Have you ever stayed in a hotel because of its interiors? Or decided not to stay in a hotel because you thought the inside wasn’t up to scratch? We've surveyed 1,000 Brits and uncovered a whopping 32% admitted that a hotel’s interior design influenced their decision to stay there. With this in mind, we decided to find out which cities in Europe and the UK are best to visit for popular interior trends by analysing 8,785 hotel reviews from Tripadvisor.
Visit Barcelona for Traditional Catalan Decor
Barcelona is the best city to visit for traditional interiors, with a whopping 656 hotels acquiring reviews that praise the traditional furnishings. But, what exactly is traditional decor? Well, for starters traditional interiors in Spain are quite different to what we would call traditional in the UK.
In Barcelona, the furnishings model the beautiful Catalan style, often reminiscent of Catalan farmhouses. For this reason, Barcelona's traditional decor is very rustic - think baked clay floors, natural elements, and big motifs.
Rome is a Contemporary Powerhouse for Interiors
Rome is steeped in history, but surprisingly this European city ranked the best for juxtaposing contemporary interiors. A whopping 383 reviews on Tripadvisor commented on the hotels’ contemporary furnishings.
Interestingly, in recent years Rome has pursued a new trend of contemporary art. So much so, that the city is home to numerous influential contemporary institutions and galleries. So, if you want to see up-and-coming contemporary art and interiors, Rome is one to visit.
Amsterdam is Home to Cool Industrial Furnishings
Amsterdam is the best place for industrial fans to visit - a huge 295 hotels rank for industrial style. Amsterdam has a rich industrial past, for centuries people lived in the shadows of huge factories. Some of these are still in use today, whilst others have now been transformed into cultural venues or apartments.
One of these cultural venues is perhaps one of the trendiest places in the Dam - The Kromhothal, which hosts an array of events. This venue used to be a manufacturing factory where large machines were built - so you can imagine the cool interiors.
Paris Named Best City to Visit for Feminine Shabby Chic
If you’re a follower of shabby chic design, or have even tagged your home in one of 9.3M posts (#shabbychic) on Instagram, you should make your next trip to Paris.
France is renowned for shabby chic design, which is otherwise known as french country. So much so that the French capital, Paris, has ranked the highest for shabby chic interiors according to hotel reviews on Tripadvisor with 157 in total. Shabby chic mixes glamorous and rustic styles beautifully with baroque details, distressed finishes and vintage. The look is feminine in nature with a slightly bohemian aesthetic.
The Minimalist Capital: Head to Berlin for Minimalism Inspo
Minimalist lovers are best placed to visit the trendy German capital: Berlin. Yes, this bustling, gritty city ranked the best out of all European cities analysed for minimalist interior design, with 76 hotels featuring minimalist design. For interior inspiration, check out the Bauhaus School where the concept of modern design meets functionality was developed. Bauhaus is known for having the biggest influence on the minimalist movement.
Go All Out for Art Deco Style in Prague
Art deco is a glamorous retro style known for its embellished elements and metal accents. The vintage design has had a bit of a comeback in recent years, however, in Prague it appears this interior trend has never gone out of style. Prague has been named the best city to visit for art deco fans in Tap Warehouse’s analysis, thanks to the city having the highest number of art deco hotels.
Make sure to stay in the Hotel Paris Prague, as this top-rated hotel has beautiful classic art deco interiors and a whopping 217 reviews mentioning this.But, it’s not just hotels adorned in art deco in this beautiful city, there are plenty of art deco attractions to see. If you like rock and live music, make sure to visit the stunning Palace Akropolis, housed in a colourful art deco building from the 1920s.
The Mysak Building is another one to look out for! Inside is the most famous pastry shop in Prague, renowned for its pastries and sundaes and the outside is a beautiful art deco façade that has been around since 1911. The building has unique colourful details that stand out against the neutral street.
Vienna is the Sustainable Interior Destination
Many of us want to help the planet in any way we can and for some that may even stretch to staying in a sustainable hotel. If that’s you, then the best place to visit is the stunning city of Vienna.
The Austrian capital scored the best compared to the other cities analysed for the number of hotel reviews referring to sustainable interiors, with 17 in total.
The Boutique Hotel Stadthelle is one of the top-rated hotels on Tripadvisor and has the most reviews mentioning sustainable. The hotel is a beautiful eco oasis, covered in greenery from the inside right through to outdoors. The hotel is even self-sufficient in energy thanks to its solar panels.
Milan is The Best City for Chic Scandi Interiors
If you’re a fan of Scandi interiors then you should make your next stop Milan, as this city scored the best according to Tripadvisor hotel reviews. Milan is an ultra-modern destination with a fashion flair - all the things that make Scandi great.
But, that’s not everything about Scandi, it’s incredibly sophisticated with a minimalistic core. The interior trend uses soft hues and tonal shades of neutral colours. There’s a big emphasis on clean lines and simple furnishings that makes the interior feel warm and inviting.
London Named Top City for Industrial Interiors
The industrial trend features unfinished elements which give it a utilitarian look with wood and metal features. It absolutely oozes cool, and what city is cooler than London? The capital has been named the best city to visit for industrial trend admirers, due to the city having the highest number of hotels with industrial interiors in the UK at 612.
The top hotel with the most mentions of industrial design is the New Road Hotel. Highly rated on Tripadvisor, this hotel exudes trendy industrial with exposed lights, contrasting textures and fierce metal elements.
Interestingly, London also scored high for the softer Scandi look, which certainly contrasts with the masculine industrial aesthetic. London had 29 Scandi hotels, which was higher compared to the rest of the UK.
Bridgerton Fans are Best Placed to Visit Manchester for Quaint Traditional Interiors
Manchester has a rich industrial heritage, known as the birthplace of the industrial revolution. But, despite Manchester’s industrial past, the city ranks the highest for quaint traditional British style. Tap Warehouse’s analysis found 88 hotels with traditional features.
The top hotel with this timeless design is the beautiful Etrop Grange, set in a Grade II listed Georgian Country House originally built-in 1780. The hotel is perfect for traditional inspiration with every room filled with charm that takes you back in time. Ideal for Bridgerton fans!
Glasgow is Crowned the Best City for Sustainable Furnished Hotels
Glasgow was awarded the Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Award in 2020. So, it’s not surprising to find that Glasgow has the most sustainable furnished hotels across the UK with a total of 24 hotels featuring eco-friendly designs.
But, what exactly is sustainable interior design? This practice of furnishing your home seeks to reduce negative impacts on the environment through interior design. This involves using sustainable materials, such as reclaimed wood, bamboo, recycled metal and cork. It has a rustic Scandi feel that leans into industrial. However, the main point is that it’s sustainable, so waste is at a minimum and it is usually designed for longevity.
Want more interior inspiration? Why not check out our Downton Abbey inspired interiors blog post?
