What makes a night in a nice hotel so endlessly alluring? Is it the crisp linen, the luxurious pillows, the complimentary hand lotion? Maybe it’s the room service, the neatness, or the peace and quiet? The truth is, it’s all those things and more. Over the years, a lot of thought has gone into what it takes to make hotel rooms as relaxing and welcoming as possible.
The good news is that you don’t have to travel the world or spend lots of money on a hotel to experience this. You can emulate most of these things in your very own bedroom.
Read on to learn 9 simple ways to make your bedroom feel like a 5-star hotel. All our tips are simple and easy to implement, and most are affordable too!
1. Clear the Clutter
Possibly the number one thing that makes hotel rooms feel so peaceful is the lack of clutter. It may seem impossible to make your bedroom as empty as a hotel room—after all, you need somewhere to keep all your belongings. But, you can create an oasis of calm by cutting down on items lacking a home and avoiding unnecessary purchases. Regularly sorting through your belongings and donating whatever you haven’t used in the past year is a great idea too.
For the things that you can’t bear to part with, invest in smart storage solutions so you can keep as much as possible out of sight. Keep only the things that make you feel calm and happy on display, and put everything else away in closets, drawers, and under the bed. Then, once you have reset, keep it that way. Make it a rule to always put things away when you are done with them and be strict about cleaning your room on a regular basis.
2. Invest in Quality Bed Linen
We spend approximately half our lives in bed—that is too much time not to have high standards about our bedding! This is one of the few things on this list that can cost a bit of money, but the investment is well worth the improved sleep and luxurious feeling you’ll get sliding into bed every night. To get that hotel feel, go for some crisp, white sheets with a thread count of at least 300.
Once you have them, make sure you wash them regularly. It’s hard to get that luxury feeling if your linen has been on your bed for weeks. It’s especially important to wash your pillowcases frequently, as they get dirty fast. Plus, there’s nothing like the feel of fresh linen when you put your head down on your pillow for the night.
3. Make Your Bed with Care
Having the right linen will only get you halfway to achieving a hotel-worthy bed. It’s crucial to make your bed every morning as soon as you get up.
But it’s not enough to simply arrange the pillows and throw over the blankets. Making beds properly is a skill. Tuck in the sheets nice and tight, turn down the covers, plump up the pillows, and arrange them neatly. You won’t believe how much of a difference a crisp, clean looking bed makes to the room.
4. Add Blackout Curtains
There’s a reason you sleep so well in hotel rooms, and it is probably blackout curtains. This is another investment that is 100% worth it for the improved sleep on summer mornings and lazy weekends.
For the optimal window dressing setup, install blackout blinds with light curtains on top. That way you can put down the blinds when you want total darkness, but still have the option of softened natural light in the daytime.
5. Create Warm Lighting
Another trick that hotel designers use to make a welcoming space is well thought out lighting. This means not only that lighting should be warm and rich, but there should also be lots of lighting options. You don’t want the same kind of light when doing daytime tasks as you do when winding down for sleep.
Splurging on lights that dim is one way to get that hotel feel. But creating a welcoming lighting design can be as simple as replacing your light bulbs with warm ones, getting some nice lampshades, and maybe adding a standing lamp.
6. Symmetry is Key
One of the easiest ways to make your bedroom feel more serene is to prioritize symmetry. Ideally, your bed should be in the center of a wall, with identical nightstands and bedside lamps, even if you sleep alone.
You can also bring the idea of symmetry into the rest of the space without taking it literally. When it comes to your surfaces, keep all objects and décor neatly arranged with equal spaces between them. Even when hanging art on the walls, keep pieces lined up for a symmetrical feel.
7. Add Some Fragrance
It could be some fresh-cut flowers, a scented candle, aromatherapy, or a scented humidifier. Whatever your fragrance of choice, having something in the room that keeps it smelling fresh and calm makes a huge difference to the atmosphere.
8. Add a Seating Area
One thing that separates the best hotels from the subpar ones is a space dedicated to relaxing or a focused activity that isn’t the bed. If you have the space, add an armchair and a little table in a corner of your room.
Use it for moments of reflection and spending time with yourself, as opposed to the living room with its connotations of social occasions and communal living. If you work from home, you can also use your bedroom seating area as a quiet place to enjoy a tea or coffee break.
9. Don’t Underestimate the Little Luxuries
A lot of what makes staying in a hotel exciting is the little things—the complimentary toiletries, the chocolate on your pillow, the bathrobe, the water next to your bed. Think about what little things would help make your bedroom feel more luxurious for you.
Maybe it’s a fluffy rug, a vase of flowers, some aromatherapy, or a bedside table stocked with sweet treats or scented lotions. The specifics will be different for everyone, but it’s those little things that make us feel loved and cared for, even if we do them for ourselves.
With just a little bit of effort, you can transform your bedroom, making every night feel like you’re staying in a hotel!
