There are many connotations tied to an airport lounge. Luxurious, calming and quiet are just a few. Offering passengers refuge from the hustle and bustle of the airport, it is undeniable that a lot goes into the interior design of these traveller safe havens to evoke positive pre-flight feelings. It wouldn’t be a far-fetched idea, then, to bring some of these ideas into your own home to emanate a cosy household where you feel just as relaxed sitting on the sofa as you do with a glass of bubbles in hand, looking out at the runway and the plane you’re about to hop on.
Bring Lots of Light into the Home
From big windows to statement lighting, airport lounges are known for being airy, spacious areas that give you the room to breathe. The very juxtaposition of a busy, claustrophobic airport. But how can you incorporate this into your home décor? Well, short of pulling down all your walls and fitting floor to ceiling windows, there are a number of less drastic options you can choose to do. Make the most of the natural lighting you have and determine at what directions light comes in. Place mirrors on these walls so the sunlight can bounce off the mirrored surface and brighten the whole room. Light coloured walls and flooring, glossy surfaces in your bathroom and kitchen, as well as glass and metal decorative pieces can also get more light reflecting across your home and give it a fresher feel. Curtains, furniture and other soft furnishings should also use lighter colour schemes and you should avoid cluttering the space with too much furniture.
Levels of Comfort
There are always a range of options of where you can sit in a lounge. Dive straight back into your work inbox by parking up at a table and chair kitted out with power sockets or slouch back on a cushioned sofa with one of the array of magazines on offer to skim through. There is always different seating catering for different types of passengers and the same should go for your living space. From sofas and armchairs, to beanbags and lots of cushions. Especially in terms of the family dynamic or when hosting a party, everyone likes to slot themselves in in different ways and having a variety of seating options creates a more relaxed atmosphere. Crowd around a board game on the coffee table and consume food the Indian way, cross legged on the floor.
Be Versatile
Often airports have the foundations of their interior set in stone, however they’re constantly upgrading and moving with the times in terms of technology. The same could be said for your home in terms of accommodating new homeware trends. By creating a blank but cosy canvas by which you can add and change, you can ensure your space is always current and stylish. Invest in neutral furniture that you really love and accent with cushions, throws and other accessories you can always change out easily to give a room a new lease of life.
Why You Should Make Your Home Open Plan
A well-functioning airport ensures passengers can flow through each process as quickly and smoothly as possible. Layouts often flow from one section to the next and keep everything connected and straight forward so there’s less chance of getting lost or confused. Bring this into your home and open up the space. This can be a considerably larger change and far costlier in terms of the potential to take down walls and quite literally open up the space. However, there are other smaller changes you can make if you’re on a budget. Why not remove the doors in the downstairs doorways so you can easily move from one room to another? Not overcrowding in terms of furniture and avoiding blinds and curtains that suffocate any light getting in also add to that spacious, free flowing feel of a home.
Add Colour and Character with Art
Airport lounges often have a very bold style which incorporates abstract art pieces, or uses colour, shapes and light to create something sharp, professional and edgy. Whilst you may want your over interior to have a softer feel, including pieces of art can really bring that character to your home and make it your own. Find unique artwork pieces, or even include prints with words you look to live by. Whilst airports might use artwork to emulate the cultures its located in, artwork in the home can put your own stamp on a place and tie together your theme or colour scheme.
Design Around Your Desires
Whilst airport lounges are great for putting you at ease, it’s important to remember that they are designed not only to look good, but also to meet requirements and expectations for passengers. The interior of airport lounges, and the airport as a whole, can therefore be quite systematic and impersonal. Something you decidedly do not want from your home. Like with many things, you should take the bits and pieces that you do like from airport lounges and then infuse the rest of your home’s interior with cosier, more homely touches. Bring out your own style and personality and ultimately create a space where you feel most at home.
Alice is a blogger for Parking at Airport, the place to go for great prices on your parking. You can also find expert travel advice that’ll revolutionise the way you holiday. As well as a love for country hopping, Alice loves to read, socialise and sip on prosecco.