Geometric shapes in the hospitality are on the rise, presenting a literal cutting-edge style for the industry
On-Trade Progress is fortunate enough to be invited to bars, restaurants, pubs and hotels across the country. We count ourselves truly lucky to be able to operate in such a wonderful industry, which pushes the boundaries of convention; whether that’s through food or drink offerings, themes or importantly, design. One design trend that has caught our eye has been sharp-edged, geometrically-shaped furniture and objects.
The trend first appeared in our Venue of the Month feature, which saw us welcomed into Eve restaurant in central London, where despite the intimate setting, one of the stand-out designs was the small, hexagonal, blue tables. Later that evening, at a friend’s house, I noticed all of her mirrors were a rose-gold hexagonal shape and that her coffee table at home was the same. Now, I’ve been working in this industry a while, and it really struck me how the trend has erupted both at home and on-trade to work with hexagonal, or in general, geometric shapes.
Classy not classic
There’s a lot that can be said here for the presentation of geometric shapes and they certainly portray a minimalist, semi-futuristic, and importantly, classy feel. In a push for spaces to be picture-worthy or “Instagrammable”, these geometric shapes, perhaps in their very sharpness, draw our eye. This was the same in my recent trip abroad, whereas the convention in most hotels is to have large mirrors that encompass a space to give the illusion of grandeur, the hotel’s mirror were three overlapping diamond figures. I was instantly taken aback, and then considering them, they weren’t there for practicality or comfort. They inadvertently said something about the hotel; that it was ahead of the curb and was considered in adding every aspect and detail to its design.
The future
Design is by its very nature subjective and fickle. One minute plush and intimate booths were the fashion and now its metallic spaces (such as silver and rose gold) that embellish these geometric shapes. Whether it’s a low-lying cutting-square lampshade or a hand towel basket in a brass colour – these patterns and shapes are booming in the hospitality industry.
What does this say about us? It can’t be denied that we are somewhat following a home-stay trend which seems a similar pattern repeated. However, these cold and harsh shapes leave a lot to work with. Whether it’s allowing the cool tones to match with brighter colours, like the hexagonal tables in Eve matching with the plush blue seats, or perhaps the diamond mirrors in my hotel contrasting the warm carpeted flooring – geometric shapes and cooling tones are like a blank canvass in many respects.
Similarly, in general, geometric shapes are lovely to look at. I can’t help being drawn to them. Perhaps this is a human thing; in the natural world, where nothing is naturally so straight and perfect, hospitality professionals are embracing man-made shapes and encouraging visitors to have their eyes drawn to these interesting displays. It’s fortunate then, that our industry is at the cutting edge, quite literally, of design and that we are pushing the boundaries of setting trends for visitors and each other.
