Create A Stylish Boutique Hotel Inspired Bedroom With These 5 Top Tips

Relaxing, luxurious and indulgent, boutique hotel bedrooms have a touch of magic that makes staying away from home a joy. 

However, as we all know far too well, getting away from it all is not always possible, so the next time you redecorate, follow the tips below to give your bedroom the five-star treatment.  

Choosing lights for your boutique hotel inspired bedroom

It's always tempting to think about colour schemes and soft furnishings first but to truly enjoy the boutique hotel bedroom experience in your own home; you need to think of the practicalities such as lighting long before anything else.  

There are three different types of lighting, natural, ambient and accent or task lighting.  How much natural light your bedroom receives will depend upon many factors, including the size of your windows, the direction your room faces and the type of window dressings you choose.

During the summer, your room may be flooded with sunlight, and you may not need any additional lighting, but on those dark winter days, you're going to need some help and that's when ambient lighting comes into play. The final layer is task, or accent lighting, and this allows you to carry out a particular task in comfort, such as reading in bed, putting on your make-up or seeing inside your wardrobes.  The same type of light can also be classed as accent lighting when used to highlight a particular part of your room, such as the inside of an alcove, or to show off a piece of artwork.

Beautiful bedside table lamps add a sense of luxury and decoration to your scheme and are more flattering to the face than an overhead light but, if you're short on space or fancy something a little different, consider hanging pendants on either side of your bed or install wall lights. 

In other parts of your room, be bold and choose a statement ceiling pendant such as a shimmering chandelier, an abstract structural installation or something with a touch of vintage glamour.

Using different light sources also allows you to add ambience to your room. While on the topic of ambience, remember that harsh, bright lighting will ruin any romantic setting, no matter how gorgeous your light fittings, so add dimmer switches whenever you can.

Build structure and detail into your scheme to achieve the boutique hotel bedroom look

Whether your style is formal or relaxed, rooms need to be structured to keep them tidy.

Think about how you use your room and layout your furniture accordingly. Make sure you can comfortably open doors and drawers and walkways are free of obstruction.  Anything that gets in your way visually or physically creates a barrier to relaxation.  Take note of where your natural light falls and position furniture to make the most of your view.

Boutique hotel bedrooms are also free of clutter and excess, so have a good sort out before you start redecorating.  It will help you plan your storage and minimize the number of items you need to store during the project. 

Having enough storage is vital if you want to be able to keep your bedroom calm and organized.   When packing and sorting your belongings, consider your habits. Are you the sort of person who likes to hang everything up, or do you prefer to keep some items in drawers? There are so many storage options, both bespoke and off-the-shelve that it's easy to ensure everything has its own space. 

Once your redecoration is complete, have fun styling your room. Create balanced and attractive vignettes of items that mean something to you. 

Symmetry brings a sense of structure, elegance and style so consider adding a pair of lamps, bedside chests, paintings etc. Gallery walls and art shelves can also add some fabulous character to your room.  Stack books by colour or size and display objects of mixed textures and sizes in odd numbers.

Spend time creating points of interest to catch the eye and remember that it's the attention to detail that can take a room from lovely to stunning. 

Every boutique hotel inspired bedroom needs a touch of drama

Every great boutique hotel bedroom has a sense of drama or a 'wow' statement, and you can add that to your bedroom through your choice of colour, wallpaper, artwork, or furniture. 

The bed will the main feature of your room, so make it stand out. Choose a bed frame or headboard that has an impact. The wall behind your bed is also the perfect place to use feature wallpaper, add a mural or hang a large piece of artwork.  Be bold in your choices.

Alternatively, pick a subtle colour palette and use it everywhere. Let the walls, ceiling and floor blend seamlessly together to create the sense of restfulness that's so often key to a relaxed hotel stay. This type of design works just as well at home, but if you choose to go down this route, make sure you include something to draw the eye.

Nothing says 'boutique hotel' better than having a seating area in a bedroom. If you don't have the space for a cosy chair and side table, however, placing a blanket box or ottoman at the foot of your bed works just as well.

Alternatively, consider having an intentionally empty or 'void' space in your bedroom. Historically, unused square footage been seen as a luxury and being able to spread your furnishings out with space to 'breathe' gives your room an added suggestion of decadence.

When it comes to dressing your bed, however, more is definitely more. The much-imitated pile of artfully arranged cushions on your bed may feel something of a boutique hotel bedroom cliché these days, but there's no doubt they're still an effective style touch. So plump and stack your pillows before adding tonal, tactile layers of additional quilts, cushions and throws.

When choosing items to layer your bed with, consider the colour and texture of your materials. You want to create a visual feast of layered, tactile fabrics such as silk, velvet, knit, faux fur and embroideries.  Choose pieces that bring you comfort.  For a great night's sleep, I recommend buying the best mattress, linen bedding and pillows you can afford. The investment is definitely worth it. 

A toe-wiggling deep-pile carpet also adds an instant visual and physical sense of luxury, especially when you add a rug, or two, to the mix. 

Luxuriously thick, full-length curtains give a timeless formality, warmth and elegance to a scheme. Make it stand out.

If your budget allows, layer your window treatments too with blinds, curtains and pelmets. If the climate were more Mediterranean, I would suggest full gossima voiles or muslin sheers.

Delight all your senses and introduce scent into your boutique hotel inspired bedroom

Flickering candles, subtle diffusers, pillow sprays and oil burners filled with essential oils will all add to the ambience and sense of peace in your bedroom. But don't forget that flowers can also add a wonderful touch of scent to your room and an arrangement of fresh flowers in your bedroom somehow feels far more decadent than having them in your living room.

Natural plants can also look fabulous in a bedroom setting. Some, such as rosemary, lavender, jasmine, gardenia and english ivy are also well known for their sleep-inducing and oxygenating properties. Helping to lull you into a blissful sleep.

I love designing bedrooms offering comfort, indulgence and a little bit of drama, so if you would like a hand creating your dream boutique hotel inspired bedroom or want a second opinion, give me a call on 07773 372 158 or send me an email via nicky@nickypercival.co.uk

I look forward to hearing from you.

Nicky