Design sets the tone for every guest experience. It’s the first detail someone notices when stepping into a hotel lobby, and often what leaves a lasting impression long after checkout. In hospitality, design influences how guests feel, how they interact with the space, and whether they choose to return.
As we move through 2025, hospitality design is entering a new era of depth and intention. Today’s spaces invite comfort, connection, and a sense of discovery. They reflect the values of modern travelers: authenticity, wellness, sustainability, and intuitive luxury.
Learn what’s shaping hospitality design in 2025 from a trusted hospitality commercial design firm and how you can incorporate such trends into your commercial space.
Blending History with Modern Luxury
Heritage has taken on a sophisticated new role in hospitality design. Properties housed in former palaces, manor houses, industrial buildings, or iconic mid-century structures are being thoughtfully restored with an eye toward both authenticity and elegance.
Original features, such as arched windows, ornate ceilings, local stone, and antique wood, are carefully preserved or reimagined as focal points. But history alone doesn’t define the experience.
In 2025, the emphasis is on refinement that supports the rhythm of modern travel. High-speed connectivity, discreet climate control, and touchless access systems blend seamlessly into rooms that still tell a story.
These spaces honor the past without feeling dated and invite guests into a world where history meets comfort with remarkable ease.
Storytelling in Hospitality Design
Design continues to evolve into a narrative tool. Whether it’s a five-star resort, an independent inn, or a contemporary urban hotel, the most memorable properties are those that communicate something beyond aesthetics.
Storytelling in design adds emotional resonance; it’s the reason why some spaces feel instantly memorable.
Storytelling begins with intentional choices: colors drawn from local landscapes, textures that reflect regional craft traditions, and architectural gestures that tie back to cultural heritage or brand philosophy.
One property may evoke the mood of coastal life through sun-washed palettes and nautical motifs, while another may lean into the lore of its city with curated art installations and locally inspired patterns.
Design narratives inform how guests move through a space, what they notice, and how they feel. When executed well, storytelling becomes a bridge between guest and place: an invitation to explore, connect, and stay a little longer.
Residential Accommodations: A Home-Like Experience
The comfort of home has become a defining element in luxury hospitality. Guests no longer expect just a well-appointed room; they want an environment that feels familiar, calming, and suited to their lifestyle, especially on longer stays.
Hotel rooms in 2025 are embracing a residential approach that combines comfort with refinement.
Layouts feature distinct zones for sleeping, lounging, dining, and working. Think deep sofas, soft ambient lighting, and high-quality textiles that offer tactile warmth. Kitchenettes with artisanal dishware and integrated appliances cater to guests who prefer independence.
Travelers can enjoy the flexibility of a personal space without sacrificing elevated design. The result is a setting that feels gracious and lived-in, yet distinctly elevated; a balance that continues to define the next generation of hospitality.
Responsibility and Sustainability
Eco-conscious design is now central to how new spaces are planned, built, and experienced. Travelers are highly attuned to sustainability, and design now reflects that awareness with precision and depth.
Materials are chosen for their environmental integrity and local provenance. Reclaimed timber, rapidly renewable bamboo, recycled metals, and natural plasters are being used not as afterthoughts, but as core elements of the design language.
Green roofs, solar integration, and passive ventilation systems also help reduce environmental impact while enhancing guest comfort. Certifications like LEED and WELL have become benchmarks of quality and commitment, influencing everything from air quality to daylight access.
Fluid, Purpose-Driven Spaces
Hospitality environments are being designed with movement and versatility in mind. Travelers need more from shared spaces, especially as the boundaries between work and leisure continue to shift.
Lobbies now serve as co-working lounges, cafes, meeting hubs, and social spaces, all in one. To support this fluidity, designers are turning to adaptable layouts and modular elements.
Furniture can be reconfigured to suit different functions throughout the day. Lighting responds to the time of day and activity level. Acoustic treatments and discreet charging stations support productivity without disrupting ambiance.
Every element is considered for its potential to serve multiple uses while maintaining cohesion. Multifunctional spaces allow hotels to serve a broader range of needs while preserving a sense of elegance and spatial clarity.
Biophilic Design
Nature continues to serve as a key influence in hospitality design, offering more than visual softness; it promotes psychological and physical well-being.
Biophilic design brings the rhythms and textures of the natural world into built spaces in increasingly sophisticated ways. This might include live green walls, organic shapes, and tactile surfaces such as raw wood or travertine.
Floor-to-ceiling windows invite natural light and views of the outdoors, while layouts are organized to promote ease and calm. Materials like wool, linen, clay, and rattan enhance the sensory palette, making interiors feel grounded and serene.
For city-based hotels especially, biophilic elements help counteract urban overstimulation, providing moments of stillness and connection that elevate the guest experience.
Wellness-Focused Layouts
Health and well-being now inform the design of entire hospitality environments. Today’s guests expect spaces that support rest, mindfulness, and restoration—not only at the spa, but throughout the property.
Guest rooms are being designed to improve sleep and reduce stress, which can mean circadian lighting, blackout systems, high-quality air filtration, and soothing acoustics. Materials are chosen both for visual effect and for how they impact energy, mood, and comfort.
Public areas, too, are shifting to support well-being. Fitness studios include recovery zones and yoga spaces. Lounge areas incorporate calming color palettes and aromatherapy elements. Some properties go even further, offering digital detox amenities or spaces for breathwork and reflection.
The focus is on holistic renewal, supporting both the physical and emotional needs of modern travelers.
Bring These Trends to Life with a Hospitality Commercial Design Firm
Whether you’re refreshing a boutique hotel, designing a new luxury resort, or reimagining a commercial space, great design begins with vision and expertise. At Interiors by Brown, we specialize in creating high-end, purpose-driven environments that feel timeless, welcoming, and unforgettable.
Contact us today to explore modern, luxurious design solutions tailored for your home or commercial project.