When imagination meets style, the result can be spaces for children and teens that are both fun and aesthetically pleasing. Colourful plastic and neon light is what you usually see in hotel play areas. Not necessarily, we think. In recent months, we have been involved in several projects setting new benchmarks in terms of spaces for children and adolescents.
Families with a feel for design expect an upscale interior design combining function and style — including areas specifically designated for children. Thus preserving the stylish overall look of the house. Learn more about the concepts and approaches to this task.
Natural materials like genuine wood, linen and high-end fabrics create a sense of quality. Oak, beech or walnut are suitable for furniture and floor coverings, they are warm and durable.
Today, velvet, felt and other fabrics have become sufficiently hard-wearing for them to be used in children's spaces as well.
The trick is to subtly integrate playful elements into the ambience. Customised built-in furniture with hidden features, such as climbing or sliding elements, create a playful and charming atmosphere.
Warm earth tones, neutral colours or pastel shades promote calm, while stronger colours add vitality. Soft, dimmable lighting ensures flexibility during use.
The rooms must appeal to different age groups while retaining a certain style. Hidden play areas or quiet corners can be integrated seamlessly into existing designs, maybe using wooden room partitions to create tiny play areas or reading spaces.
Bespoke furniture and handcrafted pieces, such as curved bookshelves or stylish seating areas, are both useful and beautiful.
Materials like wood and linen have a calming effect on children. Sound-absorbing materials such as felt curtains additionally improve acoustics, while breathable materials such as cotton ensure a pleasant microclimate.
You can integrate play areas such as climbing walls or wooden beams in perfect style. Minimalist wooden toys or interactive works of art offer creative experiences and visual harmony at the same time. Child-friendly works of art or interactive wall installations can add vitality and visual appeal.
Image: Das Kaltenbach, Zillertal
Adolescents favour an urban, minimalist style. Industrial elements such as concrete walls combined with soft textiles and stylish furniture create the corresponding ambience. You can integrate computers, TVs and gaming elements in a stylish way by hiding cables and using cupboards to keep the technology tidy.
Image: Das Kaltenbach, Zillertal
The surrounding nature of a hotel should also be evident in children's and teens' rooms. In a mountain hotel, this could be wood and stone, in a beach hotel maritime elements, etc.
If the room has access to outdoors, the indoor and outdoor areas can be visually connected, using wooden terrace flooring or floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
Children's and teens' rooms must be functional, but at the same time they are a hallmark of your hotel. They demonstrate how the hotel considers them as important quests and that they are capable of making aesthetic judgements.
Those who work in a conceptual way and rely on high-quality materials and timeless design will enjoy the benefits for a long time. It is an investment that pays off if rooms remain attractive and modern for years to come.
By focussing on high-quality materials, a creative interior design and stylish furniture, children's and teens' rooms can be real gems in the hotel — places that inspire both the little ones and their parents.
Images: Das Kaltenbach, Naturhotel Forsthofgut, home INTERIOR