By industry experts.
We are all feeling the effects of lockdown cabin fever right now.
It's no wonder that many of us are currently feeling fatigued, anxious, restless (the list goes on), because no matter how much of a homebody we may be, it's against human nature to spend this long cooped up in the exact same place.
We know we're very lucky to have a roof over our heads right now, and that staying at home is the right thing to do, but it's also totally natural if we're sick of looking at the same four walls every day.
In lieu of being able to actually escape to a boujee hotel (brb having a quick cry), we asked some of the leading industry experts for their top tips on giving our homes the luxury hotel makeover (without bankrupting ourselves)...
Laure Favard, head housekeeper at Terre Blance in France, says...
- Invest in quality bedding made of natural materials with a mattress topper to ensure optimum comfort. At Terre Blanche we chose Coco Mat beds.
- Place a bottle of water and a glass on the bedside table.
- Organise a reading lamp so that you can devour your favourite books in bed and fall asleep peacefully.
- Have a home perfume (pillow mist) with essential oils to be sprayed in the evening before bedtime.
- Place several pillows of different sizes and shapes on the bed.
- Use white sheet trimmings and a range of decorative cushions and bed rails in soft colours.
- A thick rug on the floor will add comfort and cosiness.
- If the room is spacious enough, install an upholstered bench at the end of the bed with an armchair and matching footrest.
- Plan an automatic control at the headboard to control all the lights in the room
- Quality towels are 600gr/M2 minimum, preferably made of 100% organic cotton.
- Have a large mirror in the bathroom, as well as a magnifying mirror with light.
- Provide storage units in the bathroom to avoid cluttering up the washbasin.
- Dry your towels in the dryer with a drop of essential oil on a handkerchief.
- Always have a fresh bouquet of flowers in your living room.
- Prefer different, dimmable light sources to a single bright spot, especially in the living room and bedroom. This will create different atmospheres and to create a cozy atmosphere.
- Air the rooms frequently.
- Leave shoes at the entrance and use hotel slippers to be comfortable and extend the experience at home.
- Use the home fragrances of your favourite hotels so that the memory of the senses can take you there.
Kenia Machado, executive housekeeper at Principe di Savoia in Milan, says...
- Prepare the bed with pillows, cushions and a colourful runner to give an aesthetically pleasing and harmonious effect, all combined with the colours of your furniture.
- Try Origami making. This is also a good way to entertain our kids and little ones: making origami in different shapes (the easiest is the swan) with towels to be placed on the bed (you can do it also with napkins or paper).
- Prepare your children's bed using their preferred puppets accompanied by a beautiful book to read together at bedtime.
- Pay attention to the details. It’s in the little things that you make the difference.
Sally Pedder, spa director at The Dorchester in London, says...
- Get the hotel experience at home with a spa-worthy bath. Of all the fragrant essential oils I work with at the spa, my particular favourite is a comforting blend of rose, lavender and peppermint. This glorious combination smells amazing and helps to soothe any skin irritations, relieve tension and improve energy levels – it’s a really great all-rounder. Bath infusions are a great way to relax, and you always feel wonderful afterwards. Simply add to your bath water to release all those wonderful aromas.
Margherita Zambuco, housekeeper director at Hotel Eden in Rome, says...
- Place a little carpet at the foot of the bed to give elegance to the entire room.
- Always perfume your bedroom with a welcoming fragrance such as vanilla or rose, or inspired by Valentine's Day, why not a chocolate fragrance?
- Don't forget to spritz perfume on the bed linen, it's a very elegant touch!
- Place fresh flowers in small vases near the sink or on the bedside table.
- Pamper yourself with a hot bath by first scattering lots of rose petals.
- Sprinkle your bed with soft and cosy pillows to make your bedroom comfy and luxurious.
- Don't forget the music before going to sleep – a lounge playlist is perfect for inducing sleep while you're reading a book.
This originally appeared on GLAMOUR UK | Bianca London
