The hospitality and tourism industries have their own unique trends when it comes to interior design. Yes, from a style perspective it draws influence from more general interior trends but there’s so much more to consider – guest experience, customer comfort, and customer journey, to name but a few.

So here it is, in a nutshell, our round up of the interior design trends we expect to see in the hotel industry in 2023.

Trend #1 – Flexible spaces
There’s no doubt that Covid changed the way we work. Flexible working, hybrid working patterns, and an ever-increasing freelance workforce mean that the lines between working hours and non-working hours are more blurred than ever before. Hotels now have to work harder to cater for a guest who wants accommodation space that does it all; they need to consider and satisfy the new guest experience.

Most hotels now need spaces that are suitable for flexible working, maybe informal meeting space, but also social space that’s comforting and relaxing. Public space needs to do it all now, it needs to be flexible. Whether it’s for serving coffee, breakfast, sitting with a laptop for some quite thought time, or for socialising with friends – it takes a great deal of intelligent design to make such a space work.

It's worth noting, while hotels are trying to create such flexible spaces, that they also need to be unique. Customers are looking for points of differentiation when it comes to a hotel stay. If you’re a hotel, ask yourself, “what do I offer that’s unique?” is it history, location, style? Answer this question and build that into your interiors and you’re onto a winner.

Trend #2 – Soft but luxurious furnishings
Only a month or so ago, we attended the Annual Hotel Conference, where we came away with a number of key takeaways. One of these takeaways, was that holiday spends are in fact protected, and beyond that many consumers are willing to pay more, for a better stay.

Related to this, one trend we expect to see are softer designs and furnishings; sumptuous, luxurious design choices that create a more premium and comforting experience for guests. With ‘staycations’ on the rise UK hotels, now more than ever, are expected to be a home away from home. So, from a style perspective think about plush, layered fabrics; the balance between private cosy areas and spaces for wider socialising; and ways to create connections between space and guest.

In relation to creating connections, we also expect to see ‘Instagram able’ walls trending into 2023 – and with the vast majority of guests owning their social media presence, it’s not just influencers who are searching for photo opportunities. With video calls and social media common in public spaces now, having bold, statement walls that act as an aesthetic backdrop, is a great way for guests (and anyone at the other side of the screen) to connect with your space. Think arches, curved walls, statement papers, and murals as ways to create impact whilst staying on trend.

Trend #3 – Considered sustainability
The rise of the conscious consumer means that, even if sustainability wasn’t a key consideration for you previously – it’s an imperative that you pay it some thought now. Customers are taking sustainability credentials into consideration when making buying decisions; and that includes when choosing accommodation for an upcoming trip.

Whilst it might not be instantly obvious to a guest whether or not you’ve made sustainable design choices, there are ways you can do just that – and be safe in the knowledge that you can back up any sustainability claims you make, if asked.

Why not consider buying locally, to boost your local economy and minimise import generated carbon, whether you’re sourcing from elsewhere in the UK or overseas. Something that we always do at the beginning of any project, is to assess what existing materials or products we can keep, uplift, reuse, or recycle. Follow this lead and not only will you be helping the planet, but also bringing heaps of character into your space.

Trend #4 – Earth tones
When we say earth tones – we don’t just mean varying shades of brown and green. Tones inspired by nature and natural materials are continuing to trend into 2023, specifically lavender, sage green, and terracotta.

With wellbeing, nature, and sustainability at the heart of many agendas at the moment, the peace and calm that comes from nature-inspired tones can play a large part in guests’ emotional connection with a space. Lavender is set to be the real star of the show, noted to promote “cheerfulness”, use is sparingly or abundantly in line with your style.

Nature isn’t just inspiring our palettes next year; it’s also inspiring our selection of materials. Organic environments can be created through choosing naturally occurring materials like cotton, wool, ceramics, and clay. Not only do they feel organic, but they also create a more premium space, which if you read Trend #1, is something that consumers are very much expecting.

If you’re planning an upcoming refresh and would like to discuss ideas in further detail, feel free to get in touch – we’re always happy to have a conversation.