The tricks five-star hotels use to look more polished – and how to recreate them at home

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If you’ve ever set foot inside a good hotel room and felt instantly calmer, you’re not alone. 

In fact, the interior designers of the world’s finest five-star hotels have been utilising clever decorating tricks for decades, which help to make your hotel experience feel better and even more luxurious.

From ‘ambient lighting’ to ‘clever zoning’, the tricks are all about making your room seem bigger and grander – and many of them can be adopted at home too.  

Interior designers behind the world's finest five-star hotels have been utilising clever decorating tricks for decades, which help to make your hotel experience feel better (pictured)

Interior designers behind the world's finest five-star hotels have been utilising clever decorating tricks for decades, which help to make your hotel experience feel better (pictured)

Interior designers behind the world’s finest five-star hotels have been utilising clever decorating tricks for decades, which help to make your hotel experience feel better (pictured)

CLEVER ZONING

If your hotel room feels much more luxurious than your own bedroom, it could be because unlike at home, everything has its place.

‘You’ll usually be treated to a seating area with plush armchairs to take in a window vista and watch the world go by,’ Rory from Bed Threads said. 

Not only this, but it’s also likely there will be a desk somewhere convenient, while everything else you don’t need is tucked away.

The experts said the key to replicating ‘clever zoning’ at home is to think about your furniture placement and even sketch your ideas out on a floor plan.

‘Consider how much space you actually have and plan your zones accordingly,’ Rory said.

'Clever zoning is one of the tricks that is often adopted, meaning every thing has its own space in a different area (stock image)

'Clever zoning is one of the tricks that is often adopted, meaning every thing has its own space in a different area (stock image)

‘Clever zoning is one of the tricks that is often adopted, meaning every thing has its own space in a different area (stock image)

COMFORT IS KING

Everything in a hotel room has been designed for your comfort, and it’s worth thinking about this if you want your home to have a similar vibe.

Bed Threads experts recommend visiting a showroom and figuring out what fabrics make you feel good and whether you prefer a soft or firm sofa.

While you might not think it, they said it’s the little things that make a big difference. 

Ambient lighting means table lamps and lamp shades are used to create a feeling of calm and warmth (stock image)

Ambient lighting means table lamps and lamp shades are used to create a feeling of calm and warmth (stock image)

Ambient lighting means table lamps and lamp shades are used to create a feeling of calm and warmth (stock image)

AMBIENT LIGHTING 

You’ll never find ceiling lights as the only source of lighting in a five-star hotel.

Instead, ambient lighting means table lamps and lamp shades are used to create a feeling of calm and warmth.

Do the same at home by incorporating ‘various light sources’ into your bedroom for extra atmosphere.

Use the ceiling lights as little as possible to recreate the hotel feeling at home.

THE PERFECT BED 

If your own bed is a fraction of what you experience in a hotel, it’s time to tackle that and invest in where you’re going to be spending the majority of your nights.

Rory revealed it’s worth thinking about what mattress, sheets and bed linen you have on your bed – and spending a little more in order to get good quality. 

What makes your home look cheap? 

1. Cheap lighting: Think of lighting as the jewellery of your interior space. Even a simple plug-in can add sophisticated elegance and comfort to a room.

2. The wrong size rug: Placing a rug that’s too small for an area will not only upset the proportions of a room, but will give the impression that you couldn’t afford the larger correct sized rug.

3. Dated bathroom accessories: There is nothing worse than seeing an old toilet seat, moldy shower curtain or old towels hanging in the bathroom. Bathrooms are high use areas so go for accessories made of quality materials, are easy to clean and withstand heat, humidity and lots of water.

4. On-trend furniture: Stop following fads that go out as quick as they come in. Your home should be all about your personal style and buying the things you really love, not just because the latest interior mags tell you to buy it.

Source: Bowerbird

What are some ways to make your home look more expensive? 

* Pain the walls in light colours to enhance a sense of space.

* Think about your carpets and drapes.

* Add curtains to create an illusion of depth.

* Pick horizontal shiny tiles in the bathroom which make it look bigger.

* Lighting is key – think about it.

* Put most of your focus on the kitchen and bathroom – these are the areas that are most valued.

Source: Cherie Barber

SMALL UPGRADES

Small upgrades are part and parcel of a hotel stay, and it’s easy to get them at home too.

‘Create a polished aesthetic at home with crisp white towels, matching hand soaps and fresh flowers that won’t cost you the earth,’ Rory said.  

CUSTOM FABRICS

According to the experts, every piece of furniture you come across in a hotel is likely to have been custom made to some degree.

Whether it’s a cushion cover or a rug, individuality is a major priority for designers – but you can do this at home too.  

‘Get to know your local upholsterer and request to borrow a few fabric catalogues to get you inspired,’ Rory said.