A Guide to Hotel Design Pt 9: The Wardrobe

Do you remember wardrobes from childhood? Hiding places in games, smelling of moth balls or camphor. Sometimes they are a fitted part of the building fabric, sometimes a great big lump of furniture, usually lined with cedar, the timber with a reputation of keeping clothes sweet smelling and deterring moths. They still have a place in hotel bedrooms, and range from the token skinny hanging rail in a Travelodge to walk in ‘dressing rooms’ in the major five star hotels such as One & Only.
The primary purpose of a wardrobe is to hold the clothes of the guest. If you are a large function hotel then ball gowns and tuxedo’s may be the main occupants – and they set the parameters. So the hanging rail height from the floor of a robe is generally accepted as 1660mm (about 5 ft 6 inches), the length of a ball gown. Obviously the guest needs to be able to put hangars on this so the height of the rail above floor level also need to be carefully factored in to the design.

Above this rail was traditionally the shelf for hats, and it may be that the ‘robe was vertically split to allow shelves to be put down one side for other folded garments, or split into two hanging areas either as his’n’her areas, or wet and dry areas if no room hooks are provided (see Pt 8 With Drawer ).

Hotel hangers are often captive type, where the ‘hook’ part is kept on the rail. Generally hated by guests who find them fiddly to use and impossible to use to hang items up to dry on the shower rails, captive hangers prevent theft. Often hangers are provided in turn with padding for delicate garments or a rail for trousers to hang over.

Fun fact: I’m usually the person friends rely on to organise trips, schedules, and group plans.

Workhighlights: Successfully coordinating events from planning through to delivery and seeing everything come together on the day.

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Work highlights: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Fun fact: People tell Sienna she gives off Bridget Jones vibes, and she loves to bake, always making sure there are shortbreads floating around the office

Work highlights: Sienna joined Forum Events & Media Group while studying Communications and Media, starting in the sales team where she managed and helped launch the first the PA Life Leading Venues of London SHOWCASE, where she built relationships with luxury venues across the capital. Drawn to the stories behind these spaces, she naturally transitioned into the editorial team, creating social media and editorial content. Upon graduating in June 2026, she is excited to be joining as Assistant Editor for Hotel Designs and SPACE.

Fun fact: When not working, Jess can usually be found tending to her kitchen garden in the Sussex countryside or foraging for herbs in the nearby woods. A keen grower, she recently studied a RHS Level 2 Diploma in the Principles of Horticulture during her spare time.

Work highlights: Jess joined SPACE magazine in 2022 and has since progressed from Assistant Editor to Editor. During this time, she has worked across many aspects of the publication – from shaping editorial strategy and overseeing operations to contributing to art direction and representing the brand on stage at industry events including Surface Design Show and WOW!house.

Alongside her role at SPACE, Jess has built a creative career spanning the arts, culture, design and travel sectors. Prior to joining the magazine, she spent more than a decade in the commercial art industry, in artist liaison, gallery management, and curating collections for the hospitality sector across hotels and cruise ships. During this time, she also worked on freelance projects as a writer, photographer, and creative content producer.
 
Jess studied photojournalism at London College of Communication and the Danish School of Media and Journalism and holds a first-class BA (Hons) in Culture, Criticism and Curation from Central Saint Martins.

Fun fact: Katy has spent years perfecting all kinds of accents and loves a good impersonation!

Work highlights: Katy has been with Hotel Designs since the beginning, way back in 2015 when Forum Events & Media Group acquired the brand.

During this time, she has fostered many meaningful relationships with clients from across the hospitality spectrum, as well as playing a pivotal role in the launch of The Brit List Awards, Hotel Designs MEET UPs, client-led roundtables and panel talks, brand and website redesigns, HD Wellness Sets, DESIGN POD podcast, Hotel Designs LIVE panel talk series, Accessible Design Talks and more. Katy is always on the lookout for the next opportunity to help grow the Hotel Designs brand even further.
 
Most recently Katy has stepped in to the role of Publisher atSPACE magazine, the printed bi-monthly publication focused on hotel design, architecture, and development.
Together these platforms offer a comprehensive 360-degree service encompassing digital media, print publishing, and live events – providing unparalleled value to advertisers, partners, and readers alike.