In an age where social media dominates, being able to provide a memorable experience to your guests is essential for attracting and encouraging repeat bookings. Instagram is a visually-driven platform that’s perfect for showcasing unique features and statement interiors—what’s more, with many of us using social media to find holiday spots and places to stay, it’s an opportunity to boost positive guest reviews and set your hotel apart from the competition.
Consider Light When Decorating
When it comes to interior photography, light is your best friend, so consider this when designing rooms. A bedroom or restaurant may look stunning in person, but if it doesn’t translate well in a photograph, it won’t make it to anyone’s Instagram feed.
Hospitality design is all about finding ways to not only maximise light but take advantage of different periods in the day, such as golden hours, how the light changes through dusk and dawn, and blue hour. Your average guest may not necessarily be a gifted photographer, so help them take spectacular shots by providing them with exceptional lighting and spaces that work with natural light in all its forms.
Design For Unique Moments
When designing your hotel interiors, think about how you can create intimate, unique and unforgettable moments that guests will want to experience for themselves. For example, the Aria Hotel in Budapest is designed around opera and classical music, which is highlighted by their piano key-tiled floor and musician-signed walls in Café Liszt. These décor features serve as the perfect backdrop for social snaps and encourage other music enthusiasts to want to check out the hotel for themselves.
Integrate Art Installations
Eye-catching art throughout your hotel is guaranteed to attract the attention of your guests, so consider ways you can include more art into your space. This doesn’t need to be a classic framed print, although unique art installed in this way certainly shouldn’t be avoided, but interactive installations are another great way to create a feature. A bold mural, ceiling-high sculptures in the lobby or interesting ornaments dotted throughout bedrooms all beg to be photographed and shared online.
Create the Perfect Selfie Backdrop
A great selfie requires a perfect background. Think bold, eye-catching colors that pop, intricate patterns that draw attention, and rich textures that add depth and intrigue to the frame. Unique furniture pieces can also steal the spotlight, transforming a simple picture into an extraordinary visual moment. Hoteliers can play with this in countless ways, whether it’s with vintage-inspired wallpaper, ornate tiles or statement oversized sofas that create a fun shot for your guests and turn your property into a must-visit destination for social media-savvy travellers.
Design Stunning Ceilings
Ceilings may be kept neutral in many properties, but in a hotel, it’s a fantastic opportunity for another Instagrammable moment. It’s a large, unobstructed area that you can really make a feature of. Maybe you do that through a wooden slatted ceiling that hides older, imperfect surfaces and improves the acoustics of the room, as well as adding warmth and depth to the space. Go sculptural which plays with light and shadow, or perhaps you get creative with a painted starry night scene or clouds for a picture-perfect moment.
Infuse Interiors With Cultural Moments
One of the main reasons people travel is to experience different cultures and traditions, so use that to your advantage when designing your hotel. Perhaps you create themed rooms that reflect local customs, incorporate vintage photos of the local area, or use textiles or ceramics that celebrate traditional techniques that are unique to the area.
It’s an opportunity for guests to learn about the place they’re visiting on a deeper level than just tourist traps, and encourages guests to share photos while also highlighting the hotel’s commitment to showcasing heritage and local artisans.
Make the Most of Your Surroundings
If your hotel is situated in a truly stunning location, use that to your advantage. Blur the boundaries between indoors and out, using natural materials that can be found in the area, organic building materials and, arguably the most Instagram-worthy, vast floor-to-ceiling windows that provide a ready-made picture frame for the landscapes outside.
Perhaps you take a minimalist approach that lets the surroundings shine, like the secluded Amangiri Resort in Utah which provides countless photo opportunities for its guests by blending interiors seamlessly with the surrounding desert scenery.
Exclusive Amenities Attract Guests
Uniqueness in hospitality is a true selling point—the more you can offer guests that other hotels can’t, the more people you’ll attract to your business. Which is to say, what can you include in your hotel that would compel someone to post about your business online? From an outdoor bathtub at the Coddington Mill Lakehouse in Cheshire to 16th century-style four-poster beds at Edinburgh’s The Witchery, consider how you can create experiences your guests can’t find anywhere else.
Interior design is an essential part of creating a unique experience for hotels, from the artwork adorning the walls to ways to frame the location and unique amenities that encourage people to visit. You want people browsing Instagram to find photos of your hotel and be compelled to book a stay, and the way you style your interiors is one of the most effective ways to do that.
Once you’ve created a hotel that’s worthy of your guests’ social feeds, be sure to encourage them to share. Create a branded hashtag and include it on the front desk in the lobby or in the rooms so your guests know what to use when tagging images. This encourages them to make content and include you in their travel story, and when they do, don’t forget to ask them if they’ll allow you to share their content on your own feed and other platforms, to widen your reach further.