At this time of year, magazines are filled with images of beautiful boutique hotels offering quintessentially cosy stays across the UK. If you’re anything like us, you’ll find yourself swooning over the design inspiration they provide and wanting to transport yourself there in an instant!
With that in mind, as many of us gear up to host loved ones as the Christmas season draws closer, we thought we’d turn our attention to bedrooms this month. From custom headboards and lighting that adds the all-important wow factor to the often-overlooked finer details that elevate bedrooms from ordinary to anything but, here are our top tips for creating a boutique-hotel-inspired bedroom at home.
1. Make the Bed the Focal Point of the Room
Whether you have space for a single bed or a super king, our advice remains the same: make the bed the focal point of the room if you’re trying to create a boutique-hotel-worthy space. Why? Because you want to walk in and feel like you can instantly relax (and nothing kills the vibe like a cluttered office desk in the corner!). Draw attention to the bed by layering cushions and pillows, adjusting arrangements according to the bed size.
We tend to layer bedding using a combination of decorative cushions. Depending on what size bed you have, we love the larger 55x55cm scatter cushions and use longer bolster cushions to create interest. The trick is to mix interesting fabrics and textures to ensure that the bed steals the show in the very best way. Paired with the best quality bed linen that you can afford for extra comfort, getting an early night will become easy!

2. Create a Sense of Balance with Matching Bedside Tables & Lamps
Not only are matching bedside tables and lamps practical, the symmetrical arrangement helps to create the sense of balance and calm that makes boutique hotel bedrooms so inviting. It also helps with the point above! We love sourcing bedside tables with drawers to ensure that sides are clutter-free and always opt for warm bulbs to ensure that the lighting is soft and contributes to the relaxing ambiance we’re seeking.

3. Invest in a Custom Headboard for That Boutique-Hotel ‘Wow’ Factor
We’ve lost count of the number of times we’ve been asked where the beds that feature on our Instagram feed are from, and nine times out of ten, we’ve designed them in-house. In our opinion, it’s the easiest way to create the exact look we’re trying to achieve. It makes it extra special for our clients. And nothing says boutique-hotel worthy quite like a custom headboard! We’d recommend opting for plain fabric and introducing pattern and textures with bedding and cushions, as they’re easier to switch up as the seasons change. That being said, the whole point of designing a custom headboard is that you can create the exact look you’re seeking, so if you’re craving pattern, don’t let us stop you!

4. Use Elegant Storage to Display Bedroom Essentials
Keeping a bedroom clutter-free is essential if you’re looking to create a serene atmosphere. That being said, it’s important that you can find what you’re looking for! While there’s no need to replicate every item you’d find in a hotel room (we’re sure your guests will forgive you if there’s not a coffee machine waiting for them on a sideboard!), a fluffy robe is always welcome and fresh towels are a must. For that reason, adding a quality hook to the back of bedroom doors to hang items on and storing a hairdryer or freshly washed, rolled towels in wicker baskets so that guests can find them with ease, are surefire ways to combine practicality with style.

5. Invest in Good Quality Curtains
You can have the fanciest pillow spray in the world but if there’s a draught or light seeping in from outside, no amount of lavender is going to help you get a good night’s sleep! For that reason, it’s important that you don’t forget the basics. Investing in good quality, blackout-lined curtains will ensure that you have the best chance of drifting off. The same can be said for investing in a quality mattress, bed linen and sheets.

6. Create Ambience with a Combination of Warm Light Sources
In our opinion, there’s nothing worse than cold, harsh light in a bedroom! For that reason, one of the simplest ways to create ambience is through the use of multiple light sources and warm bulbs. Along with bedside lamps, we love combining wall lamps and spotlights (fitted with a dimmer switch) to create instant warmth and serenity. Want to make it that bit more special? If you’re designing your bedroom from scratch, ask the electrician to fit light switches next to the bed so that you can control the lights from the comfort of bed.

7. Pair Warm Neutrals with Dark Accents to Create a Cosy Sanctuary
We often speak about our love of warm neutrals, and the reason is simple: they’re timeless, relaxing, and are the perfect backdrop should you choose to introduce pattern and textures elsewhere. With that in mind, while we tend to use neutral shades and textured wallpapers on bedroom walls, we love introducing darker shades and warmer tones through everything from the fabrics we choose to the furniture and fittings that we source.

With these tips in mind, we’re confident that you can create a boutique-hotel-inspired bedroom at home.
We’re always keen to hear how you get on with your designs at home and/or if there’s anything you’re keen for us to cover in the coming months, so please do send us a message on Instagram.
For now, though, enjoy the rest of your week and we’ll be back next month with more interior design tips.
Emily and Danielle