Three top design trends for 2026:
- Maximalism with impact - bold colours, vibrant patterns, statement décor and smart lighting/accessories
- Experience-driven spaces - immersive décor, live music and interactive elements that extend dwell time
- Authentic, enduring design - natural materials, reuse and adaptation, flexible layouts, tactile comfort and invisible tech-spaces rooted in place and purpose
DesignMyNight predicted maximalism to be a key trend this year with big styles such as vibrant patterns and ‘in your face interiors’ to be big, dominating food and drink openings in 2026.
Similarly, IG Group’s Hospitality in 2026: Top Trends Shaping Restaurants, Bars & Hotels report urged operators to include striking décor in a bid to turn regular customers into brand advocates while using lighting and accessories to help create standout spaces without breaking the bank.
Alongside the visual theatre, experiential design remains a powerful driver. Spaces that encourage guests to linger - through immersive décor, live events or interactive elements - are becoming essential to elevating visits and building loyalty.
“Experience bars seem here to stay with customers needing more of a reason to visit the pub.”
Abi Perry-Jones, Jones Architecture + Design
Jones Architecture + Design creative director Abi Perry-Jones emphasised this, urging operators to “offer something extra”.
She told The Morning Advertiser: “‘Experience bars’ seem here to stay with customers needing more of a reason to visit the pub.
“Pubs that go beyond the basics by offering interactive elements or unique activities can give a reason to choose them over competitors. Whether it’s live music nights, immersive décor, tasting events, or even creative workshops, these added layers of engagement transform a visit into an occasion.”
Yet in contrast, a growing movement towards authenticity, longevity and thoughtful design will be key, according to one operator.
Wales-based independent hospitality company Seren was founded by Neil and Zoe Kedward.
The group’s story started in 2007 when they stumbled upon an unloved and derelict country house in Pembrokeshire on a family holiday, which they transformed into Grove of Narberth - a stunning, luxury venue that is currently number three on the Top 50 Boutique Hotels list.
Seren CEO and Founder Neil Kedward outlined a future where more thoughtful interiors take precedence with materials selected for their longevity.
Close collaboration
He said: “Looking ahead, the hotel industry is entering a more considered, mature phase of design – one where restraint, authenticity and purpose will matter far more than spectacle.
“For too long, hospitality design has chased visual impact. The years ahead will favour spaces that are quieter, more confident and deeply rooted in their context.
“Design with start with place. Not has a theme but as a genuine response to landscape, heritage and culture.”
“The most successful hotels will be those that feel inevitable, as though they could only exist exactly where they are.”
Neil Kedward, Seren
Kedward anticipated a shift away from showy-high impact interiors towards quieter, more authentic design, rooted in place and purpose.
“Guests are far more discerning now and they can sense when a story has been layered on rather than grown from the ground up,” he said.
“The most successful hotels will be those that feel inevitable, as though they could only exist exactly where they are.
“That requires closer collaboration between owners, designers and operators from the outset and a willingness to strip ideas back rather than keep adding.”
This was echoed by Perry-Jones who highlighted the importance of authenticity alongside thinking long-term.
She added: “Where possible, invest in quality natural materials that will have a longer life span rather than short term gimmicks.
“Ditch the fake plants and throw-away items. For example, a timber floor that can be the more sustainable option, can last many years and refinished several times proving to be the best investment in the long term while quality furniture can be reused and reupholstered to give it a completely new lease of life.
“These choices create spaces that feel authentic, reduce waste, and ultimately deliver better value for both operators and guests.”
Human connection
Furthermore, Kedward laid out how guest-focused comfort and flexible social spaces will guide the next era of interior design-making.
He said: “Sustainability will move beyond headline gestures and become embedded in design thinking Reuse, adaptation and longevity will define quality. I expect to see fewer wholesale refurbishments and more thoughtful evolution of buildings over time, with materials chosen not just for aesthetics but for how they age and how they perform operationally.
“The guest experience will also shape design in more subtle ways. Bedrooms will prioritise rest, warmth and tactility. Public spaces will become more flexible - supporting moments of solitude as much as sociability.”
The hospitality operator also emphasised how tech should fade into the background with the real heart of future design in connection, comfort and understated, lasting impressions.
“Technology will continue to improve efficiency but it should remain invisible,” he said.
“The future of hospitality design isn’t about clever systems, it’s about human connection, comfort and care.
“Ultimately, the next chapter will belong to hotels that design with humility - places that don’t shout but stay with you long after you’ve left.”
“The future of hospitality design isn’t about clever systems, it’s about human connection, comfort and care.”
Neil Kedward, Seren
As this year unfolds, design is likely to be all about balancing bold expression with deeper intention.
Overall, it appears the future of hospitality design isn’t just about how spaces look but how they feel.
