The key to offering guests a restful stay has been to refresh the design of Sleep Inn^® guest rooms to appeal to the 5 senses—touch, taste, sight, smell and sound. Each space is designed for a more restful night, which is exactly the idea behind the Sleep Inn Designed to Dream^® properties.

“Designed to Dream is a metaphor for the best night's rest you can get,” says Kade Wane, director of architecture and design for Choice Hotels^®. “The overall scheme conveys a sense of relaxation, of restfulness, of tranquility. And to accomplish this, we looked to nature for inspiration.”

We talked to Wane to get an inside look at what makes Sleep Inn’s Designed to Dream rooms so dreamy, and to learn how the Sleep Inn design caters to the 5 senses to create a soothing and stylish feel in every space.

Sense of sound: Create your own soundscape

Getting a good night’s rest is important to Sleep Inn guests, but many things can disrupt rest during a trip. Noise, for example, can travel easily throughout a space, so the Sleep Inn brand has partnered with the BetterSleep wellness app to offer guests premium access to customizable sleep sounds, tranquil meditations, and a selection of relaxing bedtime stories.

At any of the more than 400 Sleep Inn hotels in the U.S. and Canada, guests can download the app onto a mobile phone or tablet during their stay to enjoy the BetterSleep collection of personalized soundscapes to create their own soothing environment.

The sense of taste: Flavors to ease the body and mind

Sleep Inn guests are invited to unwind with a cup of warm herbal tea from our Dream Cup beverage station before bed. Our Be Rested^® tea is a comforting treat that not only tastes good, but also includes natural ingredients and zero caffeine to help guests relax. The smooth flavors are blended to calm the mind and body, especially after a full day of travel, sightseeing or hosting business events and meetings.

The next morning, guests can jumpstart their day with free breakfast items to refuel after a rejuvenating night. Starting with a good breakfast helps to kickstart the morning with plenty of energy, so guests can make the most of their trip and end the day with a satisfying night of rest.

Sense of sight: Bring the outside in

The nature theme is the foundation for the Designed to Dream concept. Every guest room, from the patterns on the bedspread to the photography on the walls, is infused with nature-inspired elements.

“There’s a theory called biophilic design, which suggests that when people connect with nature, it enhances their health and wellbeing. Elements in our guest rooms were selected to convey a sense of nature, and the overall theme feels organic.”

A key to waking up refreshed, according to Wane, is fostering a connection with nature with a color scheme that opts for soft, neutral colors over more vibrant hues.

“The color scheme is mightily important to a restful night,” Wane says. “When you’re using overstimulating colors in your palette, your brain is not unwinding and getting into relaxation mode. Our accent wall colors are rooted in nature. We stayed with a neutral palette and selected a nature theme and a warm wood tone.”

The best part is these elements stand the test of time, remaining in style long after flashy trends have come and gone. All of the core principles work together to create a fresh, timeless look and, most importantly, a peaceful space to help guests dream better.

Sense of touch: Keep it simple and cozy

Everything in our Sleep Inn guest rooms was selected to recall nature. This theme runs throughout the hotel, from the nature graphics on the lobby wall to the dandelion on your room key.

The biggest step toward a serene state of mind is ensuring the guest room is clutter-free yet filled with inviting furnishings that feel soothing to the touch.

“When we designed our guest rooms, we made sure the lines remained clean and simple,” Wane says. “The décor should work in harmony to put all of your senses in a space that’s conducive to unwinding.”

Cozy furniture, fluffy pillows and crisp linens play a starring role in creating a dream space for guests to find peace of mind during their stay.

“Even the lounge chair we chose for our guest rooms is plush, with a natural texture, to give guests a place to wind down before bedtime and relax,” Wane says. “But an inviting bed is where it has to start. A good mattress is paramount to a good night’s rest.”

Sense of smell: Enhance with calming scents

In the guest bathroom, Wane has created a spa quality atmosphere. As an added amenity, guests are provided with Zenses^® bath products infused with essential oils and peaceful sandelwood scents that calm the senses with relaxing fragrances.

Created exclusively for Sleep Inn, the quality bath line includes shampoo, conditioner, body soap and lotion. Each product is designed for a refreshing shower or relaxing bath that helps to wash the stress of the day away, allowing guests to reset for a restful evening.

“This spa-like feel is carried throughout the hotel,” Wane adds. “There’s nothing that will overstimulate the senses and interfere with the sense of relaxation.”