Give Your Bedroom a Hotel Vibe

“A Room with a View” is a 1908 novel by English writer E. M. Forster. It is also what many people request when booking their luxury hotel room. And while a beautiful view is the icing on the cake of good hotel room design, it’s not what creates the sense of extravagance that guests look forward to. Many elements go into creating luxury hotel rooms that offer guests an experience, as much as a place to sleep. If you are fortunate enough to have ever stayed at an upscale hotel, you’re probably missing those elements this summer.

Travel restrictions have meant that many of us won’t get our yearly dose of luxury. I love and miss many things about travelling, but one of the things I love most is hotel room design. Checking into a hotel room for the first time feels like a room reveal on a typical home renovation show.

But what’s so exciting about luxury hotel rooms? After all, they’re basically like any other bedroom. They’ve got a bed, a couple of side tables, maybe a desk and a nice accent chair. Yet, upscale hotels reimagine the bedroom design time and again. The furniture is only a small part of what makes the poshest ones feel so fabulous. Many other elements come together to create that exclusive luxury feeling.

Identifying and incorporating these elements into your bedroom design means the luxury experience can be had right at home. Let’s have a look at the different features and techniques hotels employ to give us the luxury experience.

Scale-up for an Upscale Vibe

What usually comes to mind when picturing a luxury suite is an image of grandeur and opulence. No matter the style of the room, both can be achieved by designing with scale in mind. Whether contemporary or traditional, upscale hotel rooms use many of the same design techniques to create a majestic-feeling space.

One tried-and-true technique is to raise the ceiling. High ceilings make any room feel grand. Luxury hotels are good at making theirs appear as high as possible by using a few simple design tricks. Installing full-height curtains is an excellent way to accentuate the height of any room with minimum effort for maximum effect.  

Another way to artificially raise a ceiling is to play with the height of the headboard. Full height headboards draw your eyes up, virtually extending the vertical axis of a room. The same effect can also be achieved by hanging large wall art above the bed.

Height isn’t the only aspect to consider when it comes to scale. For rooms that already boast an impressive height, horizontally-oversized headboards or artwork can make a space feel even more impressive. Including a few oversized objects such as a light fixture or accent chair will further add to the grandeur.

Feeling is Everything

Luxury hotels know to take texture seriously. From flooring, to wall finishes, to fabric choices, texture has a lot to do with the overall feel (literally) of a room. Choosing the right textures for a space invites guests to interact with it, creating a sense of familiarity and comfort.

When it comes to flooring, most established luxury hotels use carpets for their guestrooms, especially in cold countries. There’s no denying the luxurious feeling of stepping out of bed onto a soft, plush carpet. High-quality carpets add warmth and comfort to a room and feel deliciously indulgent underfoot. It’s no wonder they are the predominant pick for hotel flooring.

Choosing the right textures for a space invites guests to interact with it, creating a sense of familiarity and comfort.

However, while carpets are still the most common floor choice, parquet and stone floors are gaining popularity with newer and recently renovated hotels. Natural stone and wood floors offer guests a different, but no less luxurious, podiatry sensation. Particularly in hotter climates, it can be incredibly refreshing to walk across your room on cool, crisp tiles. Still, thoughtful designs usually include a soft area rug or two as well.

In addition to keeping guests’ feet happy, upscale hotels often incorporate texture into walls and soft furnishings, making them a delight to touch. Traditional options for opulent and elegant looking walls include silk wall coverings, textured wallpaper, and decorative moulding. Modern wall treatment options are incredibly varied, including wood panelling, polished concrete, and stamped cement. Instead of plain, painted walls, luxury hotels often opt to make an impression with one of the many choices available, or even a combination of them.

Naturally, successful luxury hotel room designs carefully consider texture in soft furnishings as well. Sumptuous fabrics like velvet, suede, and silk are often incorporated into headboards, accent chairs, and throw cushions. Sophisticated hotel room designs often rely on texture to create an ambience that suits an establishment’s overall style. With so many fabrics and materials available, the design story possibilities are endless.

Getting in the Mood

While many tangible elements go into creating an upscale hotel room, a not-so-tangible component is key to completing the look. Lighting is an integral part of any design, although it’s regrettably an afterthought for many home décor schemes. Fortunately, most luxury hotels pay special attention to guestroom lighting design.

Multiple lighting options is something many upscale hotel guestrooms have in common. Soft ambient lighting is generally used to create a relaxing mood. However, successful lighting designs also include some task lighting, such as reading lights above the bed or desk lamps. Mood lighting is also an integral part of many luxury hotel room designs. It’s common to see backlit headboards that accentuate the scale of the bed or downlit dropped ceilings, which appear to float above the room.   

