Everything you need to know about hotel interior design
The Ned - London
Welcome to WOOLF Interior Design and Interior Architecture’s series of journal articles on hotel interior design. In this series we will be looking at hotel design as a whole, exploring the differences between luxury and boutique hotels, delving into the shining world of 5-star hotels, and finally revealing our top tips for bringing the best of hotel design into your homes.
Designing luxury and boutique hotels is part of our many years of expertise at WOOLF. We take a multi-sensory approach to boutique and luxury hotel interiors, crafting distinctive and intriguing spaces with a timeless character to enrich the customer experience.
In this article, we answer some of the top questions about hotel interior design as a whole, the different types of hotel design, the importance of detail in design and finally look back on our most interesting top hotel projects to date.
What are the different types of hotel interior design?
In the hospitality industry, there are several kinds of interior design approaches based on the needs of the project, the budget and the hotel brand values:
Hendricks Bar - Jumeriah Beach
1 . Interior decoration upgrades
At WOOLF, we often look at hotels where the brand is well established but interiors of the sites need updating, either to comply with new building regulations or to ensure that the Interiors are coping with the wear and tear. It may be that the brand want to refresh their vision and ensure that they both maintain their brand values whilst staying relevant and current.
This was the case when we were consulted on the Four Seasons in Dubai Jumeirah Beach and Claridges Hotel Mayfair to ensure they maintained their already well established brands while making interior decoration updates.
2. Hotel conversions
Many of our boutique hotel projects are historic buildings that have been owned by a family for several generations. When a hotel operator is instructed to turn a historic home into a commercial or more profitable enterprise, we brand and redesign the house so that it works as a great home-from-home stylish retreat. Our Poundon House and Glyn Castle boutique hotel projects are family estates which have been converted into experience-lead, boutique hotels. When redesigning the interior of a family asset, we build upon the history of the family and the history of the house, in order to create spaces that guests feel are authentic and welcoming.
Glyn Castle Boutique Hotel - Ireland
Glyn Castle Boutique Hotel - Ireland
Glyn Castle Boutique Hotel - Ireland
3. Renovating for a hotel brand
A full design and renovation of a hotel’s interior is a larger scale project and will be lead by a hotel operator. When a hotel brand is taking over a new site, WOOLF looks at the brand’s values, the operational flow, functionality and the spatial considerations of the building. We also look at how to cost-engineer hotel projects so that the interior aligns with the brand objectives.
The Oceanic House Development - London
How important is the interior design of a hotel?
The design style of a hotel heavily dictates the environment you curate for guests and impacts the overall guest experience, whether it be creating a luxury atmosphere with opulence, or crafting a quirky destination with local character.
The interior design of a hotel can make or break the brand. With social media becoming an ever more essential marketing tool, creating a space that is desirable for guests to post online is an invaluable way of marketing a hotel through word-of-mouth.
For a profitable hotel to maintain its relevance and longevity, the hotel interior design needs to be a competitive seamless backdrop, harmonizing a fantastic successful hotel brand in order to build upon the very best customer experience.
Poundon House Hotel - Oxfordshire
The Oceanic House Development - London
Can architects design hotel furniture?
When WOOLF works on hospitality schemes in conjunction with large architectural practices, it normally falls to our interior designers to design any bespoke-made furniture. Many architects design beautifully integrated furniture but are normally more concerned with the master plan, listed-building applications and the coordination of consultants. Fine furniture crafting is often a collaborative process and will happen as part of the overall scheme.
WOOLF design bespoke made furniture for most of our projects. We have commissioned amazing artists within, and outside of, the UK to make us unique pieces of furniture that are fit for purpose within a hotel space.
Massai Table - By WOOLF
Hex Chair - By WOOLF
Silver Dressing Table - By WOOLF
Why does every detail matter when designing a hotel room?
Belgravia House Development - London
Once upon a time, every hotel room was homogeneous; you could be in Rome, London, Chicago or Nairobi and step into a space that was as familiar, but it was predicable. Today, the demand for local experiences and culture are influencing every aspect of a hotel’s design and services. Our hotel designs have a strong sense of place, drawing on their surroundings and cultural contexts, and it’s this attention to detail that matters. We bring local art, local materials into our design schemes making luxury hotel rooms and spaces authentic, creating an immersive stay.
At WOOLF, we design hotel rooms with the utmost attention to every conceivable detail. We communicate the brand essence and ensure comfort, originality and inspiring guest experience is at the heart of our designs. Such attention to detail guarantees that the design fosters maximum customer experience.
Belgravia House Development - London
Belgravia House Development - London
What is the importance of colour in hotel interior design?
Colour evokes feelings and emotions, so choosing the right colours in hotel interior design could be the difference between the success or failure of a hospitality space. We connect colour with purpose and intention, so when certain colours adorn hotel spaces, they have the power to silently influence how consumers think and behave in an environment. As hotel interior designers, we work with hoteliers to carefully consider the hues we choose throughout the project, as they appreciate the effect colour has on their consumers’ emotions. In order to create an appropriate scene for a certain target audience, it’s worth understanding the science of colour psychology and the tremendous ability it has to change entire moods and appetites.
We explore colours that are timeless and evoke healthy well-being. Temperature, light and colour are intrinsically linked. Different natural light dictates the colour palette, as well as the temperature of the surrounding climate. A relaxing tonal hue is a game-changer in a space that is all about calm and an invigorating colour will invite action and activity. Interior design is deeper than simply decorating. Designing every detail with purpose will result in a space that is more functional, more inviting and synergetic with a guest’s mood.
Poundon House Hotel - Oxfordshire
Poundon House Hotel - Oxfordshire
What is your most interesting Hotel interior project so far?
WOOLF’s most interesting hotel consultancy design work was for the luxury hotel group ‘The Maybourne Hotel Group’. The group boasts some of the most famous luxury hotels in the world, including Claridges, The Connaught and The Berkley. Set in Mayfair, Claridges is a listed building, known and loved for its splendor, charm and impeccable service. The hotel's original Art Deco interiors have been sensitively interwoven with modern flourishes. We learnt first-hand how a renowned luxury hotel in the heart of Mayfair maintains its history whilst staying constantly relevant to its guests since the 1800s. It is a class act, so we can understand why Forbes Travel Guide: awards it a 5-star rating ***** for a landmark hotel that can maintain the highest room rates, while remaining ever popular and relevant for over 200 years.
