom mirror | 300–500 | 3000K–4000K | Shadow-free light on the face, high CRI |
| Restaurant | According to the mood | 2700K | Accent on the table, dim surroundings |
| Kitchen | 500 | 4000K | Hygiene and safety at work |
The values in the table are typical targets from EN 12464-1; in a project, the table in the current edition of the standard and the specific conditions of the space should be used.
Lobby: the first impression
Keeping general illuminance low in the lobby and putting the light onto surfaces and objects gives a more impressive result. Ring-shaped or custom-shaped decorative linear luminaires on the ceiling, wallwashers on the walls, concealed LED in ceiling recesses and narrow-beam spotlights on artworks are used together. The reception desk should be the brightest point in the lobby so that guests intuitively find where to go.
Rooms: layered and controllable
- General light: dimmable recessed downlights or concealed LED in a ceiling cove.
- Task light: an adjustable reading light at the bedhead and a desk lamp at the work desk.
- Bathroom: light on both sides of or around the mirror that lights the face without shadows; an IP rating suitable for damp areas.
- Night light: low-level, non-glaring orientation light under the bed or at the room entrance.
Instead of expecting guests to switch every light on and off individually, scene buttons such as 'welcome', 'reading' and 'night' at the door and at the bedhead increase comfort.
Corridors and stairs
Because corridors are lit 24/7, they are among the hotel's most energy-intensive lighting areas. With motion-sensor and dimmable luminaires the light can be kept at a low level at night and raised when someone passes. Escape route and signage luminaires must comply with fire regulations and keep working during a power failure.
Control and energy
A DALI-based control system makes scenes that change through the day in the lobby, integration with key-card energy systems in rooms and central detection of faulty luminaires possible. For details, see our lighting control systems guide. You can see the gain from switching from old halogen and compact fluorescent lamps to LED with our savings calculator.
Conclusion
Successful hotel lighting is a warm, high-CRI system planned according to the task of each area and controlled with scenes. You can explore our restaurant, café and hotel solutions or contact us about your project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which colour temperature should a hotel room have?
As it is a place to rest, warm white of 2700K–3000K is preferred. At the bathroom mirror, 3000K–4000K high-CRI light that shows the face accurately suits make-up and shaving.
Should hotel corridors stay fully lit at night?
No. With motion sensors or time programmes, the light can be dimmed to a low level at night and raised when someone passes; emergency lighting and escape signage must always remain operational.
Why is DALI preferred in hotels?
With DALI each luminaire is addressed individually; day, evening and night scenes in the lobby, integration with key-card energy systems in rooms and central fault monitoring become possible.
How is a hotel façade lit?
Wallwashers and narrow-beam luminaires that emphasise the architecture are used on the façade, with a brighter area welcoming guests at the entrance. Outdoor luminaires should be at least IP65.