If the time spent at home while the world was on pause has left you tired of looking at the same four-walls and searching for interior design inspiration to freshen up your home, get inspired by some amazing accommodations from around the world. Booking.com has delved into its more than 29 million reported listings to share a list of interior-savvy destinations and places to stay that will inspire serious design envy and hopefully ideas on how to bring elements of your most-loved destinations into your home when it is safe to travel again.
Stockholm, Sweden
The Scandinavian style has long been a firm favourite for the interior-savvy, due to its modern and simple yet functional style. Whenever it’s possible and safe to travel to Sweden again, a trip to its capital city Stockholm will leave travellers with not just a sense of what the scandi style is as every shop, café and restaurant have been impeccably designed, but for the local cultural heritage too thanks to the city’s world-class museums and galleries with glittering historic treasures. A visit to Stockholm’s oldest district will transport travellers to a former time, with cobblestone streets, gabled buildings and a royal palace – it is truly an enchanting historic destination.
Where to stay: For travellers who are after the scandi style but searching for something more unique, the At Six Hotel is an inspiring, modern design hotel centrally located in Stockholm. This Brutalist-style building was once a bank and has since been transformed into a contemporary hotel finished with a scandi interior, fused with art deco. The striking hotel offers state-of-the-art accommodation with cozy furnishings, leaving guests with serious décor-ideas.
Tokyo, Japan
Following its protean history, Tokyo’s cityscape is well known for its urban landscape and contemporary architecture. But it’s also home to a rich history of unique architecture and design traits, meaning visitors will find great options for design inspiration. Whether strolling down Omotesandō, a street designed by a Pritzker Prize winning architect with its ultra-modern building and shopfronts or visiting the traditional Nezu Museum by Kengo Kuma amongst the bamboo and rocks of its peaceful gardens, travellers can be inspired by both the old and the new styles of Japan’s architecture.
Where to stay: Travellers inspired to travel to Japan one day seeking a traditional and unique design experience should be sure to seek out a Ryokan, a type of Japanese inn that typically features communal spaces where guests can relax, public baths and rooms with woven-straw flooring and futon mats. Cyashitsu ryokan asakusa is a modern ryokan and has a sleek design execution, great for travellers looking for minimalist design inspiration. The ryokan is ideally located, just a short walk from the Edo Taito Traditional Crafts Center for those on the hunt for equally chic souvenirs to take home.
Fes, Morocco
Morocco’s design style has resulted from an amalgamation of styles from Mediterranean, African, Persian and Islamic cultures. Its unique architectural structures include hammâns, riads and souks, making it the perfect destination for a future design-focused trip. Fez in particular is often considered the cultural and spiritual centre of Morocco, with its architecture helping secure its World Heritage List status in 1981. Fez is a city of two halves, with a traditional Arabic-Islamic city centre and the more modern La Nouvelle Ville region; a great choice for couples or groups with differing design tastes!
Where to stay: Stemming from the Arabian term for garden, a riad is a type of traditional Moroccan house or palace built around an interior courtyard. These palatial stays offer beauty in their architectural and floral design, and Hotel & Spa Dar Bensouda is no exception. Located the heart of Fes’s Medina, just a 15-minute walk from Batha Square, this riad offers ensuite rooms, two exquisite courtyards and a swimming pool. Dar Bensouda’s rooms combine the traditional architecture of the original palace with modern comforts, perfect for guests looking to be inspired by its decor.
Mykonos, Greece
Synonymous with its sparkling white walls, contrasting crisp blue waters and skies bright pops of colour through painted wooden accents, Greece’s colour pallet is a design-lover’s dream. Found amongst the Cyclades group of islands in the Aegean Sea, Mykonos’ breath-taking landscapes and Cycladic architecture style are sure to inspire a simplistic design style for travellers on future trips. With its traditional and cubic houses with flat roofs, wooden coloured doors and windows, Mykonos has a unique atmosphere that reflects his now globally popular style.
Where to stay: Amongst the traditional cubic houses with flat roofs and wooden coloured doors, Pnoe is a beautiful villa offering modern touches to this traditional design style. This chic stay is found in Yialos, a neighbourhood of winding narrow streets filled with vibrant nightlife and the beauty of its authentic charm and just a short stroll from Agia Anna Beach. The villa itself boasts three immaculately styled bedrooms, a shared kitchen and lounge and a terrace. A bicycle rental service is even available for guests who want to set off on two wheels to experience more of the area’s beauty and design inspiration the island has to offer.
Bibbona, Italy
Those looking to emulate an Italian countryside style villa will be truly captivated by the rolling hills of Bibbona. Situated in the Province of Livorno in Tuscany, this commune or municipality is nestled amongst active vineyards and wineries. Those interested in older architecture or design can visit Castle of Bolgheri, now home to a famous winery. The town itself boasts a picturesque historical centre, with the old town formed around the church of Sant’Ilario. Its unique layout is a series of concentric circles connected by narrow streets and steps; a labyrinth of medieval design inspiration waiting to be explored by future travellers.
Where to stay: Picture perfect Villa La Salina is the ideal Italian getaway for the design-minded traveler. With its rustic brick façade surrounded by the lush green hills of the area, this villa features stone brick floors and crisp white walls. The communal living area features an incredible feature fireplace and exposed wood beams line the ceiling. Outside, visitors can enjoy the pool, a terrace and a hot tub whilst soaking up the surrounding vistas.
With a mission to make it easier for everyone to experience the world when it’s safe to travel again, Booking.com is sharing travel offers for travellers to use when booking their next design retreat. Whether planning ahead for the summer months or booking last-minute, local options around the corner or further afield, discounts start at 15 percent.