Comfort is critical

No matter how lavish a suite looks, or how perfect the lighting scheme is, there is one deciding factor that makes for an amazing hotel room. Undoubtedly the most important piece of furniture to get right in any hotel room, or any bedroom for that matter, is the bed. And nothing says luxury like a comfortable mattress, high-thread-count linens, plush pillows, and deluxe duvets.

Quality mattresses are a top priority because they are literally the foundation for a good night’s sleep. Guests expect luxury hotel mattresses to offer not only comfort and support but also temperature management and motion isolation. When it comes to where guests lay their head, ritzy establishments often provide an entire pillow menu to suit every sleeping style. Last but not least, soft, smooth linens and plush bedding provide guests with all they need for the perfect slumber.

Recreate the comfort

Now that we know the makings of a luxury hotel experience, let’s get to work recreating the experience at home. Many of the design techniques luxury hotels employ can be applied to your bedroom, starting with the star of the show, the bed.

If you don’t already have a quality mattress, it’ time to get one. Upscale hotels do not skimp on mattress quality, and nor should you. Although quality mattresses can be pricey, they are most definitely worth investing in. Sleep quality directly affects health, mood, and productivity. Even if you can’t go out and get a new mattress today, start putting some money aside for one. It will be an investment not only in your bedroom but your quality of life.  

If you don’t already have a quality mattress, it’ time to get one. Upscale hotels do not skimp on mattress quality, and nor should you.

The same goes for pillows and bedding. You don’t have to have a whole menu’s worth of pillows on your bed, but give yourself options. Different firmness levels work for different sleep positions, so layer soft pillow above firmer ones. That way you’re covered no matter what position you sleep in.

And speaking of cover, the importance of quality bedding shouldn’t be underestimated. Though more expensive than budget linens, higher thread-count sheets and pillowcases maintain their softness and strength longer, saving you money down the line. Plus, they just feel so much more delightful! The same goes for duvets and duvet covers. These items are essential for a good night’s sleep, and the reason waking up in an upscale hotel bed feels so luxurious.

Recreate the (luxury) look

The wow factors that luxury hotel rooms boast have a lot to do with the architectural aspects of the space. It may not be realistic for you to start raising ceilings, replacing windows, and installing custom built-ins. But there are plenty of visually impressive elements you can add to your room to make it feel grand.

Extravagant headboards come in many forms and have the potential to create the wow factor you’re after. Prices vary depending on brand and style, but it’s safe to say glamorous hotel style headboards can get costly. But if you’re handy, even the most expensive looks can be achieved without eating up your luxury bedroom budget. From luxuriously upholstered bedheads that frame your bed, to oversized elements that reach up to the ceiling, anything is possible. Countless do-it-yourself options can be found online, covering every style imaginable.

Recreate the mood

Ambience is created by layering lighting, and mood is achieved through the positioning and type of illumination used. Installing visually intriguing fixtures is a great start. Still, the look of a light fitting must be complemented by its function. Include a mix of lighting options to suit every mood and activity your room will cater to.

Every room needs general lighting, best accomplished with ceiling fixtures and floor lamps. Choose bulbs that diffuse warmer colours, as white and blue light have been proven to increase alertness and negatively affect sleep. Soft accent lighting will highlight decorative features in the space, creating a tranquil ambience to relax and unwind in. Task lighting is essential when reading or putting on makeup, so make sure to include it as well. And whenever possible, make sure you can control all of those lights without leaving your bed. We all know a confusing number of light switches beside the bed is key to recreating the hotel room experience!

Recreate the (luxury) feel

Upscale hotel rooms rely a lot on texture to create an exciting and inviting design. Incorporating texture in a bedroom is as easy as including different accent pillows, throw covers, and rugs in the decor. More elaborate ways of adding texture to your bedroom include using tactile wallpaper or installing different types of wall panelling.

Including a few new accent pillows and textiles is a quick and affordable way to elevate your bedroom design.

Considering how many elements make up a luxurious hotel room, it’s easy to imagine different ways to recreate the experience at home. Once you upgrade your mattress and bedding, you’re only a few steps away from full-on luxury.

Including a few new accent pillows and textiles is a quick and affordable way to elevate your bedroom design. The addition of an interesting headboard or exciting new light fittings will also instantly upgrade the design. More significant changes to wall coverings or floor finishes will complete the look. And voila! You won’t have to wait to go on holiday to wake up fully rested in a relaxing, exciting, inspiring room. With a little effort and creativity, you can sleep in the lap of luxury every night.