Workshop Turn your humble master bedroom into a penthouse suite
Take a break from the bustle of a busy home and create a hotel-style retreat in your very own bedroom
Do you ever wish your bedroom could feel like a stylish, pristine hotel room where you can escape from it all? Now you can achieve the hotel vibe in your home by creating your very own luxury suite. Be warned: you may never want to leave your room again!
FLOORING
A luxe bedroom makeover starts at ground level. A thick-pile carpet with a good underlay will instantly change the look and feel of your room, giving it that super-silent, velvety quality. Walking on it will make you feel like you’ve stepped into your very own penthouse suite.
BED
The centrepiece of a bedroom is always the bed but, in a hotel bedroom, the bed should be taken to the next level on every front – size, snuggliness and luxury. Go for the biggest bed you can fit (ideally a king or super king) but even if a double is all you can manage, there’s a lot you can do to make it feel lavish.
A buttoned velvet headboard will create a luxe focal point in your bedroom and is the perfect backdrop for layered bedding and cushions. We’ve used a steel-grey style but you could take it up a notch with a more vivid velvet, if your heart desires.
FURNITURE
You will never see mismatched furniture in hotels – these spaces are always coordinated and furnishings feel solid and substantial. In this room we have two black oak cabinets which are the perfect height for reaching from a reclining position in bed. There is also a velvet bench seat at the foot of the bed which not only finishes off the look, but is also a great spot to remove shoes or sit down for a moment. To give the bench an extra dose of luxury we added a faux sheepskin.
While most bedrooms have a wardrobe, a simple coat rack is a great alternative and is very handy for organising the day’s outfit. A chest of drawers is a must-have for storing smaller clothing items such as underwear, socks, T-shirts and so on. Keep the top of the dressing table pared-back and simple with just a tray and jewellery box.
READING CHAIR
Sometimes it’s nice to take yourself away from it all and curl up in your room with a magazine and a cuppa. For this reason, a reading nook with a chair and side table can be a useful inclusion if you have the space. Remember to add a floor or table lamp for extra task lighting.
BEDLINEN
Nothing creates a hotelstyle sense of calm and luxury better than crisp white bedlinen. If you are unsure where to start with bedding, just remember to always go for 100 percent cotton (Egyptian cotton is best) and a thread count of at least 200.
A simple white bed skirt or valance is a must for dressing a luxe hotel bed. Once the bed skirt is in place and the sheets are on, it’s time to add a simple white duvet cover and play with pillows and cushions. Most hotels will even tuck the duvet in, but that’s up to you!
PILLOWS, CUSHIONS & A THROW
For a chic, tailored look, you can’t go past stacked cushions.
Start with euro pillows at the back against the headboard, then add two sets of standard pillows and finish off with some cushions. Keep pillow covers simple with minimal or no pattern.
If you like your pillows to meet in the middle, try extra-long lodge pillows to avoid leaving gaps in the middle or at the edges of the bed.
Finish your bed styling by draping a quilt or blanket over the foot of the bed. Ensure it is long enough to hang down either side without touching the floor.
ACCESSORIES
Keep accessories to a minimum in the room and always have matching bedside lamps. The classic lamps we’ve used are typical of the style you might see in a lot of hotel rooms and aren’t too big or too small. A small vase with a few blooms arranged in it is a nice touch but don’t go too big with flowers – keep it simple.
FRAGRANCE
A room spray, candle or reed diffuser are all good options to consider for your bedroom. Not only do they add a lovely scent to the room, they are also a great way to tie your theme together.