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ACTIU Berbegal y Formas, S.A.
10 ideas for designing a vibrant, humane and purposeful lobby

10 ideas for designing a vibrant, humane and purposeful lobby

JULY 2025 | 3 minutes

A hotel lobby is no longer just a place to pass through: it is a place of connection, experience and life. Today, the lobby is the emotional calling card of the hotel, where brand values are consolidated and the first link with the guest is generated. That is why designing it well is no longer an option: it is a strategy for hospitality, branding and wellbeing.

At Actiu, we understand the lobby as a space that must be functional, flexible, healthy and sensorial. And to help you design a lobby that really makes a difference, we share with you 10 ideas that combine creativity, trends and the keys to WELL standards.

10 ideas for designing a lobby that cares

1. Divide to connect: a lobby with zones

Create different zones for different guest moments: waiting, working, relaxing, talking, eating. Use open bookcases, vegetation or mobile elements as visual dividers. The result is a fluid, welcoming space full of possibilities.

2. Include a bar area that invites you to linger

The lobby bar can become the social heart of the hotel. Coffee in the morning, snacks in the afternoon and cocktails in the evening. A place that attracts both guests and the local community.

3. Flexible and soulful work zone

Connect with digital nomads and travellers who work on the move. Spaces with good wifi, power outlets, shared desks and ergonomic furniture such as our Dorik tables invite productivity without sacrificing comfort.

4. Relaxing lounge

An area with comfortable sofas, warm lighting, enveloping textures and soft music invites you to pause, read or have a quiet conversation. The lobby should also be an emotional retreat.

5. Cultural programme: activate the space

Live music, exhibitions by local artists, presentations or tastings. Occasional events that turn the lobby into a living stage that connects guests and the city.

6. Design with local identity

Incorporate elements of the context: materials, art, visual references or aromas that evoke the territory. Guests feel they are in a place with a soul, not a globalised replica.

7. Lighting designed for each use

Natural light during the day, warm at night. Technical lighting in work areas and decorative lighting in relaxation corners. Light guides emotions and experiences. And don't forget: circadian lighting does matter.

Globb Collection

8. Spaces that invite you to read, move around or play.

A small library, a selection of board games or a meditation corner can add a distinctive touch to the lobby. The design can also encourage healthy habits and moments of disconnection.

9. A lobby that also cares

Adequate ventilation, clean air, comfortable temperature and healthy materials. Invisible elements that directly influence how we feel. Relying on standards such as WELL is one way of guaranteeing this.

10. Open the lobby to the community

Make the lobby a meeting point for the local community. Design it to be inhabited by more than just guests: make it part of the life of the city. A lively lobby is a profitable lobby.

Design based on wellbeing and emotion

These ideas are aligned with our LifeFriendly Spaces philosophy and with the principles of neuroarchitecture and WELL certification. At Actiu, we help you to create spaces that generate connection, inspire trust and put people at the centre of the design.

A modular, friendly and functional environment that shows that the lobby can be much more than a reception: it can be an experience that cares.

The stage for the "Nena, no te compliques" tour, designed together with Macarena Gea and Anna Ferrer, is a contemporary reinterpretation of the lobby as a scenic, emotional and healthy space. Pieces such as the Owwi wraparound seats, Globb modules, Fluit chairs and Dorik tables were used.