The Inhabit Hotel is a sustainable celebration of Scandinavian design

Inhabit Hotel is on a mission – to create a restorative, environmentally and socially conscious hotel without comprising style. The brand has just announced its second location will open in early 2022 (location to be announced), so there is no more apt time to visit the original property on Southwick Street to steal style lessons from its modern decorating ideas. 

This green-key certified hotel shows us how it's possible to live sustainably – this is what you need to know. 

1. Make a statement with an upholstered wall hanging  

(Image credit: Nicholas Worley)

Nothing elevates a room quicker than changing the wall, but there are more ways to transform your space than opting for new paint. Instead, Inhabit Hotel prompts us to experiment with a regent staple – an upholstered wall hanging. 

The tapestry-style piece above offers a rustic take on the ornate classic to create a contemporary focal point that maintains the reception's neutral palette. It also acts as a reminder that even the most age-old pieces can evolve to match every type of scheme. 

2. Blue is the new black – so embrace the trending hue 

(Image credit: Nicholas Worley)

Designers have shared their color trend predictions for 2022, but no shade is set to make waves quite like blue. This sought-after tone is a favorite of paint powerhouse Dulux, who recently labeled Bright Skies as their color of the year. However, the manufacturers are not exclusive in their admiration for the shade. 

Designer Martin Waller of Andrew Martin suggests that blue will be 'prominent in our homes' this year – and there is no better way to bring the hue into our homes than by mirroring The Inhabit Hotel's color-drenched tecnique. 

'Having painted a room blue, it may take time to accustom yourself to the look. You're likely to be horrified. People find it difficult to cope with change. Leave it for a week, and your feelings will alter. I suspect you won't hate it,' Martin explains. With the hotel and the designer in agreement, you have all the approval you need. 

3. Layer rattan-on-rattan for a Scandi-cool aesthetic 

(Image credit: Nicholas Worley)

It's no secret that Scandinavian minimalism has an enduring appeal, and one of the easiest ways to embrace the look is with rattan. This material is a staple of rustic living room ideas and celebrates the ever-popular escapist interiors trend that brings elements of far-off eras and shores to your home. 

In this case, The Inhabit Hotel has transported us to 1970s Northern Europe, and it's a look that deserves to be brought into every home. 

4. Co-ord your gallery wall

(Image credit: Nicholas Worley)

Culture A, the hotel's art curator, selected works by emerging and established artists to complement the meditative mood of the hotel – and the above gallery wall is our favorite of these spaces. 

The gray, green, and white tones of these pieces accentuate the area's palette, from the greens of the plants to the gray of the kitchen island that ties the scheme together. It's the gallery wall idea that will create a flow around your space and give you an excuse to invest in new artwork. 

5. Source ethically for a home that looks good – and does good  

(Image credit: Nicholas Worley)

Ethical design sits at the core of The Inhabit Hotel's ethos, but what does it involve? Amongst the hotel's most sustainable features are the Studio 306 Cushions from Aerende that are crafted by people recovering from and living with mental health illnesses. Plus, the award-winning sustainable social enterprise Goldfinger produced bespoke joinery for the hotel. 

These features prompt us to look to source ethically in our own homes – whether that includes shopping locally or investing in unique pieces that will last a lifetime. 

Nightly rates at Inhabit Southwick Street start from £150 (approximately $206) based on two sharing a double room, including breakfast. More information is available on their website.