Today I have 10 lovely decorating tips from my recent visit to Haymarket in Stockholm and I can't wait to share them with you.

Haymarket which uses the English translation of "Hötorget", is the first signature hotel by the Scandic Group and today, you're going to check out their lovely cafe, Greta’s, and their restaurant, American, with me and see some decorating ideas that I found just by spending time in these spaces.

But first, a little history...

Haymarket is a hotel situated in Hötorget square, a popular downtown marketplace that has been in operation since the 1600’s. It isn’t just a hotel for international guests though; it’s a destination for many Stockholm locals to meet for lunch or for an aperitif after work.

The building once housed the fashionable and iconic PUB department store, where one of Sweden’s biggest Hollywood exports, Greta Garbo, began her career in the millinery department. The hotel restored the building’s historic art deco details with a nod to the history and glamour of the roaring twenties, yet giving it just enough of a modern twist. 

Whenever I’m in the area, I pop into the hotel’s café, Greta’s, (named after the one and only) for fika. They’ve decorated it with that winning combination of pink and green and just the right amount of gold accents. While millennial pink is certainly the color of the moment, their use of it has a classic edge that will no doubt stand the test of time. The cane chairs give a laid back vibe to the space and are set off with luxurious peacock cushions. I would never imagine using that combination until I saw it here and now if the opportunity arose, I might have to borrow the look too (wink).

While I’ve been known to enjoy a glass or two of champagne with friends at Greta’s, the place to go to for a touch of glamour and a good cocktail, is the bar, American, which overlooks the square’s marketplace. You feel the opulence the moment you enter. You’re greeted with plush velvet sofas in hues of moody blues and burgundies and brass art deco ornamental wall paneling. My all time favorite here is the statement black Atollo lamp. It just breathes luxury.  

The exquisite décor is a huge draw for me, and each time I visit, I soak up so much interior inspiration and I’m sure that you will too.

Would you like to take a look and to gather some decor tips for your home? Here are my 10 tips:

TIP 1: Ceilings needn’t always be discreet. Here the color scheme and mood of the room continues above, for a sweeping and dramatic effect.

TIP 2: By adding darker bar stools, the somewhat pretty room is finished feeling more grown up.

TIP 3: The rattan chairs give a laid back vibe to the space and are set off with peacock cushions.

TIP 4: Place fluffy feathers in a vase for a nice twist on flowers.

TIP 5: Patterned floor tiles lend an extra wow factor to a room.

TIP 6: Mirrors are the oldest design trick in the book but work beautifully to reflect natural light from the large windows and play with the eye making a room seem to go on and on....

TIP 7: Table lamps add to the ambience of a room but can also be the perfect standalone statement piece, like this Atollo lamp in black.

TIP 8: Velvet sofas are soft and inviting but it’s not always possible to buy a new sofa, or to reupholster your current one. Why not borrow from the look by mixing in velvet cushions to your current sofa to add a sumptuous feel?

TIP 9: Plants bring the outdoors in and also visually fill boring corners and hide things like ugly outlets or your wifi router.

TIP 10: Art Deco geometric patterns look striking when carried throughout a room like the designers have done here with the rug and screen.

If you find yourself in Stockholm, a visit to Haymarket is something you must tick off your list of things to do and see. Perhaps you could pop in for a dinner and drink after enjoying a performance at Konserthuset, Stockholm’s famous concert house, which is just opposite. Or for something really special, treat yourself and stay as a guest. Either way, I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do. 

Have you found any decorating ideas here at that you love?

(Article + Photography: Mel Chesneau)