Interior Design Trends 2025: Emotional, Experiential, and Environmentally Conscious Spaces
By Wimberly Interiors
November 28, 2024
As the world of hospitality continues to evolve, so too do the spaces that define it. At Wimberly Interiors, we believe in shaping the guest journey through environments that inspire, delight, and connect. As we look toward 2025, our creative leaders share the trends shaping hospitality interior design—each reflecting our shared commitment to innovation, sustainability, and authenticity.
Reviving Legacy: Honoring the Past with Modern Luxury
Margaret McMahon, Global Practice Principal, Wimberly Interiors
The hospitality design landscape in 2025 is increasingly focused on reviving the legacy of iconic resorts, blending their rich history with modern luxury to meet the expectations of today’s travelers. Guests are seeking destinations that not only tell a story but also invite them to become part of it, merging cultural authenticity with comfort and elegance.
This trend has driven a wave of thoughtful renovations across North America, where timelessly elegant resorts are being reimagined to provide immersive experiences that honor their heritage while introducing a contemporary edge. It is about celebrating the legacy of these properties, while retelling history in a more contemporary, fresh way.
Gone are the days of stark minimalism; instead, 2025 sees the rise of richly textured interiors layered with bold accents, vintage furnishings, and curated elements that reflect the local narrative. The result is spaces that feel authentic yet vibrant, marrying the charm of the past with the sophistication of modern design.
The challenge lies in preserving the essence that draws returning guests while introducing fresh elements to captivate new ones. Part of the experience that the traveler is looking for is to have the hotel itself be part of the journey. That sense of theater and drama within the property has become just as important, offering an immersive, memorable experience that captivates at every turn.
This approach not only reinvents the legacy of iconic resorts but transforms them into dynamic destinations where history, design, and storytelling converge, leaving a lasting impression on every guest.
Evocative Design: Creating Atmospheres with Emotion
Paolo De Simone, Creative Director, Wimberly Interiors Singapore
Evocative Design is the art of creating atmospheres that elicit specific feelings by combining a potent concoction of sensory elements to enhance how a space is perceived and experienced. Instead of focusing solely on aesthetics, Evocative Design treats every material, texture, sound and scent as an instrument in a carefully orchestrated composition. By harmonizing tactile surfaces, ambient lighting, auditory cues, and fragrance, designers can curate spaces that resonate on a deeper emotional level, tailoring each environment to evoke the exact mood they intend.
For instance, in a luxurious hotel lobby, the design may incorporate polished marble surfaces, soft and plush textiles, and intricate metalwork to convey grandeur and sophistication. A subtle infusion of a rich, signature fragrance enhances this sense of luxury, grounding visitors in an atmosphere that feels both stately and inviting.
By designing for multiple senses, Evocative Design allows spaces to tell a story and influence the emotions of those who enter. The careful pairing of textures, colors, sounds, and even subtle aromas enables each space to feel distinct, memorable, and emotionally engaging—inviting guests to not only see a beautifully curated space but to feel and connect with it fully.
Transcending the Tangible: From Spaces to Experiences
Miki Bian, Creative Director, Wimberly Interiors Shanghai
The modern traveler seeks escapism—and hotels must rise to meet this demand by offering more than just aesthetics. Interior design is evolving to blend efficiency, comfort, and unexpected delight seamlessly.
Technology plays a key role here. AI-driven tools will empower hoteliers to offer tailored, smart experiences, from seamless check-ins to hybrid virtual-real spaces. Meanwhile, integrating nature into designs—like verdant courtyards or biophilic interiors—promotes relaxation and connection. For designers, the challenge is to create spaces where service excellence shines through, making every touchpoint meaningful.
Sustainable Strategies for Lasting Impact
Deepu Mahboobani, Studio Director, Wimberly Interiors Singapore
Sustainability is no longer optional—it’s imperative. Our approach blends environmental responsibility with aesthetic integrity, focusing on longevity, repurposing, and community engagement.
Sustainability in action means giving new life to old materials, collaborating with local artisans, and sourcing regionally to minimize environmental impact. These strategies weave cultural heritage into each project while reducing waste and supporting local economies. As designers, our responsibility is to create spaces that balance beauty with environmental stewardship.
