02. Colour strategies in communal design

Even some of the nicest establishments occasionally get an aggressive visitor or one who has had ‘one too many’.  If your reception opens onto a busy through fare where this happens frequently you may wish to employ a colour strategy. 

‘Drunk tank pink’ is used to calm violent prisoners in jails in the United States because pink has a tranquilising effect and the heart can’t race fast enough to maintain anger.  There are even rules in some US sporting facilities that guest locker rooms have to be painted the same colour as the home team to prevent visitor rooms being painted pink to lessen aggression on the field. 

While an all-pink reception may not fit with your hotel marketing the introduction of a feature wall or other elements in this colour may prove a helpful ally in combating front of house aggression.

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