The elements are the visual components used in creating an object or a composition. They include line,
form, texture, colour, pattern, light and space. These elements help in conveying fundamental ideas and
also in creating objects which add charm in our home interiors.
LINE: Line is the basic design element. It can be static or dead, represented by a line in a horizontal
position. It can portray rhythm, movement and unity by vertical position. Curved lines look gracious and
flexible. Diagonal lines are dynamic and create the impression of restlessness. Line is a unifying factor in
home interiors. It can be destructive element in overall effect. Too many lines of different nature create
an impression of visual chaos.
Vertical lines create the illusion of height to the room and horizontal lines will lend a look of
more length to the room. Rooms with horizontal furnishing seem to be more spacious. In the home
interiors, vertical lines of doorways, draperies, side boards give the necessary strength and height to a
room. Horizontal lines of tables, bookcases complement the vertical lines in other parts of the room.
FORM: Form is a basic element of design and is referred to as area, mass and shape. Three dimensional
forms are solids. Forms unite with line to achieve certain effects in the overall design of a room. E.g. a
long rectangular table or sofa helps in creating a line of unity in the room.
TEXTURE: Surface characteristic of objects is texture. Textural surface range from smooth to rough, so
careful balance is needed in the room. Rough texture absorbs light and smooth surface reflects light. In a
small and dark room, smooth textures should be used to reflect more light. Large room with more
windows shows rough texture gracefully. E.g. rugs, woodwork, oil painting or wood used for furniture.
COLOUR: Colour can bring any décor to life. We react emotionally to different colours, and so colour
scheme is largely responsible for the atmosphere of room interiors. Colour can be soothing or irritating,
cheering or depressing, charming or boring, welcoming or repelling. Colour can liven up a drab corner of
the house and can create an atmosphere of gaiety.
PATTERN: Pattern is a surface enrichment. The room looks dull without any pattern. Patterns are
produced by different designs. Pattern should be naturalistic and it should contribute interest to a room.
LIGHT: Light has a stimulating effect in interior decoration. Day light is very important in overall
appearance of the room. Decoration plans are never made without considering number of windows and
the amount of sunshine each room gets. Artificial light is also important. E.g. the use of spot light,
cornice light and ceiling lights add lusture to the room.
SPACE: Full utilization of space affords better functioning and more beauty to the room. Economy of
space utilization is an important factor. Full attention should be paid to save footage and using all
available space in the area. Furniture arrangement should be planned on paper on actual scale.
General duties of supervisor
The general duties and responsibilities of supervisors are as follows
To ensure the staff are aware of their hours of work and they adhere to
the planned duty roaster.
To make any adjustment necessary in their off days in consultation with
the concerned employees.
To instruct the staff in cleaning routines and schedules.
To regularly fill up the maintenance check-lists and inventories after the
complete physical check.
To liaise with the maintenance department for any maintenance work
required in guest rooms or public areas and to initiate the work order
forms.
To inspect the record of room status regularly and co-ordinate with the
reception desk
To issue the relevant keys, keep track of them and get them safely back.
To check the stock regularly, take delivery of stocks and issue supplies to
the attendants.
To supervise the staff involved in the cleaning and setting up of banquet
halls (function areas), meeting rooms and other event venues.
To arrange for the induction and for the training of the staff.
To inform the employees of staff welfare schemes and other facilities
The House keeping department usually has the following supervisory
positions:
1. Floor supervisor
2. Public area supervisor
3. Control desk supervisor
4. Linen room supervisor
5. Laundry supervisor
6. Night supervisor
Inspection modules for commonly neglected areas
In general the most commonly neglected areas in guest room include:
The area between the bed and the night stand with food particles, dirt
and debris may accumulate since this area is usually hidden by the bed
spread.
The interiors of the drawers and wardrobes where dust may accumulate
in crevices.
Surface below the lamps and other accessories kept in tables where dust
accumulates because they tend to be overlooked.
