How Your Home Décor Can Be Inspired by Disney Resort Hotels

Walt Disney World Resort is an endless source of inspiration to Guests who seek it. Venturing to Disney Resort Hotels you’re not staying at is a wonderful opportunity to broaden your horizons when it comes to dining, shopping, and even interior decorating.  Here are some ways you can bring the theming of Disney’s Resort Hotels into your own home.  

Disney’s Beach Club Resort

Beachy, cottage décor can be tough to pull off without it appearing kitschy (though if that’s your vibe, more power to you!).  And since the renovations at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, the dated elements – like matching chintz bedspreads and curtains and liberal doses of latticework – have been removed from Guest rooms, in favor of a more sophisticated, fresh take on the coastal theme that is easy to replicate in your home.

Start with a palette that features plenty of bright, crisp white, and add in some blues, greys, greens or even sand color to evoke that airy beach feel.  Think about adding some beadboard or shiplap paneling to your walls or ceiling for instant seaside appeal, and bring in elements like pebbles, seashells, or sea glass to heighten the impact. 

You’ll want to use plenty of natural fibers (think: rattan baskets, woven rugs, maybe a straw hat or two).  Try an abstract painting in beachy colors, and don’t be afraid to bring in some greenery – there are plenty of palms and ferns that are easy to care for and inexpensive, and they’ll instantly transport you to the beach, even if you’re miles away!

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa

Any Guest who has enjoyed the Victorian-era splendor of Disney’s flagship Resort, Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, might well scoff at the idea of recreating its luxurious theme at home.  But, while you probably don’t have a 5-story lobby in your house (if you do, can we please be friends?), you can absolutely recreate the opulence of this stunning resort on a smaller scale.

RELATED: How Your Home Décor Can Be Inspired by Disney Restaurants

It’s all about the details: consider adding crown molding for an elegant vibe, or even roll up your sleeves and put up some simple wall paneling for an instant facelift.  Ceiling medallions were all the rage among wealthy Victorians, and they scream “opulence” even today – hang a chandelier under an ornate pvc ceiling medallion for instant charm.  Stick to soft, muted colors and add some natural textures.

Marble is expensive.  But luckily, there are lots of faux-marble tiles that give you the look of shiny marble, without the price tag!  Incorporate some formal, over-stuffed seating with lots of curves and intricate details, a few wall sconces for lighting, and don’t forget the greenery.  Palms were a symbol of wealth during Victorian times, and often displayed in windows so everyone knew how fancy you (thought you) were. Today, thankfully, you don’t have to be rich to add a few potted palms to your décor.

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Views of Disney’s Magic Kingdom Theme Park and the monorail that runs through it are a couple of reasons we love Disney’s Contemporary Resort.  But the pared-down, uncluttered, unapologetically colorful theming is another big plus for Guests who appreciate this Resort’s modern stylings. 

Rooms in the Contemporary’s main building were re-themed in 2021 to incorporate characters from the Incredibles, but even if that doesn’t speak to you, you can still bring the Resort’s style to your own home.  If you need a primer on modern décor, you can always read the above section on the stylings of the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa – and do the complete opposite!

Start with healthy pops of color (we’re talking bright red, yellow, or green, for example), and balance them out with lots of white.  Graphic patterns and abstract art are your friends here, and minimalism is key, so you’ll want to remove unnecessary items for a pared-down look.  Plasic and metal are at home in this scheme.  Add in an iconic furniture piece or two, like a reproduction mid-century modern Barcelona Chair or Egg Chair, and enjoy your ultra-modern digs!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Even if you’ve been a Guest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, you might not know that this Resort Hotel boasts the biggest collection of African art outside of Africa.  In addition to the hundreds of artworks on display in public places, there are also thousands of handmade artifacts in Resort rooms for Guests to enjoy.

AKL’s art collection is an eclectic mix representing various cultures throughout the African continent, and it’s easy to take artifacts and artwork from your own travels and create a similar artistic, globe-trotting vibe in your home.  Picked up a djembe drum, batik, mask or vase on your travels?  This is a great place to display those treasures.  

Incorporate plenty of dark wood (bonus if it’s carved) and think about using warm colors like reds, oranges and golds.  Natural materials would look great here, so try a rattan headboard, bamboo furniture, or even wildlife skulls.  Bring in some balance with light fabrics, such as a sheer material as a bed canopy or for curtains – it mimics the mosquito netting that is commonplace in Africa, and looks great!

Bottom Line

Disney’s Deluxe, Moderate, and Value Resort Hotels offer Guests a wide variety of theming for every budget and style.  And with a bit of Resort-hopping and a dash of creativity, you can recreate the theming from your favorite Resort Hotel in your own home.  Which Disney Resort Hotel inspires you?