Hotel refurbishment: a bathroom and room checklist, step by step

In a hotel refurbishment, bathroom and room equipment is decided in a set order: first the target classification category, then the amenities system (dispensers or small portions), then accessories and finishes, the minibar and safe, the textiles and, finally, lead times. The order matters because each decision narrows the next, and the longest lead times come from customisation.

Where does equipment specification start in a refurbishment?

With the star category you are aiming for after the works. The classification norms set the minimum mandatory room and bathroom equipment for each category: at 4 and 5 stars, for example, a hair dryer, a bathrobe and slippers per person, a minibar fridge and an in-room safe. The full table, updated with Order no. 948/2026, is in the article Mandatory hotel amenities, 1 to 5 stars.

For a new hotel or a new classification, the supplementary criteria score also counts. Two criteria concern the bathroom and room directly:

• towel heater, cosmetic mirror, bathroom scale, iron, bathrobe: 5 points, if you offer at least 3 of the 5;
• point of sale for personal hygiene products, with at least 4 basic items: 2 points.

Both are earned without building work.

The checklist, in the order decisions are made

Dispensers or small portions: why decide now?

A refurbishment done today has to hold up after 1 January 2030. From that date, Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (Annex V, point 5) restricts single-use packaging for cosmetics, hygiene and toiletry products used in the accommodation sector. Refillable systems remain permitted. What is and is not covered is explained in What changes for hotels in 2030.

The consequence for a refurbishment: dispenser brackets are fixed to the new tiles, and their position (at the basin, in the shower, by the bath) is set with the bathroom layout, not afterwards. SmartCare and SHAPE brackets are screw-fixed or self-adhesive, single, double or triple; the triple bracket is made to order, so it counts towards the lead time.

The configurator proposes the right system and lines for your number of rooms and hotel category. Open the configurator for your hotel →

Which bathroom accessories, and how do you match them to the taps?

Bathroom accessories (toilet roll holder, hooks, towel rail, soap dish, waste bin) are chosen by line, so the whole bathroom is consistent. The bathroom accessories page lists the seven Aliseo lines: Architecto, Tecno, Now, Nexxus, Maxima, Complementary and Purity. The standard finish in the data sheets is chrome; Nexxus also comes in matt black, and Maxima in black or white.

If the taps are a different colour (brushed brass, bronze, black chrome), NU Finishes applies the same finish to the accessories and cosmetic mirrors through PVD coating, matt, polished or brushed, with no minimum quantity. A sample or the sanitaryware manufacturer's colour code is enough to match it. Maxima is the only series not covered by NU Finishes.

The same stage covers:

• the hair dryer — mounting (hang-up, drop-in or wall holder), brushless or conventional motor; the Vento Brushless can be supplied in your project colour through Color Skin. See hair dryers;
• the cosmetic mirror — lighted or not, ×3 or ×5 magnification, single-arm, double-arm or free-standing;
• the towel heater — for example Amber Pro: 75 W, thermostat adjustable from 30 to 65 °C, timer, fixed connection or plug. The electrical supply must be planned before tiling.

Minibar: compressor, thermoelectric or absorption?

A minibar runs around the clock in every room, so the deciding argument is consumption. The figures declared by Indel B:

* Indel B absorption minibars are intended for non-EU markets only; in Romania they appear as an existing fleet to be replaced, not as a purchase option.

If the refurbishment replaces an absorption fleet, Indel B states a reduction in consumption of up to 77% with the K Ecosmart range. For rooms where complete silence is the main criterion, thermoelectric remains an option. The calculation for your number of rooms is on the minibars page.

This is also where the safe is decided: mandatory in the room at 4 and 5 stars (built-in, or in a safe room). Choose the size by what it has to hold, usually a laptop, and check the furniture recess before the furniture order. The models are on the safes page.

Textiles and slippers: what changed in 2026?

From 2026, at every category, bed linen and towels must be white and resistant to thermal and chemical washing and disinfection. If the refurbishment includes new textiles, order them in white from the outset. At 4 and 5 stars, three towels per person, a bathrobe and disposable slippers per person are mandatory; at 1–3 stars, two towels per person.

FF&E or OS&E: what goes where?

In a refurbishment project, the budget is usually split in two:

• FF&E (furniture, fixtures and equipment) — items that stay in the hotel: room and restaurant furniture, textiles, lighting, sanitaryware, finishes.
• OS&E (operating supplies and equipment) — what you use day to day in operation: cleaning equipment, housekeeping trolleys, reception and restaurant equipment, consumables.

Hotel amenities, dispensers, minibars and bathroom accessories we supply from the catalogue; the rest is configured per project. Details on FF&E and OS&E projects.

Which lead times should you plan for?

The longest lead times come from customisation. Those confirmed by the manufacturers:

• Color Skin (the Vento Brushless hair dryer in your project colour): mock-up room sample in 3–5 weeks, order delivery in 10–16 weeks.
• SmartCare and SHAPE triple brackets: made to order; the lead time is confirmed with the quote.
• Everything else (NU Finishes, minibars, safes, amenities, textiles): the lead time is confirmed with the quote, depending on quantity and stock.

The practical rule: approve the mock-up room with the real equipment, then order for all rooms.

The configurator gives you the list by category, number of rooms and hotel category, in one step. Configure the equipment for your hotel →

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Order no. 65/2013 on the methodological norms for the classification of tourist accommodation establishments, as amended and supplemented by Order no. 948/2026 (Official Gazette no. 559 of 8 July 2026): minimum criteria for hotels and supplementary criteria (5 points and 2 points respectively); white linen and towels.
• Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste, Annex V, point 5, applicable from 1 January 2030; parliamentary question E-002490/2025, European Parliament.
• ADA Cosmetics, brand cards for the SmartCare and SHAPE systems (single, double and triple brackets; triple bracket made to order).
• Aliseo, NU Finishes and Color Skin pages (PVD coating, no minimum quantity, the Maxima exception; Color Skin: sample in 3–5 weeks, delivery in 10–16 weeks); Amber Pro data (75 W, 30–65 °C); accessory line data sheets.
• Indel B, Hospitality Product Highlights, October 2024 (kWh/24 h consumption of the compressor and thermoelectric ranges; the Ecosmart system; consumption for the current range) and earlier Indel B documentation for absorption minibars.
• Concept Hotels, FF&E and OS&E projects page (definitions of FF&E and OS&E).

Last checked: 2 October 2026.