Hotel design is constantly evolving, with new trends regularly emerging to shake up what guestrooms and public spaces look like from year to year. Here are a few ideas to keep in mind.
1. Maximalism
Maximalism is characterized by bold patterns, colors and textures, according to Alexandra Dray, VP of interiors & fulfillment at Two Roads Development. “In contrast to minimalism, maximalism emphasizes a more playful and expressive approach to design,” she said. “In hotels, maximalism can be incorporated through the use of colorful accents, patterned textiles and decorative accessories. This trend is particularly well-suited for boutique hotels that want to create a unique and memorable experience for their guests.”
2. Storytelling Design
Interior design should have a “narrative that shares a unique unexplored perspective,” said Gina Leone, designer at The Society - Hospitality Design Collective. “A space needs to be more than visually enticing. It has to have a soul that engages guests from check-in to checkout.”
3. Wellness Spaces
Monica Blair-Smith, senior design associate at Yellow Goat Design, said hotel spaces are being designed as “a place of respite or escape from the everyday.” Designers, she added, are drawing inspiration from nature, specifying feature fixtures using calming hues, monochromatic palettes and soft biophilic shapes, lit with warm temperature lighting.
4. Basecamps for Exploration
“The experience of being cooped up at home for so long has … changed the role hotels play as a desired escape for rejuvenation and retreat,” said Samuele Sordi, chief architect at Pininfarina of America. “In a few years, we might reach an in-between, but for now, especially for the younger generation, the hotel has become more of a basecamp for enjoyment and exploration.”
5. Colorful Evolution
The design color wheel keeps spinning, said Sue Olson, LEED AP at Kenmark Interiors. “We're seeing more of the terracotta and the mauve tones [and] gold.”
6. Acrylic Furniture
Hitesh (HP) Patel, COO at Curve Hospitality, said demand for acrylic furniture is growing. “We are actually doing a hotel right now that’s full acrylic. The chairs are acrylic, the headboard [for the bed] has acrylic lights and panels.”
7. Sustainability
Eco-conscious design will “grow exponentially” as people become more environmentally conscious, Dray said. “This can include the use of recycled materials, energy-efficient lighting and sustainable building practices. Sustainable design not only benefits the environment, but it also appeals to guests who are looking for socially responsible accommodations.“
8. Expansive Fitness Centers
“Hoteliers recognize gyms as a featured amenity,” said Abby Shehan, design director of Premier. “Hotel designers are expanding the footprint of fitness centers with more desired square footage.” The premium spaces that used to hold meeting rooms are being replaced by fitness centers, which was unheard of prior to the pandemic, she added.
9. Community-Focused Projects
Designers and architects have to consider the social impact of a project, Sordi said. “How can the project benefit the local community as well as the traveler? In a lot of projects, local craftsmen are being brought on to the build process early on, which is extremely important for any project making a physical impact on an existing community. If we design anything that pulls from the local culture but cut the community out, that’s wrong.”
10. Fashion Influence
“The concept of ‘stealth luxury’ or ‘quiet luxury’ that has emerged in fashion in the last couple of years is finding its way into the interior design world,” said Beatrice Girelli, co-founder and design director of Indidesign. “Indidesign’s work has always revolved around the essence of shapes and materials.”
11. Hybrid Work Spaces
David Tracz, partner at //3877, expects designing for the hybrid workforce will be a demand, not a request––even in leisure properties. “To make room for such a shift, I can see hotel design straying away from abundant storage units; a majority of travelers today never unpack their suitcases, so most drawer units are taking up precious space that could be utilized otherwise.”
12. Pops of Color
Patel noted vibrant colors expanding beyond the traditional pillows and artwork into casegoods themselves. “It kind of pops when you go into the room [and] doesn't look so boring and stale.” For The Hospitality Show, Curve Hospitality is designing a custom piece in black and white with pops of red to match the event’s theme.
13. Bringing the Outdoors in
“Designers are incorporating products sourced directly from nature in all aspects of the design, down to the flooring,” said Emanuel Lidberg, head of design at Bjelin.
14. Fitness Facilities in Guestrooms
Beyond expanded fitness spaces, hotels are incorporating fitness elements like Peloton bikes or treadmills into guestrooms, Shehan said.
15. Colorful Carpets
Carpeting has traditionally been like a muted color like a gray, dark brown and dark blue. “Now we're seeing bright, vibrant colors coming into the flooring as well,” Patel said.
16. Museum-Quality Art
Hoteliers are displaying a growing range of art in various spaces to “keep both guests and locals engaged throughout the public spaces” and connect the property to the community, said Terry Eaton, president and chief curator of Eaton Fine Art.
17. Customization
Guests expect hotels to offer more customizable options in furniture, lighting and decor, Dray said. These can include bespoke furniture and curated art collections. “With the help of technology, hotels can also create interactive experiences that allow guests to personalize their stay, such as digital concierge services and personalized in-room entertainment.”
18. Branded Inspiration
Brands that are known for restaurants, nightclubs and other experience-based offerings are moving into the hospitality space, pushing designers to create spaces that are “geared toward their typically younger, trendier clientele,” said JoyceLynn Lagula, studio leader at JCJ Architecture. “Many hotels are working to differentiate their brand by offering innovative experiences via the way they design, layout or outfit their property. Travelers are increasingly seeking exciting, memorable hotel stays, so anything a property can do to provide a novelty factor is going to be at an advantage.”
19. Multifunctional Spaces
As hotel rooms become smaller and more expensive, Dray sees multifunctional spaces becoming increasingly popular. “This design trend focuses on maximizing the functionality of a space,” she said. “Multifunctional spaces allow hotels to offer guests more options and flexibility, which is particularly appealing to younger travelers who value experiences over traditional luxury.”
20. Regenerative Projects
Sordi said that appreciation of a natural connection is also leading to projects that are regenerative not only for guests, but for the environment as well. “This story of regeneration that is taking place in guests is playing out in the landscapes and buildings—and that has the power to be very transformational.”