Authentic Storytelling through Local Design
Kathy Chavez, Studio Director, Wimberly Interiors Dallas
Guests crave authenticity, and storytelling has become the cornerstone of design. Interior trends 2025 will be about reflecting the soul of a destination through locally sourced materials and artworks, and designs rooted in the history and culture of the neighborhood.
By thinking local, we can create spaces that tell stories with real meaning—stories that resonate with guests seeking an immersive, meaningful connection to their destination.
Textures, Jewel Tones, and Sculptural Elegance
Hussain Kamal, Studio Director, Wimberly Interiors Los Angeles
Hospitality interiors in 2025 will showcase a renewed focus on layering textures and incorporating bold, jewel-toned palettes. Deep greens, earthy oranges, rich golds, and purples will dominate, complemented by classic neutral shades to create a harmonious balance. These color choices evoke both warmth and sophistication, setting the stage for spaces that feel luxurious yet approachable.
Inspiration from luxury retail design is also on the rise, with innovative finishes and textures being developed as artistic applications in interior architecture. These details not only elevate the aesthetic of a space but also introduce a tactile richness that draws guests in.
Furniture is becoming increasingly flexible and sculptural, marrying form and function in ways that cater to the diverse needs of today’s travelers. From reconfigurable seating to dramatic statement pieces, the emphasis is on adaptability without sacrificing elegance.
Additionally, multi-experience F&B spaces are transforming hotel environments, offering guests a seamless blend of dining, socializing, and relaxation. These spaces are designed to be immersive and engaging, ensuring that every moment spent within them feels intentional and memorable.
Wellness and Warmth: A Balanced Approach
Rachel Johnson, Studio Director, Wimberly Interiors London
Hospitality interior trends 2025 are embracing a renewed focus on health, wellness, and comfort. At the heart of this movement lies a careful balance—using color and tone to create soothing environments while incorporating bold, unexpected details to captivate and surprise.
Warm earthy tones, such as lush greens, sweet umbers, and soft neutrals, form the foundation of these designs, establishing a palette that feels grounded and calming. These base colors are then elevated with bespoke furniture and focal details, accented with saturated hues to energize the spaces. The result is interiors that are not only visually engaging but also emotionally uplifting.
Texture plays a crucial role in this trend, with silks, velvets, wools, and linens layered across furniture and accessories to create an eclectic yet harmonious effect. This combination of materials evokes a sense of opulence and care, where every detail contributes to an overarching feeling of thoughtfulness and attention.
Warm, low-level lighting enhances the inviting atmosphere, creating spaces that are both visually striking and inherently cozy. These designs exude a sense of place, offering a comforting yet stimulating environment that reflects the balance of wellness and warmth.
This trend is a celebration of tactile luxury, vibrant details, and the emotional resonance of design, promising spaces that are as exciting as they are soothing.
Playful Sophistication and Functional Elegance
Liana Hawes Young, Creative Director, Wimberly Interiors New York
As we approach 2025, hospitality interiors are blending functionality with playful sophistication, embracing clever design solutions that enhance both practicality and beauty. One trend gaining momentum is the incorporation of hidden storage, seamlessly integrated into furnishings and architectural details. These innovative solutions allow for clutter-free spaces, maintaining clean lines and a sense of calm that elevates the guest experience.
Another key focus is the use of natural stones with bold veining and rich colors. These materials, whether in countertops, statement walls, or accents, bring a dramatic elegance to interiors while connecting guests to the timeless beauty of nature.
A fresh approach is also emerging with the mixing of vintage and antique pieces in modern spaces, creating a layered and curated aesthetic that feels authentic and full of character. This balance between old and new not only tells a story but also makes each space feel unique and deeply personal.
And finally, yellow is set to shine. I am manifesting it in interiors—it’s happy and beautiful, and we need that in the world. This vibrant hue, especially when paired with chocolate brown, a timeless classic, adds a sense of warmth, optimism, and richness to any environment.
A New Era in Hospitality Design
As Wimberly Interiors looks ahead to 2025, our design ethos remains rooted in creating spaces that honor tradition while embracing the future. From sensory-driven experiences to authentic storytelling, sustainability, and innovation, the future of hospitality design promises to be both inspiring and transformative.
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