Inspired by our festive campaign and its Hotel Rituals setting, here’s all the inspiration you need to bring that luxe lifestyle within your own four walls.
One of the best bits about staying in a boutique hotel is the aesthetic. The ‘just so’ placement of the hotel bedding, the warm and welcoming lighting that oozes ambiance and soft fluffy rugs that has pile so thick your feet sink into it. But it’s not impossible to recreate those luxe hotel vibes in your own home, you just need to get creative and look at your décor in a fresh new way. Here’s how…
1. Find a focal point
Just moving a few bits of furniture around can totally transform a room and interior designer Jo Nash, founder of Joanna Nash Design, suggests starting with a focus point. “The most important thing is layout, but you don’t have to knock down walls, simply having a rethink of where to put your furniture can make a room feel chic and sophisticated. Make the focus a sofa, or a fireplace – not the TV, and if your sofa is against the wall, bring it away to make space for interesting objects and lamps,” she says. “Once you’ve freed up space from the side of the sofa think about adding a chair, a small table or a plant in the corner.”
2. Add a rug
“A good scheme has layers and texture and the floor is the place to start,” continues Jo. “If you don’t own a rug there are some great value ones and don’t be scared to put one on top of your carpet either – they tie a scheme together and you can get something with a flatweave to sit on a carpet that won’t feel bulky.”
3. Mood lighting is a must
Lighting is the secret weapon of hotels – it sets the scene and can dictate the mood of a room with the flick of a switch – quite literally. “The easiest way to create mood lighting is with a lamp. Rechargeable ones are lovely but you can also repurpose your existing lamps with rechargeable light bulbs from Amazon,” advises Jo. “Look at your room from the door and see where the big gaps are in the air that are lacking light and then fill those spaces with a lamp – floor standing lamps are fabulous for this and work really well at the back corner of sofas.” Adding a lamp in front of a mirror is also a good idea as it reflects the light back into the room and will make the room feel bigger.
4. Cushions are everything
Whether it’s on the sofa or piled on the bed, hotels are overflowing with scatter cushions. It makes everything feel plush and appear expensive, all because of a little extra padding! Experiment with different shapes and sizes. Oblong ones like our Bolster Cushions are great on top of beds nestled against pillows while our Saigon Collection Round Cushions pair up well with large square cushions. Different textures such as velvet, woven, flocked or applique designs all add interest as do accents such as tassels or fringing. Whatever you choose, they’re one of the quickest and easiest hacks for giving your home a hotel feel.
5. Go for a throw
If you’re going for a cosy rustic look, throws will help you achieve it immediately. Again, adding texture and an element of interest to the room, layer them on top of your sofa or chairs, drape them over the arm of a chair or keep them folded and stacked up on each other. “A pile of them sitting nicely in a wicker or woven basket under console tables or by fireplaces gives a real country hotel feel,” says Jo.
6. Pick a statement piece
Hotels often have striking pieces of art dotted around, whether it’s mirrors, sculptures, paintings or lighting. “One bold piece is all you need but reconsider where you put it. Hotels often have their piece de resistance in the entrance hall or communal areas for wow factor so if you have a hallway, consider moving your favourite artefact there. It’s the first thing you’ll see when you come home so it needs to make you smile,” she continues.
7. Clear the clutter
Everything has its place in a hotel so take a look at what trinkets, ornaments, pictures, candles and knick-knacks you have on shelves and coffee tables and then declutter. Keep things out that bring you joy but box up anything that’s tatty or that doesn’t suit the room. Large books in neat piles on coffee tables always look classy, pop your jewellery in one place – our treasure boxes are a great size and looks beautiful when left open on a dressing table and if you have tissues on the side think about investing in a tissue box cover that hides the cardboard and fits your interior. Think about using clever storage tricks too such as wicker picnic baskets in different sizes or old vintage style trunks – not only will they create a focus point in the room, if you don’t need to continually access them, you can pop a house plant on top and transform them into a feature.
8. Design a blissful bathroom
Converting your bathroom into a spa-style environment will undoubtedly give your home the five star feels. Ornate hooks, fluffy towels, flannels and bathrobes and clear surfaces are a must. Then add finishing touches such as candles, fragrance sticks, colour coded bodycare products and consider decanting cotton buds and cotton wool into ceramic or glass jars to avoid mess and ensure everything has its place. A crisp clean bathroom is far more relaxing too.
9. Scent it right
Luxury hotels often have a recognisable scent with some even selling their signature aroma in a candle, diffuser or room spray option so think about what mood you want to create in your own home. You could opt for the same fragrance throughout but mix up how you fill the rooms with scent – the bedroom might suit our Sleep Aroma Diffuser while a candle will create atmosphere in the lounge and our reed diffusers sit pretty in bathrooms and hallways. Or you could try your hand at scent scaping and match the scent to the mood you want to create in each room. Citrus scents are great in the kitchen and home offices as they’re uplifting and light, florals will freshen up the bedroom while woody musks can make a lounge and dining room feel cosy and warm. The options are endless but get the scent right and it will instantly elevate your interior.
