Once upon a time, conformity reigned supreme when it came to hotel design. Every single guest room exactly looked the same, save for a few luxury suites that had more space. And, if the hotel was part of a chain, this look carried from location to location, too.

Today, though, many hotels have bucked the trend of mass-produced looks in favor of design that's unique, memorable and, most importantly, even more comforting to guests who are on the road. It likely comes as no surprise that a hotel's interior design scheme is extremely important to customers. One of the ways to sell your accommodation is through pictures, and your design scheme will be one of the deciding factors for first-time guests.

Perhaps that's why the bar has been raised for hotels in 2018. Want to make sure your hotel is on track to success by way of good design? Here are four ways the industry is improving its look, now more than ever.

No More Cookie-Cutter Guest Rooms

We've already mentioned the hotels of yesteryear, the ones in which every single room looked identical, right down to the pictures hanging on the walls. Nowadays, guests want something that feels more unique, more like home. And, with sites like Airbnb giving them the option to stay in actual homes — many of which are decorated to the nines — you should make sure your property has more features that make it both homey and one-of-a-kind.

This means, for one thing, every guest room should have its own design, accents and layout. And, on top of that, rooms themselves should have interior design schemes that aren't too uniform. Choose fabrics wisely so that they go together without completely blending into one another. To give spaces that cozy vibe, you might consider adding a kitchenette or at least a few small appliances that make the room more functional for long-term guests.

Lobbies are the New Hangout

No one breezes through the lobby anymore — or, at least, that's the goal at many hotels, where lobbies have been deformalized and made into a hotel hangout. In place of the extra-large, extra-official check-in desk, some hotels have smaller tables where guests check in. Some places even have roving hotel attendants with iPads, ready to check guests in as they relax in the lobby's comfortable seating.

To that end, these hotels often change the lobby furniture, too, so that it's more inviting. Large couches, tables and, of course, Wi-Fi and extra wall plugs make it easier for guests to hang out, work and keep in touch with their family members. And all of this makes a comfortable, dressed-down lobby one of the best ways to enhance your guests' experience at your hotel.

Use the Great Outdoors as Inspiration

From the mountains to the prairies, the United States have so much natural inspiration when it comes to décor. And using the outdoors as a design theme is a huge trend, especially for properties that just so happened to be situated in the midst of these natural wonders.

You can take your outdoor inspiration in a number of ways. Many places stock up on rustic, natural wood furniture, while others let nature inspire everything from wallpaper, to flooring, to the fabrics on the bed and furniture. Smaller lodgings might even be able to bring the outdoors in with a few potted plants, which also provide health benefits when cultivated indoors. Your guests will certainly enjoy the purified air and the lessened chance of becoming sick when surrounded with live plants.

Try New Hues

Finally, don't be afraid to add splashes of color to your hotel's communal spaces and guest rooms. Funky, memorable design schemes are one big reason why guests will choose to stay in a particular hotel. An outstanding online photo gallery — including those bespoke guest rooms we mentioned before — will increase the odds that online bookers will choose your hotel.

In order to make your design scheme stand out, then, don't shy away from pops of bright, unexpected color. You can use the colors forecasted to be trendiest, including bright cherry tomato red, funky chartreuse, sweet lavender or deep blue-green. Again, there's no need to overdo it: simply add a few accents in your color of choice and watch as your run-of-the-mill lobby or guest room becomes a design haven — and a selling point for your hotel.

Every Décor Decision Counts

Today's hotel guest often chooses a place to stay based solely on an online gallery. Once they arrive, their visuals have a lot to do with their overall comfort level. And, if you hit the nail on the head in both regards, you'll have clients singing your praises and suggesting your accommodation to other lodgers in the future. So, make 2018 the year you swap out a neutral, matching design scheme for something more welcoming and more special — neither you nor your future guests will regret that decision.