To understand the design process more easily, the standard layout of a guest house will be divided into individual areas. The layout has been divided as follows: entrance, lounge/study, dining area, bedrooms and bathrooms, and entertainment and outdoor Areas. Each week we will discuss an area. This week we will discuss the entrance area, which includes the entrance foyer and reception area.
The best advice that can be given to you is to look at your guest house as a product. If the packaging is not marketable, then the public won’t buy it. The entrance is like the packaging of your business; it’s the first thing visitors see. If the design of the interior hasn’t been properly thought out, guests won’t get a good impression. If you have doubts about the interior design of your space you may need to rethink it. A good start in making this design process easier is to create a mood board of images that can inspire your interior. Pin up images of interiors, furniture, wallpaper, a piece of fabric and even colour swatches on a board. This will help you visualize your interior before you even start painting the walls. The entrance will set the standard for what your guests will expect from the rest of the guest house. It has to incorporate the quintessence of what you expect your guests’ thoughts to be when they leave your guest house.

Rethink how you would normally decorate your walls.
This collection of various-sized mirrors layered on top of one another create an interesting wall feature. TIP: Mirrors (in fact most pieces of furniture) are available from auctions at a fraction of the price of buying new.
When you were starting up your business you might state in the business plan what you want your guests to experience when they stay over. A South African getaway, a wine farm adventure, a country cottage or even a Zen retreat are some of the terms you might use to describe what ‘theme’ you want to create for your guest house. Revisit your business plan if you are thinking of starting or remodeling your existing guest house interior to see what your initial idea was.
Let’s take the example of a South African getaway as the ‘theme’ of your interior. Your theme can be incorporated into every aspect of the interior from the front gate to the fabric chosen for the sofa. There are many stores that stock South African items from a wooden stool to a wooden giraffe for your entrance. Wetherly’s and Amatuli are just some of the stores that supply African furniture, or rather African-inspired furniture. A contemporary sofa upholstered with a natural-looking fabric can hint at being African.
NOTE: When looking for African craft, research will need to be done. There are many different products from all over Africa. If you want a truly South African experience for your guests then ask where the item was made before you buy it. If you are looking for a design for your front gate, this research can also be useful. An African bead design could inspire a pattern for the gate etc.
If you have space for a reception desk, you should invest in purchasing a table and chairs and cleverly position them as to not cramp up your entrance. A reception desk does not have to be a large structural element made out of Italian marble, but it could be simply be an elegant antique desk from an auction and two comfortable upholstered chairs on which guests can sit and book into their room.
NOTE: Try your best to hide any computer cable under the desk as they are unsightly. Look for products that neaten up cables, or pedestals which the cables can run inside of.
If you have the space, there should be some seating in the entrance area. This is for guests who are waiting to book in or for transport. You may want your guests to wait in the lounge area which will be discussed in a future blog post.
TIP: Separate your seating and have more single seats as guests don’t normally like to sit next to a stranger on a large sofa.

This book shelf is both functional and visually interesting. Always have reading material available for guests. Books on shelves create a visual focal point in an interior space.
Side tables are a great way to bring your theme into your interior. An African stool with a glass top can be used as a side table. Depending on your vision for your guest house you can really bring in interesting items to use as side tables.

Weaving techniques are widely seen in most African products and should be incorporated into an African themed interior.
Rugs can bring colour into a space and can be bought from various outlets. Quality must always be considered when buying any item for your business. The high-end rugs are often expensive but the quality cannot be matched. For cheaper options, visit your local carpet installer/supplier as they often have loose carpets made to order out of natural fiber sisal or even a colourful shaggy carpet. Remember you don’t want your rugs to look worn after a year and a good rug will last you many years. Rugs can add colour and life to a normally uninteresting interior space.
TIP: If your loose rugs slip and slide on your floor, ask your local rug supplier for an anti-slip product that you can cut to your rugs’ size to stop them from moving around.
Mood lighting creates a great ambiance in an interior. There are interesting lighting options out there, including shades made out of felt, perspex and paper, which will bring texture into the interior. A standing lamp is always an elegant way of providing lighting but also look at installing wall lights that will create a talking point for your guests and make their stay a bit more memorable.
This architectural wall detail has been transformed into an elegant seating area using a lighting system that incorporates downlighters and beaded crystals. For an African version, ask your local craftsman for beaded decorations and suspend them in front of downlighters in an existing recess in your wall.

In a more contemporary interior you can create a simple yet dramatic lighting feature, you can be inspired by standard lighting systems grouped together to form a bigger more elaborate light. Also take note of the round rugs which can be customized by your local carpet installer.
A design feature that is often overlooked is a finish to the walls. There are other options than just giving them a new coat of paint. If you have the budget, you can look at wallpaper and specialized wall finishes. For an elegant approach, a floral design will give a plain wall a new lease on life. There are simpler ‘wallpaper’ options. One such option is an embossed pattern on a plain sheet of wallpaper which you can then paint over to match your colour pallet for your interior. For more inspiration have a look at Earthcoat wall finishes and your local wallpaper supplier.