Style your Home Like a Boutique Hotel

‘Boutique Hotel Style’ is a term referring to a certain way of decorating a home using tricks from stylish hotels. With hotels comes a sense of luxury, crisp and clean beds (hopefully) puffed cushions, tidiness, lots of comfort and definitely a touch of glamour. A hotel room can look everything from ‘bad taste party’ to ‘expensive but ugly’, but that’s not the look we are aiming for. As i’m overwhelmed by the idea (not the bad taste part) I have narrowed down the best tricks to consider for your home. We are not stealing ideas, we are just being massively inspired!

So, except from some of the criteria listed above, why would you like to have a hotel atmosphere in your home? And forget the impersonal, sterile part of a hotel room…

For some inspiration I looked at a hotel named The Thief, beautifully situated by the harbour and in the centre of Oslo. Two suites caught my eye – the ‘Broom Suite’ and the ‘Brite suite’

The ‘Broom Suite’ is designed by the talented British designer Lee Broom, together with Karina Holmen of ESKE Interior Design. The website states, “With the Broom Suite, we are bringing the most impressive interior design to Tjuvholmen in a celebration of British design, art and culture.”

The ‘Brite Suite’ is designed by Conran (founded by Sir Terence Conran) in close partnership with Karina Holmen in Eske Interior Design. The website also states, “The suite is a celebration of British design, art and culture, inspired by the swinging sixties; a time in which the retro glam of London’s Carnaby Street was all the rage. Anglophiles from all over the world will get a hotel experience like no other.”

Here’s the recipe:

White bedding! White is the number one choice when it comes to pureness and freshness. A basic set of sheets and covers in crisp white is a good start for a boutique styled bed. But of course, you pick your favourite colour, or give your existing bed sheets a serious round with the iron. A tip is to fold your fluffy duvet in two and place it at the lower 2/3rd of the bed, then fold your quilted cotton or linen (for summer) in thirds at the foot end covering a narrow part of the width of the bed.

Choose a colour palette consisting of no more than three colours. It’s smart to pick colours that are related but vary in richness, or just different shades of the same colour. As the jewel in the crown you can now add the accent colour. In hotels they often use a bold accent which introduces a fresh look. Throw in a splash of yellow, blue, red or another colour to your taste, accenting your basic colours.

Black and white photos are the most effective way to add a glamorous touch, in any room. A photo in a black frame is a winner in a delicate bathroom, as well as a kitchen or bedroom. When talking of bathroom, if the size of the bathroom allows you, add a chair and why not a rug, maybe a colourful kilim?

Keep less things in the room, and include oversized lamps, lampshades, cushions and furniture. A higher bed is a good trick for a more impressive look, and actually feels more royal. If that’s not possible, a very fluffy duvet and an airy bedspread will have an impact too. Your huge hotel sized cushions play an important role in your bed, accompanied by layers of comfortable smaller cushions.

Window shutters give the feeling of a Mediterranean hotel room, and they are a good alternative to curtains. A tray with soaps in the bathroom adds a touch of luxury, a chair adds a touch of comfort, and a handy coffee and refreshment station allow some minutes of peace.