Designing for Joy: How Hospitality Venues Grow When People Feel Good Inside Them
Hospitality venues are under pressure right now.
Patrons have higher expectations. Costs are rising. Competition is fierce.
And in the middle of all of that, I keep coming back to the same belief I’ve developed over years of working in hospitality design:
The venues that thrive are the ones that create something people genuinely want to return to.
At Liife Architecture, we design hospitality spaces across Queensland, working with clubs, pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels.
And while every project is different, we always focus on the same core outcomes.
We want venues to feel welcoming. We want them to run smoothly.
And we want them to support strong commercial performance.
But underneath all of that, there’s one idea that continues to guide my design thinking.
Joy.
Joy is not a “nice-to-have” in hospitality
When I talk about joy, I don’t mean adding more features for the sake of it.
I’m not talking about styling, gimmicks, or chasing what’s trending on social media.
I’m talking about creating a venue that makes people feel good.
Because when guests feel comfortable, energised and connected in a space, something shifts.
They stay longer.
They order more.
They come back.
They bring their friends.
That’s what makes hospitality design commercially powerful.
What joy looks like in a venue
Joy doesn’t have one look.
Joy can be loud, social and high-energy.
Joy can be calm, intimate and low-key.
Joy can sit somewhere in the middle, depending on the venue and the crowd.
But in hospitality, joy almost always comes from a few things working together.
A clear sense of identity.
A layout that makes sense.
Comfort you can feel the moment you sit down.
Atmosphere that invites people to settle in and stay awhile.
The kind of place where the night unfolds easily.
Designing for joy means designing for ease
Some of the biggest wins I see in hospitality design are surprisingly practical.
Better circulation. Fewer bottlenecks.
A bar that can actually service peak periods without chaos.
Seating that supports different types of groups and different lengths of stay.
Entry moments that aren’t confusing, awkward, or uncomfortable.
Bathrooms that are easy to find and feel considered.
Clear zones so the venue can hold multiple energy levels at once.
One small memorable moment that sparks conversation.
When a venue works properly, stress drops.
And when stress drops, people relax.
That’s when joy starts to show up.
Studied aesthetic choices that spark joy (and why it matters commercially)
Joy can also be created through intentional visual design.
Not random styling. Not trend-chasing.
Studied decisions that create a consistent emotional response.
One reference I love is Ingrid Fetell Lee’s book Joyful, which explores how certain design elements reliably lift mood and create delight. And its science, studied, tested and proven to work.
That’s especially relevant in hospitality, because guests don’t only remember what they ate or drank.
They remember the feeling of being there.
So when we’re designing venues, I’m always looking for opportunities to build that feeling through scientifically proven elements like:
Warm, layered lighting that makes the space feel relaxed and flattering.
Colour used with confidence, so the venue has identity and energy.
Curves and softer forms that make large interiors feel welcoming and human.
Texture and tactility that add warmth and comfort in high-traffic spaces.
Small moments of surprise that become talking points and keep the venue memorable.
A sense of abundance through generous seating variety and spaces that feel easy to occupy.
These moves don’t just look good.
They influence how long people stay.
They influence where people choose to sit.
They influence whether a venue feels premium, tired, fresh, or forgettable.
Joy creates loyalty
The strongest hospitality venues become part of people’s routines.
Friday night drinks.
Family birthdays.
Post-game meals.
Date nights.
After-work catch ups.
Community events.
When a venue feels genuinely good to be in, people return.
And loyalty is everything in a competitive market.
Joy supports staff too
Hospitality design should never only be about customers.
A well-designed venue supports staff experience as well.
Clear paths of travel.
Back of house that functions properly.
Logical service points and efficient workflow.
Good lighting where staff actually need it.
Less friction between teams.
And when staff feel supported, service improves.
When service improves, the whole experience lifts.
Joy is where beauty and performance meet
For me, the best hospitality design sits at the intersection of three things:
Operational function. Commercial performance. Human experience.
Joy connects all three.
It isn’t about spending wildly.
It’s about designing the right things well.
It’s about creating a venue that feels alive and future-ready.
And it’s about helping your business thrive.
If you’re planning a refurbishment, rebrand, venue extension or masterplan, lets meet for a coffee and talk it through.
Liife Architecture offers a low-risk early stage design service that helps venue owners and operators gain clarity before committing to major spend.
It’s the quickest way to understand what’s possible, what it could cost, and how to create a venue people will genuinely love.
Reach out to book a coffee or an initial consultation.
Jess + the Liife Architecture team
