HD Expo always offers a clear view into where hospitality design is headed, and this year’s show floor delivered a strong point of view: warmth, texture, comfort, and character are leading the conversation. We saw recurring themes that reflected a continued desire for spaces that feel both grounded and expressive.
From Western-inspired details and earthy palettes to playful outdoor settings, pops of color and highly durable materials with elevated design appeal, the show confirmed that hospitality interiors are moving toward environments that feel layered, welcoming, and deeply connected to place.
Western Influence Takes Center Stage
One of the most noticeable themes at HD Expo was the continued rise of Western-inspired design. Fringe appeared everywhere, and we mean a lot of fringe. From furniture accents to decorative details, this tactile element added movement, personality, and a subtle nod to craft.
Western references showed up in a variety of ways, from rustic textures and warm desert tones to more refined interpretations of Americana, ranch-inspired styling, and traditional Western-style patterns. Classic motifs, geometric layouts, woven-inspired designs, and heritage-influenced details gave many products a sense of nostalgia while still feeling updated for modern hospitality environments.
For our team, it was especially validating to see this style appear so consistently across the show floor. It confirmed that our 2026/27 key trend, Modern Mesa, was on point. The show reinforced that this direction is not only emerging, but already shaping the hospitality design conversation in a meaningful way.
Rather than feeling overly themed, these elements were often balanced with tailored silhouettes, elevated materials, and contemporary applications. The result was a Western influence that felt fresh, sophisticated, and highly usable.
Warm earthy palettes played a major role in this direction. Terracotta, clay, rust, ochre, saddle brown, and sunbaked neutrals created a grounded foundation across many booths. These colors brought a sense of comfort and familiarity while still feeling current and design-forward.
Nature-Inspired Palettes Continue to Dominate
Biophilic design remains one of the strongest and most consistent influences in hospitality interiors. At the show, nature-inspired palettes continued to dominate, with greens, soft blues, terracotta shades, and warm neutrals appearing again and again.
These colors were often paired with organic shapes, botanical references, and biophilic patterns that helped create a calming, welcoming feel. The overall effect was less about bringing the outdoors in literally and more about creating spaces that feel restorative, natural, and emotionally grounded.
Soft blues brought a sense of airiness and calm. Sage greens reinforced the connection to nature. Terracotta and clay tones added warmth and depth. Together, these shades created palettes that feel approachable, timeless, and well suited for hospitality spaces designed around comfort and experience.
The continued presence of these nature-led influences also reflected themes we predicted in our 2025/26 trend, Oasis, which centered around organic inspiration, and a softer connection to the natural world.
Playful Pops of Color
While warm neutrals and natural palettes were everywhere, the most memorable spaces often included strategic moments of color. We saw what could be described as “purposeful pops,” where neutral foundations were anchored by vibrant focal points.
Blush tones, saturated blues, greens, and deep red velvet appeared in furniture, accent pieces, and lounge settings. These colors added energy without overwhelming the space. In many cases, they helped create immersive social club-style environments that felt intimate, layered, and full of personality.
This approach reflects a larger shift in hospitality design. Designers are still embracing calm, livable foundations, but they are adding expressive details that give spaces a distinct identity. Color is being used with intention, not excess.
Burled Wood
Burled wood was another recurring material story at the show. Its expressive grain, organic movement, and rich visual depth made it a standout across furniture and decorative applications. Burled wood adds instant character and sophistication, making it especially effective in hospitality spaces that want to feel collected and distinctive.
Resort Style Is Emerging
Resort-inspired design also stood out as an emerging direction at HD Expo, with spaces leaning into a spa-like, calming, and livable sensibility. Layered textures, soft nuanced color palettes, and relaxed silhouettes created environments that felt expressive yet restrained. This direction was especially meaningful as we previewed our new collection with Andaaz Manufacturing, The Resort Edit, a refined expression of modern hospitality where the romance of a French garden meets the effortless elegance of an elevated coastal resort. Outdoor and amenity spaces also continued to be a major focus, with playful outdoor furniture bringing color, comfort, and character to resort-style settings.
Takeaways
HD Expo reinforced that hospitality design is continuing to move toward spaces that feel warm, sensory, and experience-driven. Designers are embracing texture, natural references, expressive color, and durable materials that still feel beautiful. The result is a hospitality landscape that feels more layered, more personal, and more emotionally resonant. The show floor made one thing clear: the future of hospitality design is grounded, tactile, and full of character.