Your hotel casegoods are arguably one of the most, if not the most, important purchase decision you will need to make, not only from a cost perspective, but from your hotels aesthetic.
You want your hotel to reflect the brand and/or your personality. Therefore, it’s advisable to plan the space to achieve the look and feel that’s most important to you.
For these reasons, it’s crucial to consider the following variables before finalizing your purchase decision.
3 Environmental Factors To Discuss With Your Hospitality Manufacturer
Make sure to discuss these four important considerations with your manufacturer prior to purchasing your hotel casegoods:
- Humidity
- Pollution
- Sunlight
Though these factors affect casegoods differently, they are equally important to consider during the furniture procurement process.
1. Humidity
If not properly balanced, humidity can wreak havoc on furniture.
To get technical, relative humidity is a measurement of the quantity of moisture in the air as compared to the maximum amount of moisture possible at a given temperature.
So, when furniture is exposed to an excessive amount of humidity wood furniture can expand and begin to deteriorate. Too little humidity can cause the wood furniture to shrink and crack. An ideal balance of humidity should be around 40-50%.
When it comes to your hotel guest room furniture, learning and understanding how to properly protect it against damage from humidity is one of the most important elements to ensure your furniture lasts for many years.
2. Air Pollutants
Especially prominent in major metropolitan areas, air pollutant particles from the air can attach themselves to your hotel guest room furniture and act as an abrasive causing damage the surfaces.
To prevent damage, considering installing an air purification system or filters to remove damaging particles from the air. Your furniture (and hotel guests) will thank you!
While on this topic, this is also a time to school yourself on the U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act, which governs the use of hazardous chemicals in furniture manufacturing. We’ve blogged about it, here.
3. Sunlight
We are all aware of the damaging effects that can be caused by overexposure to sunlight. “Photodegradation” is the technical term given to describe an alteration of materials by light.
The most common effects seen on furniture are fading and discoloration.
A veteran hospitality manufacturer will advise you prior to selecting your hotel guest room furniture, that if you elect to purchase wood (versus a laminate), that your furniture will require a surface finish (varnish or lacquer) to protect against the sun’s UV rays.
Intangible Environmental Factors Can Influence Tangible Casegoods
Choosing the material for your hospitality casegoods is not to be taken lightly. With so much to think about, you're going to need a comprehensive guide.
If you read the guide, understand and prepare for the possible environmental impacts that can affect your hotel guest room furniture, and get involved with a hospitality manufacturer that can educate you, you can rest assured knowing you’ve made an educated purchase decision