The tops of the picture frames hung on the walls which tend to gather
dust as they are not easily visible to the eye.
The top edges and back of doors, which if not cleaned on a regular basis
may collect a lot of dust.
The diffuser grills of radiators or air conditioners which can collect
stubborn dirt.
Ceiling which may show cob-webs if not attended to daily cleaning.
The carpet area behind the free standing furniture that is near, but not
against the wall, such as credenza standing to one side.
Pillows and pillow cases which should be free of wrinkles and stray hairs
and which should have a fresh smell.
The general odour of the room, which is often overlooked. The room
should have a fresh smell.
The tiled area next to the shower which shows water marks if not
attended daily.
The area behind the toilet bowl, including pipes, cistern and the toilet roll
receptacle, which all provide surfaces and nooks where dirt settles.
The area under the vanity unit and towel racks which are hard to reach
may accumulate a lot of dust.
The faucet filters, which may stained brown due to dirt collecting in
them.
The air vents in the toilet, which are hard to reach and which if neglected
during routine cleaning may collect lot of stubborn dust.
The baseboards in the guest room as well as the bathroom may also
accumulate lot of dust.
Handling Guest complaints
Types of guest complaints:
1. Technical/mechanical
2. Service related
3. Attitudinal
4. Unusual
Dealing with the complaints:
Some guidelines to be followed while confronting the guest:
Listen with concern and empathy.
Isolate the guest, if possible, so that the other guest may not overhear
the conversation.
Stay calm.
Avoid responding with hostility or defensiveness.
Be cautious of injuring the guest’s sense of self esteem, show that u take
a personal interest in the problem.
Take the complaint seriously.
Concentrate on the problem, not on the apportioning blame.
Do not insult the guest
Take notes, write down the facts.
Tell the guest what can be done. Offer choices. However do not promise
the impossible, nor exceed you authority.
Set an approximate time for the completion of corrective action. Be
specific.
Monitor the progress of corrective action.
Follow up. Contact the guest personally to ensure that the problem was
resolved to his/her satisfaction.
form, texture, colour, pattern, light and space. These elements help in conveying fundamental ideas and
also in creating objects which add charm in our home interiors.
LINE: Line is the basic design element. It can be static or dead, represented by a line in a horizontal
position. It can portray rhythm, movement and unity by vertical position. Curved lines look gracious and
flexible. Diagonal lines are dynamic and create the impression of restlessness. Line is a unifying factor in
home interiors. It can be destructive element in overall effect. Too many lines of different nature create
an impression of visual chaos.
Vertical lines create the illusion of height to the room and horizontal lines will lend a look of
more length to the room. Rooms with horizontal furnishing seem to be more spacious. In the home
interiors, vertical lines of doorways, draperies, side boards give the necessary strength and height to a
room. Horizontal lines of tables, bookcases complement the vertical lines in other parts of the room.
FORM: Form is a basic element of design and is referred to as area, mass and shape. Three dimensional
forms are solids. Forms unite with line to achieve certain effects in the overall design of a room. E.g. a
long rectangular table or sofa helps in creating a line of unity in the room.
TEXTURE: Surface characteristic of objects is texture. Textural surface range from smooth to rough, so
careful balance is needed in the room. Rough texture absorbs light and smooth surface reflects light. In a
small and dark room, smooth textures should be used to reflect more light. Large room with more
windows shows rough texture gracefully. E.g. rugs, woodwork, oil painting or wood used for furniture.
COLOUR: Colour can bring any décor to life. We react emotionally to different colours, and so colour
scheme is largely responsible for the atmosphere of room interiors. Colour can be soothing or irritating,
cheering or depressing, charming or boring, welcoming or repelling. Colour can liven up a drab corner of
the house and can create an atmosphere of gaiety.
PATTERN: Pattern is a surface enrichment. The room looks dull without any pattern. Patterns are
produced by different designs. Pattern should be naturalistic and it should contribute interest to a room.
