Every year, Clerkenwell Design Week gives us the opportunity to step away from our day-to-day projects and immerse ourselves in the ideas shaping the future of interior design. As a team, we spent the day exploring showrooms, speaking with suppliers, attending seminars and discovering new materials, all with one question in mind:

What can we take back into the hospitality spaces we design?

While there was plenty to see, a few themes kept emerging throughout the festival. Some reinforced ideas we've already been exploring, while others challenged us to think differently about how people experience a space. Here are five trends that stood out to us, and why we think they'll continue to shape hospitality design.

Trend One: Sculptural Lighting

One of the first things we noticed was that lighting had become much more than a functional element. Across the festival, oversized pendants, sculptural chandeliers and statement installations were used as focal points in their own right. Shaping atmosphere, highlighting architectural features and creating memorable first impressions.

The Lighting Quarter felt busier than ever, with designers embracing bold forms, craftsmanship and material integrity. Rather than blending into the background, lighting was being celebrated as an integral part of the overall design story.

For hospitality spaces, it's a reminder that lighting isn't just about visibility. It's about creating mood, directing attention and defining how guests experience a space.

Trend Two: Texture Over Pattern

Another trend we kept returning to was the emphasis on texture rather than pattern.

Showrooms were filled with fluted timber, ribbed glass, natural stone, bouclé fabrics, textured wallcoverings and handcrafted finishes. Rather than relying on bold prints or decorative motifs, designers were allowing the beauty of individual materials to speak for themselves.

This focus on craftsmanship and honest materials created interiors that felt warm, tactile and timeless. It reinforced the idea that layering textures can create just as much visual interest as pattern, while adding depth and authenticity to a space.

For hospitality design, this feels particularly relevant. Spaces need to work hard over time, balancing comfort, atmosphere and durability without feeling overly trend-driven.

Trend Three: Colour with Purpose

One of the highlights of the day for us was attending Mapei's seminar on the psychology of colour. It reinforced something we'd already been noticing across the festival: colour wasn't simply being used to decorate a space, it was being used to influence how people feel within it.

Rich terracottas, burnt oranges, olive greens, deep burgundies and warm neutrals appeared throughout the showrooms, replacing the cooler, minimalist palettes that have dominated interiors in recent years.

What interested us most wasn't just the return of richer colour, but how intentionally it was being applied. Designers were using colour to create calm, encourage social interaction, add warmth and establish a distinct personality within a space.

For hospitality, colour becomes much more than an aesthetic decision. It has the ability to shape atmosphere, influence behaviour and leave a lasting impression from the moment guests walk through the door.

Trend Four: Designing for Circularity

Sustainability wasn't presented as an added feature – it was embedded into the design process from the very beginning.

Across Clerkenwell, brands showcased products and materials designed to last longer, be repaired more easily and eventually be reused or recycled. Rather than encouraging complete refurbishment, many exhibitors focused on extending the lifespan of interiors through modular furniture, replaceable carpet tiles, removable upholstery, recycled plastics, reclaimed timber and responsibly sourced materials.

Many manufacturers also demonstrated take-back schemes, allowing products to be returned, refurbished and reintroduced into the market rather than ending up in landfill.

It was encouraging to see circular thinking becoming such a fundamental part of design conversations rather than a standalone sustainability initiative.

Trend Five: Building Local Connections

Beyond the products and installations, one of the most valuable parts of the festival for us was strengthening relationships with suppliers.

We spent time exploring the German Quarter, which proved particularly relevant as we've recently been commissioned on projects across Germany. It gave us the opportunity to connect with trusted local manufacturers and better understand the products available within the region.

For us, this wasn't just about expanding our supplier network. It's about being able to source materials closer to our projects, reducing transportation distances and helping lower the environmental impact of our work while continuing to deliver high-quality design solutions.

Final Thoughts

One of the things we value most about events like Clerkenwell Design Week is the opportunity to step outside the studio and challenge our own thinking.

While every showroom had its own perspective, the themes that kept emerging felt remarkably consistent. Designers are creating spaces that are warmer, richer in texture, more emotionally driven and increasingly conscious of their environmental impact.

As interior designers, those ideas don't stay at the festival. They become part of the conversations we have with clients, the materials we specify and the way we approach every hospitality project.

We're already looking forward to seeing how these conversations continue to evolve over the coming year. And, more importantly, how we can translate them into spaces that don't just look beautiful, but create memorable experiences for the people who use them.