How to Make Your Bedroom Feel Like a Hotel Room
Layered bedding, softer light and fewer visible things: the ideas that give a bedroom that calm hotel feeling.
The best hotel rooms do not feel expensive so much as calm. A few deliberate choices create that feeling at home, and most cost little.
Start with the bed
The bed is the centerpiece, so put your effort there.
- Choose crisp, simple bedding. White or soft neutral sheets in a breathable fabric are a classic. Percale feels cool and crisp, and sateen feels smoother.
- Layer it. Sheets, a duvet or comforter, then a throw folded across the foot of the bed.
- Invest in pillows. Use a mix of sleeping pillows and two or three decorative ones. Avoid piling on too many.
- Make it every day. A made bed changes the whole room in under a minute.
Lighting that relaxes
Overhead light is harsh at bedtime. Add a lamp on each side of the bed, and use warm-toned bulbs. A dimmer is a worthwhile upgrade. Aim for several low light sources instead of one bright one.
Clear the surfaces
Hotel rooms look serene partly because surfaces are nearly empty. Keep the nightstands to a lamp, a book and a glass of water. Give everything else a home in a drawer or basket.
Soften and quiet the room
- Hang curtains high and wide, and consider blackout lining for better sleep.
- Add a rug under the bed's lower two-thirds so your feet land on something soft.
- Keep the color palette limited to two or three tones.
Finish with a scent and a detail
A subtle scent from a diffuser or linen spray helps, if you enjoy it. A tray, a small plant or a piece of art adds personality without clutter.
A final habit
Wash your sheets weekly, and rotate your pillows and mattress as the manufacturer suggests. Fresh linens are the simplest luxury there is.