Why Do Hotels Rooms Have a Colourful Cloth at the Foot of Every Bed?
From large suites to budget rooms, hotel beds have one thing in common: bed runners or colourful cloth tied around the foot of the bed. Most of us might think it’s for aesthetic reasons alone, but there’s more to it than that.
Let’s discover why hotels place a decorative fabric strip at the end of every bed.
What Is the Colourful Cloth at the Foot of the Bed Called?
The decorative piece of fabric that goes horizontally across the foot of the bed is called a bed runner. A bed runner is a piece of fabric that is horizontally positioned across the foot of the bed. Hotels cover their beds with a bedcover to make it look stylish and chic rather than plain. Hotel beds are usually white so they look spotless. A bed runner adds contrast but matches the room’s colour.
That’s not all- It Protects the Bedding
Hotel bedsheets and comforters are often white, so guests don’t accidentally soil them with dirt from their luggage, handbags, shopping bags, jackets, or shoes. Putting your belongings on a bed runner instead of directly on the sheets helps hotels keep their beds clean and protect expensive fabric.
It Gives Guests Somewhere to Put Their Belongings
It is quite common for the visitors who check into the hotel room to place their bags and jackets on the bed’s end. Individuals often find their belongings gathered at the foot of the bed, unknowingly. A hotel bed runner enables guests to place their backpacks, coats, laptop bags, and handbags You can place your belongings on the bed runner instead of the bedspread or comforter. Some people even use it like a table to unpack clothes or toiletries. If you prefer to fold your outfit neatly on the bed before putting it on, a bed runner can help you with that too.
It Completes the Room’s Interior Design
First impressions are important for any hotel. Guests will notice how well thought-out and put-together a hotel room looks when they first walk in. Having a colourful bed runner makes the room more aesthetically pleasing by adding accent colours and texture. Many luxury hotels even switch up their bed runners to match the season, location, or theme.
If you want guests to take photos in your hotel rooms for social media, bed runners are a great way to catch their attention.
It Provides Extra Hygiene
The last thing hotels want is for guests to sit or lie on their beds with outdoor clothing on. Outdoor clothing can bring dirt, debris, and bacteria onto hotel beds. If guests do this, they can rest their coats and shoes on the bed runner instead of the bedsheet. It also works if guests want to set down luggage that’s been on the floor next to the bed.
Bed Runners Are Optional
No, hotels don’t have to use bed runners, and some don’t. They’re popular in many luxury and business hotels these days, but plenty of modern hotels have taken the bed runner away. This furniture accessory used to be more common in hotels than it is now. Part of the reason is changing design trends. Another reason is because housekeeping must clean them separately.
Do Hotels Still Use Bedsheets?
Yes, hotels still use bedsheets. Even though newer hotels may opt out of using bed runners, bedsheets are a staple in the hotel industry. People have been using them for decades, and there’s no reason they would stop being used anytime soon.
Key Takeaways
Next time you stay at a hotel, notice how they style the bed with a colourful cloth at the end. It not only makes your room look beautiful when you first enter it but also serves many purposes. Hotel bed runners protect expensive bedding, give you somewhere to place your belongings, can provide extra hygiene, and enhance the interior design.
