As we continue to spend more time at home because of the pandemic, we increasingly miss the places we can’t currently go to. Now, we are looking to emulate the atmosphere of the places we miss and bring that energy into our homes: restaurants and bars, hotels, spas and salons, movie theaters, concerts, and nightclubs. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be giving you tips on how to bring the vibes of these places into your home—an immediate staycation.
One of my favorite things about staying at a hotel is being able to temporarily experience a different setting, a different home-base, different decor. Hotels lean into luxury and trend; they give me inspiration to cultivate more luxurious retreats outside of hotel suites. Today, we’ll dive into how to ensure your bedroom functions as the hotel-like sanctuary you need at the end of a long day.
ENGAGE THE SENSES
Details from Bedroom in Bergen County, New Jersey. Photography by Mariah Texidor.
Close your eyes and picture yourself in a safe, peaceful place—real or imaginary. What do you see? Is there a lot of natural light? What colors do you notice? What do you smell? Is it fresh, comforting, nostalgic? What do you feel? Supported, calm, happy?
Your bedroom should make you feel like the safe place in your mind did. If there is a large discrepancy in the way your current room makes you feel in contrast to the space you imagined, then your space needs a refresh in order to support you.
To cultivate a space that truly feels like a retreat, a good place to start is by engaging the senses. Mindfully focusing individually on each sense is a great way to get present and ground yourself within the space.
Scent is one of the most powerful tools to create ambiance in a room. Candles and essential oils help make a space feel like a safe haven. Smells have the power to evoke memories (both good and bad), transporting us to other places and times. Stay mindful of personal triggers and choose fragrances that smell and feel good to you.
If you’re cautious about having lit candles in your bedroom, an essential oil diffuser is a great alternative. Many diffusers only require a few drops of essential oil diluted in water, and some even have light functions that add additional coziness and warmth.
BRING THE OUTSIDE IN
Incorporating natural elements in your sanctuary grounds you in your space. There are many ways to bring the outside in—it doesn’t have to feel overly rustic either. Blending natural, warm woods (like walnut) with tactile textures and fabrics (like nubby bouclé and soft wools) creates a cozy, cocoon-like retreat. Other materials such as wicker and caning evoke a similar natural, vintage vibe that remains airy and light.
For even more texture and dimension in my room, I incorporate decorative curtains in addition to blinds. The blinds serve functionally: for privacy, to shut out light while sleeping. However, curtains serve decoratively, softening the appearance of the window. Sheer, woven curtains made from linen or wool allow for the sunlight to filter through, emphasizing their tactile texture and translucency—absolutely no sacrificing of sunlight here! These delicate curtains add a layer of visual interest without appearing bulky or outdated.
According to Feng Shui, a bedroom should be more yin than yang. Yin is the more feminine energy: soft, natural, gentle, comforting, and nurturing. In the place that you decompress and rest, it’s important to bring in an energy that supports restoration. Mix in traditionally shaped furniture and decor with circular or soft angles to promote a gentle, relaxing vibe. Don’t be afraid to feature multiple wood colors or blend traditional styles with modern styles; eclectic styles are on the rise. Layering these different elements gives a room complexity and dimension while evoking tranquility and balance.
CREATE HARMONY
AMA Designs & Interior’s bedroom design from the AMA x HomeGoods collaboration. Photography by Matt Harrington, courtesy of HomeGoods.
Choosing the right color palette for your bedroom is essential to creating that luxurious, hotel-like vibe. While choosing the perfect palette depends on the size of your space, bringing in lots of white and light colors give the room a crisp, airy feeling. When I wake up, I want to feel refreshed and energized by the morning sunlight pouring into my room; the right color choices accentuate natural light.
Off-whites, rich and earthy taupes, and serene blues are natural and relaxing. However, a serene color palette does not mean a lack of color! Focus on intentional pops of color. All colors hold meaning and evoke different emotions depending on the person. What feelings do you associate with each color? What emotions do you want to bring into your bedroom?
This year, the Pantone Color Institute declared “Illuminating Yellow” and “Ultimate Gray” the colors of 2021. Notice the balance between the optimistic, bright yellow and the grounding, stable gray. Gray offers a neutral backdrop for pops of yellow to shine—the colors work together in harmony.
Another way to create balance in your bedroom is by decorating with plants and flowers that support your intentions and goals. By making all of the elements of your design intentional, the room’s energy becomes purposeful, and you begin to see the space serve you in the way it always should have.
Spaces that feature greenery and flowers effortlessly add color, naturally boost your mood, and even help improve the air quality inside of your home.
