A luxury lifestyle begins at home – so why not inject some opulence into your abode this spring?
As the place you go to recuperate from the stresses and strains of daily life, your residence should be well-equipped to help you relax and unwind with ease. But as it’s also a place that you bring guests when entertaining, it takes a careful balance of both style and comfort to create a pad that looks straight out of a high-end magazine, and that feels incredible, too.
A place of rest and relaxation, your master bedroom is arguably the most important room in your house, and while it may not be on show to visitors quite as often as your living room or kitchen, it’s the one where you likely spend most of your time. With this in mind, if you’re updating your home then it should be the first priority on your list, and injecting a little luxury to create a lavish and comfortable space that you just can’t wait to come home to at the end of a long day is a simple objective to achieve.
Take some sumptuous, tactile fabrics, add a few stylish, one-off pieces of furniture and some tasteful décor to bring it all to life, and you’ll soon have a lavish and decadent space you’ll be proud to call your own.
Unsure how to get started? Here’s what to consider.
Invest in a good night’s sleep
Nothing is quite as important as getting a good night’s sleep, and that’s why you quite simply owe it to yourself to invest in the very finest mattress money can buy. Getting those precious eight hours is vital to your health and wellbeing, so if you haven’t replaced your bedroom furniture in years, then now is the time. A luxury pocket sprung mattress is the key to a restful night’s sleep – try online retailer John Ryan by Design for some of the very best handmade mattresses. With a focus on natural fibres, the brand’s most luxurious product is the Legacy, which contains the finest natural materials including British Alpaca and Yorkshire Swaledale wool.
Of course, the bed frame itself is important, too, so treat yourself to a gorgeous four poster to create a glamorous and regal feel to the room. Then, to really up the ante, invest in some beautiful Egyptian cotton sheets and dress the bed with contrasting fabrics and cushions in tactile materials, such as silk, velvet and faux fur. You can never have too many pillows, either, so take the time to search for the right ones and pile them high on your bed for maximum visual impact. Memory foam is great if you suffer from neck problems, while soft feather versions will make you feel as if you’re sleeping on a cloud.
A blissful night’s sleep awaits you – and it doesn’t get more luxurious than that.
Install a lavish en-suite bathroom
If you don’t yet have an en-suite bathroom in your home, then you’re missing out on unbridled levels of enjoyment. So much more than just a practical place, it’s the one room of the house where you can totally let go of the stresses and strains of the day – and if you can reach it without having to leave the comfort of your bedroom, then all the better.
Opt for a beautiful marble suite, and remember that less is always more. A free-standing clawfoot bathtub can make for a stunning centre-piece that oozes opulence through and through – and even more so when it’s filled to the brim with a froth of bubbles, and with a glass of champagne waiting for you on the side, of course.
Plush fabrics
From your curtains to your carpets, and everything in between, creating that luxury feel is all about the fabrics you choose to dress your room with. If you’ve opted for a monochrome colour scheme thus far, then select an accent colour and pick cushions and accessories in various shades of it to really bring your bedroom to life. Much like when dressing your bed, layering up contrasting fabrics can inject some added opulence – some chunky knits can work well with velvets and silks, and combined with some more simplistic fabrics to avoid overkill, the balance will be just right.
If you’re going for carpets, then make it thick pile all the way – in your bedroom, walking around barefoot should be an enjoyable experience, and the feeling of that super-soft texture beneath your feet is something you can’t quite beat.
Focus on the statement pieces
A four-poster bed frame; a gorgeous gilded dresser; a plush velvet arm chair — every luxury bedroom should have an obvious centrepiece, and one that becomes the focal point of the room.
Choose a piece of furniture that really speaks to you and creates just the kind of statement you want to make. Look for one-of-a-kind, designer, handcrafted pieces that will last for years to come – or trawl local antique stores for some real gems that just can’t be found elsewhere.
Don’t clutter the room with too much furniture, either – instead let each piece stand on its own and do all the talking. Avoid too many ornaments and trinkets, and keep books and magazines put well away. Decide on your theme, and don’t deviate – luxury is all about simplicity.