LIGHT: Light has a stimulating effect in interior decoration. Day light is very important in overall
appearance of the room. Decoration plans are never made without considering number of windows and
the amount of sunshine each room gets. Artificial light is also important. E.g. the use of spot light,
cornice light and ceiling lights add lusture to the room.
SPACE: Full utilization of space affords better functioning and more beauty to the room. Economy of
space utilization is an important factor. Full attention should be paid to save footage and using all
available space in the area. Furniture arrangement should be planned on paper on actual scale.
General duties of supervisor
The general duties and responsibilities of supervisors are as follows
To ensure the staff are aware of their hours of work and they adhere to
the planned duty roaster.
To make any adjustment necessary in their off days in consultation with
the concerned employees.
To instruct the staff in cleaning routines and schedules.
To regularly fill up the maintenance check-lists and inventories after the
complete physical check.
To liaise with the maintenance department for any maintenance work
required in guest rooms or public areas and to initiate the work order
forms.
To inspect the record of room status regularly and co-ordinate with the
reception desk
To issue the relevant keys, keep track of them and get them safely back.
To check the stock regularly, take delivery of stocks and issue supplies to
the attendants.
To supervise the staff involved in the cleaning and setting up of banquet
halls (function areas), meeting rooms and other event venues.
To arrange for the induction and for the training of the staff.
To inform the employees of staff welfare schemes and other facilities
The House keeping department usually has the following supervisory
positions:
1. Floor supervisor
2. Public area supervisor
3. Control desk supervisor
4. Linen room supervisor
5. Laundry supervisor
6. Night supervisor
Inspection modules for commonly neglected areas
In general the most commonly neglected areas in guest room include:
The area between the bed and the night stand with food particles, dirt
and debris may accumulate since this area is usually hidden by the bed
spread.
The interiors of the drawers and wardrobes where dust may accumulate
in crevices.
Surface below the lamps and other accessories kept in tables where dust
accumulates because they tend to be overlooked.
The tops of the picture frames hung on the walls which tend to gather
dust as they are not easily visible to the eye.
The top edges and back of doors, which if not cleaned on a regular basis
may collect a lot of dust.
The diffuser grills of radiators or air conditioners which can collect
stubborn dirt.
Ceiling which may show cob-webs if not attended to daily cleaning.
The carpet area behind the free standing furniture that is near, but not
against the wall, such as credenza standing to one side.
Pillows and pillow cases which should be free of wrinkles and stray hairs
and which should have a fresh smell.
The general odour of the room, which is often overlooked. The room
should have a fresh smell.
The tiled area next to the shower which shows water marks if not
attended daily.
The area behind the toilet bowl, including pipes, cistern and the toilet roll
receptacle, which all provide surfaces and nooks where dirt settles.
The area under the vanity unit and towel racks which are hard to reach
may accumulate a lot of dust.
The faucet filters, which may stained brown due to dirt collecting in
them.
The air vents in the toilet, which are hard to reach and which if neglected
during routine cleaning may collect lot of stubborn dust.
The baseboards in the guest room as well as the bathroom may also
accumulate lot of dust.
Handling Guest complaints
Types of guest complaints:
1. Technical/mechanical
2. Service related
3. Attitudinal
4. Unusual
Dealing with the complaints:
Some guidelines to be followed while confronting the guest:
Listen with concern and empathy.
Isolate the guest, if possible, so that the other guest may not overhear
the conversation.
Stay calm.
Avoid responding with hostility or defensiveness.
Be cautious of injuring the guest’s sense of self esteem, show that u take
a personal interest in the problem.
Take the complaint seriously.
Concentrate on the problem, not on the apportioning blame.
Do not insult the guest
Take notes, write down the facts.
Tell the guest what can be done. Offer choices. However do not promise
the impossible, nor exceed you authority.
Set an approximate time for the completion of corrective action. Be
specific.
Monitor the progress of corrective action.
Follow up. Contact the guest personally to ensure that the problem was
resolved to his/her satisfaction.
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