Quality of products chosen, coordinated color schemes, matched fabric combinations, the best finish … but above all, the space. That’s what we associate with luxury hotel accommodation. That’s what makes us feel special when we visit. But you can have a little of that luxury at home, if you set your mind to it. Maybe not all the space! But here are some tips to bring a little of that away-from-home high-life to your own boudoir.
Bed
At the heart of every hotel bedroom is the bed. Front and Center. Don’t skimp here. If you want a luxury feel with your bed, go for the largest size you can reasonably fit and spend as much as you feel you can afford. If you need to compromise, go for better quality and smaller size.
You’re looking for a bed that makes you feel like you’re floating on a cushion of rarefied, expensive air. If you’re tempted by four posters or sleigh beds, make sure they fit in with the style of decor you are working with. Or build your decor around such a distinctive piece of furniture.
Go for high-end hotel collection pillows that will make you feel like sleeping on a cloud. Down feather pillows are the ones mostly used in hotels, but if you are allergic to feathers, you can opt for down alternative pillows that have almost the same feel as down pillows.
Decor
Every successful hotel, whether it is a multinational chain or a small-scale specialist boutique is designed from a specific standpoint. Crafted with an eye for the view and with an emphasis on the detail. Nothing gets through the gatekeepers unless the design meets the style guides. You’ll find reduced color palettes, warm tones, complementary materials and common themes throughout.
The color schemes you choose can be bright, brassy and bold as you like. They don’t have to be sleek, subtle and subdued. But you do need consistency and classy shade combinations. All combinations can work in the right circumstances.
So put some design thought into your own decorations. Don’t just bring home a cushion and expect it to look at home. Make positive choices about what you introduce – colors and fabrics. Make sure they work together and you can always refine and finish off your space with top-of-the-range hotel room wallpaper.
And at the back of your mind, think about that space. Don’t over-clutter.
Linens
Your bed linen needs to fit with your chosen color combinations, of course, but textures play a big part here as well. Don’t go for shiny satin sheets in the same room as functional blinds. Don’t go for gingham bedding when your curtains are filled with the textures of linen.
Look to make your linen and curtains complement each other. They don’t have to be the same fabric, but they do have to look as if the combination has been thought through.
Furniture
Luxurious hotel rooms are often large enough to fit a bed and other items of furniture. As a visitor, you expect somewhere to store your clothes when you stay. You’ll expect somewhere to sit, somewhere to prepare yourself for the day ahead or to relax at the end of the day. Half of the population would expect some kind of dressing table surface and mirror to fix your face.
Don’t be tempted to use a chair to hang your clothes on. That’s not what they are for. Use furniture designed for the purpose.
Bedside tables or drawers are ideal to help you feel at peace. Everyone needs somewhere to leave their book when they go to sleep, or to leave their glasses, favorite hand cream, or a handy box of tissues.
En Suite
For many people, an en suite bathroom is the height of luxury: your own private space that visitors will never share. If you have the room to create a light, airy bathroom, make the most of it. But don’t cramp it. Make it feel spacious.
And a power shower, of course. Something to spritz your day into life.
Lighting
In terms of lights, quantity and control are the key. Your lighting should allow you to change the mood of the room. “Bright” when you are preparing to go out and sparkle, “subdued” when you are starting to wind down at the end of the day, “focused” when all you want is a reading light. Your light fittings are as much a part of the decor as the curtains. Make sure you bring your light fittings in line with the scheme you have in place for colors and textures.
And don’t forget, nobody wants to get out of bed just to turn off the light! Make sure you can switch off the lights with your head on the pillow … without stretching or turning into a contortionist.
Ventilation
Fresh air in your bedroom. That’s the one piece of luxury you rarely find in a luxury hotel with their air conditioned environments. Or you perhaps you live in an area where the outside air needs to be kept at bay, whether to keep you cool or keep you warm. Either way, spend a little time and effort to make sure your bedroom offers a suitable temperature throughout the year.
Bathrobes
Isn’t that the final touch of luxury? Whether you have an en suite or not. The sheer sybaritic nature of slipping into a fluffy bathrobe as you slide out of bed is the ultimate luxury touch.
Finally…
It’s not hard to get a luxury feel to your bedroom. You just need to think things through. What is it you most like about your favorite hotel? Pick out the main elements and use those to start your own custom boutique experience.
Image at the very top of the article credit: Palazzo Victoria, a luxury hotel in Verona, Italy.
