Curves, greens and pieces that last: hospitality design in 2026

What the reports say

Curved and cocooning seating. The interiors studio Wimberly points to cocoon-like seats, sofas with supportive arms and modular pieces that let a lobby or restaurant change through the day. A survey of 468 designers by 1stDibs found curved, irregular and skirted seating on the rise in lobbies and lounges.
Deeper colour. The same survey put chocolate brown as the leading colour, with burgundy, sage and deeper greens rising. Wimberly calls it the rise of green, and the paint brands agree: see our post on the colours of the year for 2027.
Pieces that last. Reupholstered and vintage furniture, and materials that age well, feature in several reports. The London studio B3 Designers writes about layered warmth taking over from stark minimalism, and joinery that can be taken apart and reused.

Restaurant & Bar Design Awards (October 2026): UK category winners included La Môme, Carbone and Idalia, all in London.
AHEAD Europe (November 2025): UK winners were Fowey Hall Hotel in Cornwall for sustainability, Fallow House at Estelle Manor for event spaces and 1 Hotel Mayfair for accessibility. The 2026 awards are on 26 November.
CAMRA Pub Design Awards (June 2026): winners from Digbeth to Liverpool, listed in our awards round-up.

Our own view, from the projects we make:

Curves are made to measure. Radius booths and curved banquettes are built to the room, like the red leather booths at Hotel Cromwell. See banquette seating.
Modular helps a room work harder. Banquettes built in sections, and sofas with corner units and chaises, can be arranged for breakfast, lunch and evening.
Lasting is about the frame and the fabric. Our sofas, banquettes and tub chairs are made in our own workshops in Salford and Blackburn, in contract-weight fabrics and leathers to CRIB 5.