- A family room is more than just a larger double room.
- A clear division of space is more important than extra square metres.
- Separate sleeping areas make it easier to accommodate different bedtimes.
- Textiles can define zones and improve the acoustics.
- Storage space, lighting, shelving and space to move around are key to comfort.
- Child-friendly design does not need its own distinct range of shapes and colours.
Together – but not non-stop
A family room serves many purposes during a holiday: a bedroom, a cloakroom, a living area, a place of retreat and, sometimes, a stage for those moments when the child has long since woken up at six in the morning. Space is limited, but needs rarely are.
That is precisely why good design here does not start with cute motifs, but with a clear question: how can several people live together without constantly having to be in sync?
Families often spend more time in their hotel room than other guests. This is where they sleep, read, play, get changed, chat and relax. Suitcases are unpacked, jackets taken off, swimming gear dried. Whilst a child is already asleep, the parents might still want to sit together. Whilst some are getting ready to head out, others are still looking for a sock.
A good family room doesn’t need to comment on any of this. It simply has to be able to accommodate it.
Key Facts
Key
planning considerations
Bed times, viewing angles and areas for movement must be considered simultaneously.
Where does the light fall when someone is still reading?
Can you use the living area whilst the children’s area is already quiet?
Does the route to the bathroom take you past all the beds?
Is there a place where adults can still sit without fully illuminating the sleeping area?
Questions like these may sound unremarkable. Family comfort is the result of many individual decisions.
Happy family
The new Garden Family Suite at the Neuhaus Zillertal Resort demonstrates how minimalist design aesthetics translate into a family-friendly room layout.
Light-coloured wood, subtle natural tones, textured fabrics and carefully positioned lighting characterise the newly designed areas of the building. The Family Suite also features a separate children’s area, which fosters a sense of closeness whilst at the same time creating a spatial boundary.
More space is not the solution
A larger room does not automatically solve this problem. Without a clear layout, every activity ends up spreading across the entire space.
Light, noise and movement then reach everyone at the same time. Well-planned family rooms, on the other hand, create areas with different functions and levels of activity. It’s about spending time together whilst allowing room to play. And about having a space to retreat to without withdrawing from the family.
Being together means having a clear structure
Closeness is not permanent.
Even in a family suite, everyone should be able to find an area that functions as their own space, at least for a while.
This does not necessarily require several fully enclosed rooms. Even a change in ceiling height, a wooden panelling on one side, a curtain, a piece of furniture or a deliberately placed opening can define a sleeping area spatially. The key is that the layout is clear.
Children can tell straight away whether an area is intended for them. You don’t need a wall covered in animal motifs to achieve this. At the same time, eye contact is an important part of the planning. Parents want this, especially with younger children. A good layout ensures both a sense of security and enough space.
Solutions in real life
In the new Garten Family Suite at the Neuhaus Zillertal Resort, the dedicated children’s area fulfils this role. The bunk beds – known here as ‘crawling bunk beds’ – are integrated into a built-in unit. Wood panelling on the walls and ceiling gives the area its own distinct character. It feels sheltered without appearing like a separate room within the suite.
A dedicated area for children – without a second style scheme. Child-friendly and childish are not the same thing.
Related,
not differing
An interior can cater to children’s needs without changing its aesthetic theme. In design-focused hotels in particular, it would make little sense to break with the hotel’s design ethos at the door to the children’s area. After all, guests do not book a different hotel simply because they are travelling with their children.
In the article ‘Spaces for special guests: children in hotels’, we looked at areas for children and young people. Bespoke fittings, cosy nooks, flexible lighting and natural materials play a central role there. In a family suite, there is an additional consideration: the children’s area must connect directly to the adults’ living and sleeping areas.
The design language should therefore be consistent. Materials, colours and finishes can run through all areas, whilst proportions and functions are adapted. A lower shelf, an easily accessible light switch or a sheltered bed cater for children without overloading the space with symbols.
Colour and material
The common thread
The Garten Family Suite at the Hotel Neuhaus embodies this principle particularly in its choice of colours and materials: shades of beige, grey and brown run throughout the entire suite, whilst textured cushion fabrics add graphic accents.
This also has a practical advantage: this design works just as well for toddlers as it does for school-age children or teenagers. What might appear to be a children’s bedroom becomes a flexible sleeping and relaxation area.
Textiles & Acoustics
Family rooms place high demands on textiles. They need to be comfortable, withstand frequent use and fit in with a hotel concept that prioritises ease of maintenance. Curtains control the light. Carpets provide a visual framework. Upholstered surfaces make seating and sleeping areas more comfortable. Suitable textile surfaces can reduce room noise.
This sound-absorbing effect is particularly important in a room used by several people at the same time. Conversations, footsteps, children playing and the sound of luggage being unpacked all come together in a confined space. Smooth surfaces alone would transmit every sound; textiles break up this acoustic harshness.
Balancing
Closeness and privacy
Our example shows how functional design and calm, high-quality aesthetics come together.
The living area provides the family with a shared focal point. The children’s area creates its own distinct space within the room, whilst light, wood and textiles bring the two areas together. However, materials must also feel pleasant to the touch. Family-friendliness does not mean reducing all surfaces to the point of maximum durability. It’s about making a sensible choice: materials that are pleasant to the touch, suited to their intended use, well-finished and easy to maintain in day-to-day hotel life.
A good family room respects children as guests with specific needs and adults as people whose holiday doesn’t end when the children go to bed.
Living together without constantly doing the same thing – that is where the real quality lies.
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FAQ
Three questions about designing family rooms in hotels
It is essential to have a clear division into sleeping, living, storage and activity areas. Parents and children use the room at different times and in different ways. Lighting, sightlines, storage, circulation routes and acoustic conditions should therefore be planned together from the outset.
A fully enclosed children’s bedroom is not always necessary. A defined sleeping area, an alcove or a bespoke fitted unit can also provide sufficient independence. What is important is a clear boundary, suitable lighting and a connection to the parents’ area that is appropriate for the children’s age.
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The design can incorporate the materials and colours used elsewhere in the hotel, whilst responding to children’s needs through its proportions, functions and details. Easily accessible storage spaces, dedicated lighting, sheltered sleeping areas and hard-wearing surfaces are usually more effective than short-lived motifs or a garish colour scheme aimed at children.
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