The majority of us probably spend no more than a few weeks each year staying in a hotel room. But what if we could enjoy the same sort of luxury all year round? Well, there's no reason why you shouldn't enjoy that sense of style in your very own home.
While you might not have the budget to transform your abode into the next Hilton, there are tips you can learn from interior designers that will help you recreate the feel of a chic hotel in your very own space. Here are some ideas to apply around your home.
First impressions
Hotel designers know that the reception or lobby can make or break a property in terms of how guests perceive it. Likewise, your hallway will shape people’s first impressions of your home. Make sure it is tidy, with all the clutter hidden away. Plenty of hooks to hang up bags and other items will help with that. If you don’t have an especially big hallway, use mirrors to bounce light around and create a sense of space, and put up decent lighting so it’s not gloomy in any way.
Luxury bedroom
When it comes to home interiors, we can often neglect our bedrooms. After all, this is the one place where guests rarely venture. But a hotel bedroom is a very different space. It serves as an entire home for a short period, and needs to be functional and restful in equal measure. The bed is clearly the main focus, so spend as much of your budget as you can on this. Quality sheets in plain colours work best, with layers that can be stripped back during the hotter months.
Depending on the size of your room, you can add items of furniture such as an ottoman – ideal for resting a breakfast tray or a stack of magazines – and an armchair. A dressing station is another nice touch and doesn’t actually have to take up a lot of space, especially if you choose a narrow console and wall mirror combination. A TV is another luxury to add. Don’t forget smaller accessories such as a tray to keep trinkets safe, a carafe and glass by the bed for water, and a small shelf of books for entertainment.
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Spa bathroom
Second in importance to the bedroom, a hotel bathroom is an oasis of calm – a place to relax and unwind after a hard day’s sightseeing.
If you’re planning a remodel, make sure you choose soothing colours and plenty of luxury finishes such as marble or granite. Black, slate and other rich, dark colours can work, too. And don’t cut costs when it comes to your fittings and fixtures – a waterfall shower or pressure jets in the bath add that extra touch that will make you feel like you’re on holiday. And if you’ve got space, a chair where you can place your discarded clothes is a decadent touch.
Of course, you may not have the ability to make such substantial changes. In which case, do what you can with hotel-inspired accessories. Fluffy towels are essential, ideally displayed in an artful way on open shelving. You’ll also need hooks on which to hang equally fluffy robes, and why not get yourself a pair of spa slippers? Branded products, scented candles and a bath tray where you can prop a book and a glass of something nice are all simple and cost-effective ways of adding a little extra luxury.
Atmospheric dining
The hotel theme doesn’t have to stop at your private spaces. Continue it in the dining area to extend the holiday vibe. Spread the table with a cloth or runner for maximum glam points and be sure to have a centrepiece to draw the eye. This doesn’t have to be floral – glass vases filled with baubles, for example, or a vintage mirrored tray full of candles, would work just as well.
The lighting in your dining room is important. Make sure it’s layered so you can turn it up or down as the mood dictates, with some overhead lighting above the table, as well as wall and floor or standing lights. Incorporate a sound system, too, so you can have a suitable soundtrack playing as you dine.
Restful living
To complete the hotel scene, make sure your living spaces echo the sense of luxury and serenity that you’ve begun to instil in the rest of your home. Whether you choose understated neutrals or bold design statements, theme is important and should tie in with the overall look you’re going for in the rest of the house.
Hotel designers use textures to great effect, contrasting opulent glossy and metallic surfaces with welcoming natural materials such as warm wood, tactile fur and chunky wool. Layer up lighting in the living room as you have done in the dining space. Ensure you have a suitable spot for anything you might want to do, whether that’s writing at a side table or reading while curled up in an armchair.
Finishing touches
Wherever you look in a hotel, you’re bound to see flowers. Choose big, architectural displays in oversized vases that make a statement. If you can afford fresh, that’s brilliant, but there are some very authentic-looking fake blooms around these days. Artwork is another good way to add that hotel-inspired feel throughout your home. Again, be bold and choose large frames.
There’s also plenty of hidden technology that can have a big impact on your living space. We’re not just talking espresso coffee machines and fancy TVs – think integrated sound systems that can be operated from your mobile phone or blinds you can open with the touch of a button by your bed.
Finally, make sure everything is spick and span, highly polished, and smelling clean and fresh – as if housekeeping has just left.
