Some of the country’s best hotels are renowned for their stunning interiors, from the marble staircases at The Plaza in New York to the historic architecture of the Casa Marina Resort in Florida.
Luxury accommodation is at the forefront of interior design trends, offering a cornucopia of decor inspiration. But where in the US are the best-decorated hotels, and which states are home to the most stylish offerings?
Our custom framing and decor experts have analyzed Tripadvisor review data to determine the areas of the country offering the most aesthetically pleasing hotels.
Virginia offers the most stunning hotels in the country, with almost one in six (13.7%) of positive Tripadvisor reviews mentioning words such as ‘stylish,’ ‘elegant,’ ‘refined,’ or ‘sophisticated.’ The top three hotels in the state include The Georges, The Inn at Willow Grove, and The Jefferson Hotel. Between them, there are 2,666 four and five-star reviews, with 366 of these relating to decor.
The Georges, located on North Main Street in Lexington, is often commended for its stylish, unique, and comfortable rooms with stunning large bathtubs. One guest even stated, “The beautiful decor made us want to go home and redecorate our house.” The boutique hotel has 545 four and five-star reviews, with 7.3% of them praising the interior design.
Minnesota is in second place, with 223 (8.3%) of its four and five-star luxury hotel reviews mentioning the decor. The Saint Paul Hotel, located in the city of the same name, is the highest-rated luxury hotel in the state. Of its 1,724 four and five-star reviews, almost one in 10 (9.9%) relate to the hotel’s interior design. Guests have commented on the “classic luxurious lobby,” “refined rooms,” and “elegant, upscale, traditional decor.”
Hotel Ivy and the JW Marriott Hotel at the Mall of America are also among the top three highest-rated hotels in the state, with 7.1% and 4.0% of reviews mentioning the hotel’s decor, respectively.
Wisconsin follows closely behind, with one in every 25 (8.2%) positive Tripadvisor hotel reviews relating to interior design. The Charmant Hotel, The Trade, and The Pfister Hotel are among the top three hotels in the state, with 6,943 four and five-star reviews, 566 of which mention decor.
The Pfister Hotel, located on E Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee, has the highest percentage of positive, decor-related reviews, at 12.4%. In one guest’s comments, they mentioned it had “one of the prettiest bathrooms I’ve ever seen in a hotel.” Other areas of the hotel that are often commended for their style include the reception area, the cocktail bar, and the grand hallways.
The full top 10 rankings:
If you fancy a truly stylish hotel stay, then make a reservation at The Jefferson Hotel in Virginia. Located on West Franklin Street in Richmond, the hotel has 1,613 four and five-star reviews and over one in six (17.2%) relate to interior design. The Rotunda Lobby at The Jefferson Hotel is a spectacle to behold, featuring a grand staircase, marble columns, and a stained-glass roof.
Many guests admire the hotel’s stunning bathrooms, which contain large marble showers, deep bathtubs, and double-sink vanities. One guest praised the hotel for its “timeless elegance and classic Southern charm,” while another said, “The guest rooms are updated with all the amenities but have the feel of old world charm.”
As well as having plenty of beautiful scenery, Arkansas is also home to one of the most aesthetically pleasing hotels in the country. The Capital Hotel in Little Rock describes itself as ‘historic luxury,’ and this is reflected throughout its interior. Depending on the chosen room type, guests can enjoy amenities such as plush four-poster beds, floor-to-ceiling windows, and European soaking tubs.
Throughout the public areas of the hotel, guests can marvel at sparkling chandeliers, mezzanine and outdoor balconies, and marbled columns. Reviews include comments such as, “a stylish hotel that leaves the competition in the dust” and “To say this hotel was grand and elegant would be an understatement.” The Capital Hotel has 834 four and five-star reviews, and one in seven (12.9%) talks about its decor.
The Brown Hotel in Kentucky follows, with more than one in ten (12.8%) of its 2,449 four and five-star reviews mentioning the hotel’s decor. Located on West Broadway in Louisville, the hotel has an ‘old world residential’ theme, and rooms are decorated with mahogany beds, signature hand-woven throws, and eclectic collections of framed artwork.
Guests love The Brown Hotel for its “beautiful and elegant architecture,” including marble columns, ornate moldings, and high, decorated ceilings. One guest said, “The grand marbled and gilded lobby is a sight to behold.” The hotel's Georgian-Revival decor continues throughout the public areas, such as the bar, restaurant, and grand ballroom.
The full top 10 rankings:
After visiting a particularly stylish or beautiful hotel, we can sometimes be left feeling as though our own homes are lacking that ‘wow factor.’ Of course, you won’t have the same budget as a hotel to spend on interior design, but there are ways you can replicate the stylish look of luxury hotel decor on a budget.
A trademark of stylish hotel interior design is a well-curated gallery wall of framed photos and art. This simple but effective wall decor staple is a relatively quick and inexpensive way to add some life to an otherwise boring wall and create a focal point that transforms the room.
Many luxury hotels have a more eccentric style, with free-flowing framing displays that ooze character and sophistication. You can recreate this with your own organic gallery wall arrangement. By experimenting with texture and color in different frame styles, such as incorporating a blend of modern metals and more rustic materials, you can achieve the refined feel of a high-end hotel in your own home.
Personalize your gallery wall with photos of special life moments, like shots of your wedding day, a memorable holiday, or a family portrait. Or, for an even more sleek hotel-esque display, you could include artwork, posters, or even frame your favorite vinyl album for a unique touch.
Elevating your decor can make a lasting impression on guests and even increase your star rating. It can be difficult knowing where to start and how to cater to a wide range of tastes. However, timeless framing styles are very effective at creating an undeniable impact, regardless of personal decor preferences.
Depending on the size of the room and the available wall space, a few large-scale, standalone frames can make the room feel grand and impressive. These could include prints of the local area around the hotel, pieces of art by famous artists, or even old images of the hotel itself if it has been open for many years.
You could also create a unique gallery wall highlighting the hotel’s achievements, such as showcasing industry awards or photos of any celebrity guests who have enjoyed a stay at your hotel. This will really set your decor apart and bring an element of personalization which isn’t always easy to achieve in a commercial setting.
For a personal consultation on your own project, please don't hesitate to be in touch. We've been handcrafting custom frames for hotels, offices, retail spaces, hospitality, interior design projects and more for over a decade.
We began by making a list of the top three luxury hotels ranked by travelers in each state on Tripadvisor.
We recorded the number of ‘excellent’ (five-star) and ‘very good’ (four-star) reviews for each hotel.
We then discovered how many of these reviews contained the following words related to decor: ‘stylish,’ ‘elegant,’ ‘refined,’ and ‘sophisticated.’
We then calculated this number as a percentage of the total four and five-star reviews.
Finally, we used the percentages to discover which hotels were the most stylish in the U.S. overall and which states had the most stylish hotels.
North Dakota and West Virginia were removed from the country-wide ranking due to no luxury hotels being listed.
In addition to the two states mentioned above, Iowa and South Dakota were also removed from the state ranking due to only having one luxury hotel listed.
All data is correct as of 27 November 2024.