Color is one of the greatest components of design in any hotel. It gives that look of warmth and luxury to a property and invokes a feeling from guests. Designers incorporate colors in various ways when they create rooms and public spaces in hotels.
The famous Pantone color of the year program highlights the relationship between color and culture. Pantone selects a color each year for this program, and the 2025 color is Mocha Mousse. Since its inception in 1999, the premise of Pantone color of the year initiative was to create an educational format to bridge the gap between colors and cultures.
"Following trends is important, but we look at the long-term and how we can bring our brands to life in a way that speaks to guests and provides owners with a beautiful and profitable space," said David Kellam, vice president, architecture design & construction, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. "Color of the year trends are indicative of what the greater population is looking for, and over the last several years we’ve seen hotels gravitate towards earthy tones like Mocha Mousse because they elicit calming effects for guests."
Different tones are used in hotels through paint or even finishes like natural woods and brassy fixtures, he said. Pops of bright colors throughout are inviting and add visual interest when paired with those more neutral shades.
When it comes to hotel exteriors, lighting is also a really powerful tool to bring a building and its color to life, particularly at night.
"With our ECHO Suites brand, the lighting illuminates the building to bring the greys and greens to life, not only making it look beautiful but also more noticeable to a driver looking for our hotel," Kellam said.
Hotels often incorporate Pantone’s Color of the Year, such as Mocha Mousse by integrating it into accent walls, upholstery, throw pillows, or decor items like artwork and rugs, said Sarah Lynch, chief operating officer of Brick Hospitality.
"Designers use these trending colors in areas where they want to evoke warmth, modernity or a refreshed ambiance without committing to a full-scale renovation," she said.
Trending hotel design colors today include earthy tones such as terracotta, olive green and rich blues, which create a serene connection to nature and a sense of relaxation. Metallic accents like gold and bronze, along with jewel tones such as emerald and sapphire, add an element of luxury and sophistication, Lynch said. A notable example is the Cambria El Centro hotel, managed by Brick Hospitality, which incorporates these design elements.
There also are color variations by location, she added. Urban hotels often favor neutral palettes, such as charcoal gray, black, and white, enhanced with accent shades like deep red or teal — which lend a sleek and contemporary vibe. In contrast, resort properties embrace brighter, tropical-inspired hues such as turquoise, coral, and sunny yellow to reflect their natural surroundings and promote relaxation.
"Designers are blending new colors in interiors by combining paint, textiles, and furniture pieces to create harmonious and balanced spaces," Lynch said. "Exteriors often adopt subtle variants of trending colors, using them in signage, outdoor seating, or even landscaping elements like planters or lighting to provide continuity between inside and outside spaces."
In line with Pantone picking a cozier color of the year, neutrals in design have been shifting warmer, moving away from cold gray tones in favor of inviting hues, said Regan McLean, senior designer with Boston-based Parker-Torres Design, a boutique luxury hospitality design firm. This transition naturally aligns with the growing popularity of shades like Mocha Mousse.
"I anticipate this trend will continue to evolve, with deep browns and bronzes gradually replacing stark black accents and oatmeal hues taking the place of gray colors. These richer, warmer tones bring added depth and a sense of comfort to interior spaces," McLean said.
Earthy shades are gaining popularity right now, with accent colors like deep moss and burnt crimson complementing the trend towards warmer tones.
"Moving away from vibrant hues and towards these softer tones infuse hotel design with personality and charm," she said.
Color choices in hotel design often reflect the property’s location, mood and the energy guests experience in these different settings. For example, when McLean designs a tropical resort, where the relaxing surroundings are naturally light and airy, color selections tend to mirror this. A vibrant burst of color inspired by the local vegetation would also be used as an option. Conversely, urban properties tend to embrace deeper "moody" tones fostering a sense of comfort and sophistication for guests, she said.
"The key lies in selecting the right tones to make these combinations feel fresh and relevant. Designers are also moving beyond a single accent color or one value of a hue, instead opting for a spectrum of shades within the same family," she said.