Similarly to how colors hold different meanings, plants and flowers hold different meanings. In my bedroom, I have an orchid on the bedside table. In Feng Shui, orchids represent beauty, perfection, fertility, and grace. When incorporating plants and flowers, choose a variety that supports your intentions:
peonies for love and marriage, sensuality, freedom
cherry blossoms for hope, happiness, love and marriage, vitality, health
lotus flowers for spirituality, faith, perfection, discipline, strength
chrysanthemums for happiness, vitality, luck
roses for love and marriage, comfort, stability, hope
lilacs for patience, hope, happiness
Detail of the bedroom design from the AMA x HomeGoods collaboration.
MAKE IT LUXURIOUS
What’s a hotel without that enchanting feeling of luxury—the plush mattress, the copious amount of pillows, the silky bedding! Even staying at a nice hotel in your hometown feels like you’re staying at a hotel on the other side of the world, simply because it feels so indulgent and elevated.
The first step to elevating your bedroom is elevating your mattress. In late 2018, I was sleeping—well, trying to sleep, mainly tossing and turning—on a regular spring-core mattress with a box spring. After much research, I found Live & Sleep, an eco-friendly mattress. (I wrote about my experience with switching to an eco-friendly mattress; click to read!) In 2021, I’m still loving my Live & Sleep Luxury mattress. I sleep easy knowing that my mattress is not contributing to ozone depletion and that I’m not breathing in toxic chemicals that standard mattresses use during production.
Pair your luxurious mattress with high-quality sheets and bedding. The higher the thread-count, the tighter the weave of the fabric itself, making the sheet much softer. The optimum thread count ranges between 400 and 600. Don’t forget to consider fabric! Cotton reigns supreme; it’s comfortable and easy to take care of.
Detail of the bedroom design from the AMA x HomeGoods collaboration.
Personally, I’m a comforter girl, but duvets are a fantastic, versatile option for people who like to switch up the look of their bedroom frequently. With a simple swap of a duvet cover, the entire room looks new. Duvet covers also lend themselves to easy washing, suitable for those who have allergy issues. If you do go for a duvet, please note that it does require a certain level of patience to change the duvet cover every time you wash or switch it. If you opt for a comforter, make sure it’s as plush and fluffy as possible. Whichever you choose, always have a throw blanket on the bed. Weighted blankets are a great option for those who struggle with anxiety or insomnia.
Dress up your bed with pillows—lots of pillows! For a queen-sized bed, there should be at least five decorative pillows. In front of your sleeping pillows, layer two decorative shams with two square accent pillows and a kidney pillow in front.
The feeling of luxury doesn’t always require a price-tag that induces sticker-shock. Sometimes it’s as simple as adding a fluffy area rug to your floor so when you step out of bed, your feet are cozy and happy.
We spend about one-third of life sleeping, and 99% of the time, we’re not sleeping at a luxury hotel but in our own homes. Why limit extravagance to the times that we stay at a hotel? Why should we deprive ourselves of feeling comfortable in a space that we spend a huge chunk of our life in?
As our home continues to act as the place we rest, eat, work, and even teach (shoutout to all of the parents guiding their kids through online schooling), making sure your bedroom serves as the indulgent, luxury retreat you need is crucial. With our full-service interior design services, we revitalize your bedroom—ensuring that every night you can look forward to escaping to your in-house getaway! We manage your project from the initial design concept all the way through to completion. All you have to do is sit back and relax while we transform your space!
ADD YOUR PERSONAL TOUCH
Detail of the bedroom design from the AMA x HomeGoods collaboration.
Your space should reflect you—you’re the one living there! You should be able to see yourself in and personally connect to your living space.
Even though it’s small, the bedside table is a personal—and easily customizable—aspect of the bedroom. Adding a chic marble or tile coaster makes it feel like you belong in your bed drinking chamomile tea at the end of a long day. Featuring an alluring book prompts you to pick it up instead of scrolling through social media before bed. Your bedside table can be the home to a crystal that supports your spiritual or meditative practice (while looking very good doing so). These small additions create large spaces in your mind for the fruition of your intentions.
Bringing your style into the space can happen through the art and decor you feature in your room. Personally, I love to include abstract landscapes in my bedroom; I find their subtle, earthy energy relaxing. However, if you have prints of artwork that you love (or even wallpaper that you love—it’s making a comeback), hang it up!
Make it yours by making a point to feature what makes you happy. Even though I’m a Feng Shui specialist, and generally it’s recommend to not have mirrors in the bedroom, I have a circular mirror in my bedroom because when I wake up in the morning, I love the way that it reflects and bounces sunlight around my room. It makes me happy. Trust your instincts—if it brings you joy, make sure you see it in your space. Framed photographs of your loved ones, a trinket that reminds you of where you’re from, a postcard from your favorite vacation—put it in your bedroom! Bring your joy into your space.
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