New Hospitality Design Trends 2020

The overriding theme of 2020 hospitality design trends is that of being in the present – with an eye on the future. Read on for details of new hospitality trends in 2020, and ideas on how to implement them in your own designs.

Warm Welcomes

Many new décor ideas are centered around creating warm, welcoming, comfortable spaces. This has been in the works for a while, and Authentic Interior reported on it last year. Their article, Interior Design Trends For 2020 From Milan Design Week 2019, explained:

“Today we are tired of touchscreens, unwelcoming light in the public spaces and offices. That’s why we are seeking refuge, a cozy, warm space where we can feel well. It applies not only to homes, but it also applies to commercial places as well.

Choosing a good commercial interior design is crucial for clients’ wellbeing and of course, marketing. Interior design trends in 2020 will center around wellbeing, comfort, and sustainability.”

Design Scene echoed this sentiment in their article, “Restaurant Interior Design Trends 2020:

Restaurateurs, nowadays, try to give their place a cozy, residential feeling by decorating it with plants. They put special effort into their arrangement.

This ties in with the new “Grandmillennial” design trend. House Beautiful coined the phrase in their article, The Rise of ‘Grandmillennial’ Style:

“Ranging in age from mid-20s to late-30s, grandmillennials have an affinity for design trends considered by mainstream culture to be “stuffy” or “outdated”—Laura Ashley prints, ruffles, embroidered linens. Unlike that of the late-aughts hipster, their taste for the antiquated isn’t ironic; it’s less twee than timeless.”

“But maybe the ultimate appeal of the grandmillennial aesthetic lies in the fact that, for the stressed out twenty- and thirty-somethings of the world, that cozy chintz chair at your grandmother’s house represents a much-needed respite.”

Another can’t miss element of Grandmillennial style? Color! Subtle is out, and saturation is in.

Jewel Tones

The introduction of vivid jewel tones and deep, rich colors will distinguish this decade from the last.

Pantone has named “Classic Blue” as the hue for 2020, and the deep shade pairs perfectly with shades of ruby, emerald, topaz, and amethyst.

Jewel tones can make a space feel lush, luxurious, and inviting.

The Realtor.com article, Bring the Bold! The 5 Biggest Winter Design Trends Dare to Brighten Things Up, discusses the resurgence of jewel tones:

“Emerald green and jewel tones in general are part of a 2020 trend we’re calling ‘Old World Minimalism,’” says Rebecca Breslin, design manager for Wayfair Professional.”

Elle Décor also got some expert advice on trending jewel tones – this time from Sue Wadden of Sherwin-Williams. In The Colors You’re Going to See Everywhere in 2020, Wadden says,

2020 is the start of a new decade, and in true ‘Roaring 20s’ fashion, we’ll start seeing a trend toward bolder, deeper colors, accented with a touch of opulence.

Architecture Ideas echoed this statement in their article, Interior Design Trends: What to Expect in 2020:

“According to some designers, neutral colors will be replaced by warm colors, jewel tones, and saturated hues. Walls, cabinets, furniture, and tiles are the perfect opportunity to bring in color.”

Urban Jungles

Another play on these lush jewel tones are a unique concept: urban jungles. They’re predicted to be big in 2020, especially for restaurants.

Per Design Scene:

“There is some aesthetic value that is associated with greens. And also, plants look great in pictures, and that is the reason why such ‘urban jungles’ are extremely popular among the Instagrammers.”

What distinguishes urban, edgy jungles from the green décor we’re used to seeing? The New Décor Trends article, What Will Be The Restaurants in 2020, says the difference is rich backgrounds and memorable displays:

“The next clearly visible trend is a dark interior with unusual landscaping. Plants in the interior have long been commonplace, but here we are talking about incredible solutions: huge trees, ferns, green compositions (even designs) combined with a black or dark gray background and light accents on the green.”

This trend correlates with a newfound appreciation for vertical, hanging, and draped greenery.

Cannabis Tourism

Speaking of plants…cannabis tourism is rapidly increasing in popularity! Hotel Tech Report reviewed the 100+ Hotel Trends to Watch in 2020, and cannabis tourism was one of them:

“As marijuana laws loosen, a new segment of travelers are “going green” in a way that has nothing to do with the environment: traveling to a city specifically to explore the recreational drug.”

Some hotels and restaurants have relaxed their rules about smoking marijuana on the premises; others have fully embraced the trend as an immersive experience. MetroUK‘s list, The 11 Big Travel Trends of 2020, predicted:

2020 will see the rise of the “Cannabis Tourist” – with hotels increasingly offering everything from weed smoking yoga sessions, luxury CBD oil massages, marijuana fine-dining, pot cooking classes and marijuana laced desserts on the menu.

House Beautiful showcased some very specific examples in their article, These Are the Trends to Watch in 2020, According to Our Next Wave Designers:

“(Jean) Liu also points to an uptick in cannabis-inspired rooms in the wake of expanding marijuana legalization. “From the wellness room by Iris Danker at this year’s Hamptons Holiday House to Flavor Paper’s scratch ‘n sniff ‘Cannabliss’ wallpaper, we expect these plants to be making their way into homes across the country,” she says.”

Wallpaper is also trending for 2020, but there’s a décor option that’s even more popular: murals!

Wall Murals

The newest way to make your space Instagrammable is actually one of the oldest forms of art – wall murals and oversized paintings. Phase Zero Design wrote an article about this, called Just a “Taste” of Design Trends Taking Over the Restaurant Industry in 2020. They noted that “big visuals and design elements” are what to try this year:

“Believe it or not, that ‘cool mural’ is memorable and enough to make a guest come back again and again. Aside from your menu, your restaurant’s atmosphere is the only thing that differentiates you from the restaurant two blocks down.

By implementing strategic and memorable design features, you create a “photo-ready” space that will lead to a strong social media presence and bring customers into your restaurant to experience it for themselves.”

Lux Deco expressed the same sentiments in their post, Interior Design Trends for 2020:

“Emerging as one of 2020’s interior design trends to take note of are wall murals. These can be interpreted in many ways, from panels of paintings that dominate a single wall to mural wallpaper that wraps around the entire room in a maximalist way.”

Maximalism

All of the aforementioned trends fit under one big umbrella: maximalism. Curbed wrote an article, Inside the Powerfully Expressive World of Maximalism, that sums it up well:

“But maximalism is so much more. And right now, it’s everywhere in design: It’s the ‘grandmillennial’ interiors swathed in lace and chintz, the immersive Instagram museums and Infinity Rooms clogging your feed, the plant-filled Jungalows, the Memphis-inspired patterns and murals taking over building facades.

It’s the restaurant decked out in an explosion of fringe, drapes, leather, velvet, and marble. Maximalism embraces decoration, pattern, color—all sorts of things that are vibrant, fun, expressive, and pleasurable.”

After all this focus on what’s in for 2020, you may be wondering what’s out. Our research shows these 5 trends dying down in the new decade:

• Millennial Pink
• Rose Gold
• Blonde Wood
• Chevrons
• Minimalism

Did you catch our article on what long-lasting hospitality design trends are still in this year? Check it out and get inspired to redefine, redesign, or redecorate your space!