Multifunctional Ideas to Take From This Luxury Cruise Ship

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Revolutionary in design and construction, the latest award-winning ships by Celebrity Cruises are taking modern cruising to the next level with culinary concepts, wellness experiences and innovative interiors by multi-award-winning British interior designer Kelly Hoppen CBE.

Looking to raise the bar of luxury travel, Kelly Hoppen and her team masterfully designed the ship’s suites to be multifunctional living spaces where the guests had everything they could possibly need with the utmost ease and accessibility, as well as evoke an unparalleled sense of calm and comfort.

Read on to see Kelly’s exquisitely designed spaces, which blend sleek lines and neutral tones with charming warmth and opulence – and boast some great ideas for multifunctional rooms.

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Use screens to divide a space and let in light
Every centimetre on a cruise ship needs to be planned meticulously to ensure efficiency and practicality for guests. So when interior designer Kelly Hoppen was given the task of designing the grand open-plan bedroom suites onboard the newest cruise ship, Celebrity Beyond℠, she decided to differentiate the separate zones of the room. She used a patterned screen to separate a quiet sitting space from the dining area, which is perfect for creating intimacy while still allowing light through.

“I love open-plan spaces as they create such a sense of flow and allow the natural light to pour throughout,” says Kelly. “But sometimes you need some division to add new dimensions and give the option of privacy. The screens in the suites allow for this, deepening the space’s potential without breaking up the flow.”

Styling tip: Turn screen dividers into a design feature by constructing them in a contrasting material, such as a rich wood or cool metal. Or you could even paint the screens in a bold colour for a statement.

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Zone your space with flooring
Don’t be afraid to use different types of flooring in the same room. In fact, by teaming contrasting surfaces in an open-plan space, you’ll inject the room with impact and interest. “Alternating tiles, sleek wood, and patterned carpets or rugs not only adds depth to a room design by layering textures, it also creates a clear sense of flow and movement between the individual zones of an open-plan room,” says Kelly.

Delivering light, bright and free-flowing spaces that connected to the natural environment outside was a key factor in Kelly’s luxury room designs, however, it was also fundamental to make each area of the suites feel individual. “When you’re working to establish a real sense of openness yet make each area intriguing and unique, layering different types of flooring is invaluable know-how.”

Styling tip: Another way to zone a multi-purpose space is with good lighting to add depth and accentuate certain areas. Kelly opted for a combination of hidden wall and ceiling lights and bold, modular and sculptural lighting pieces that make a statement. “You have the potential to really illuminate the space without it looking too busy,” she says.

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Think guest bedroom comfort when choosing sofas
Spare rooms often have to serve a multitude of needs. They might provide a bedroom when guests stay over, offer space for a home office, or even be transformed into a teen hang-out when friends pop by. Therefore, the furniture for these rooms needs to be well-considered in order to tick many boxes.

For a more flexible alternative to a standard sofa bed, try a generous modular sofa. “Sofa beds are great but sometimes I find myself limited by the pieces on offer,” says Kelly. “It’s always an option to get creative with modular sofas that suit your aesthetic and offer a kind of ‘jigsaw’ system instead.”

Styling tip: In compact spaces, such as spare rooms, avoid harsh corners by using curved pieces instead. “Adding subtle curves and rounded furniture softens the overall look,” says Kelly. “It’s also inviting you to unwind in an atmosphere of relaxation.”

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Source furniture that doubles up as storage
Take time to plan the storage you need in your multifunctional space and to work out how furniture can help. For example, perhaps you need a coffee table with a hidden compartment for storing remote controls, magazines or your latest craft project. Or maybe a storage footstool for movie-night floor cushions and that ever-growing collection of family board games.

The same consideration was given to the luxury suites on Celebrity Beyond to ensure the spaces felt comfy yet practical. “Dual-purpose furniture is great for keeping a space minimalist and offering guests that extra level of functionality,” says Kelly. “I find that banquette-style seating is a great way to do this, as well as footstools and side tables; these kinds of pieces are always versatile in any space.”

To discover more, visit Celebrity Cruises’s Houzz profile here.

This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.