Bring your hotel home with you: 4 looks to try

Looking for inspiration for your next home project? It might come from further afield than you might think, especially if you’ve been on an exciting trip this summer. Here’s how to get the look of four special places, near and far, now you’re back home. Just be warned… you might never want to check out of home again!

Did you escape to the country in style this holiday? Have you been inspired by the likes of Lympstone Manor, Devon (called ‘Britain’s most exciting new country house in decades’ by The Telegraph), Chewton Glen in the New Forest, or Cowley Manor in the Cotswolds? Recreating that sumptuous and luxurious feel now you’re back home is easier than you might think.

Adding a few velvet accents will instantly boost your bedroom’s chic status. Try a headboard or bedstead, a chair or even a few cushions for your bed.

Choose a sophisticated palette. Grey always works, especially when teamed with accents of blush, ochre or teal. Introduce varying shades of your accent colour, depending on how brave you’re feeling.

Pay attention to those special touches – think piles of super-soft Supima or Egyptian cotton towels, posh toiletries and delicate glasses ready on a tray to enjoy a pre-dinner drink.

Back from a city break that’s filled you with interiors inspiration? Whether you stayed in a chic apartment in New York, a room with a canal view in Amsterdam or an Airbnb in oh-so-stylish Copenhagen, there are plenty of ways you can make your holiday last a little longer.

Bold and primary colours are the trademark of many destination hotels. From bright crockery to feature walls, bold bed linen to colourful towels, recapture your holiday back at home by using a similar palette. 

Be bold with art. Boutique hotels love showcasing new artists and artwork. Why not embrace the trend for abstract pieces, and build up a gallery wall or go large and lean several oversized frames against a wall?

Look for clever furniture to max your space. In a city hotel, bedrooms tend to be on the compact side, with plenty of clever ideas for making the most of wall and floor areas. Try ladder shelving, such as the John Lewis & Partners Bali shelf ladder, which is great for storage in a small space.

Whether you stayed somewhere in the UK (Soho Farmhouse would be top of our list), or found a quaint chateau in a remote part of France, the idea of creating a calm, serene place where you can switch off from the hustle and bustle of everyday life is very appealing. And it’s a simple look to emulate now you’re back home.

Use lots of natural textures and dress your bed with linen, knitted throws and cushions. When it comes to furniture, choose oak to create the modern country vibe you fell for on holiday.

Keep to a simple, understated colour palette. Washed colours – blush, stone grey and blue – mixed with cream, mole and taupe, help a space feel calm and relaxing. Avoid using an accent colour; think of blends of one or two colours instead.

Find time to recreate those moments you loved on your stay – it could have been a glass of bubbly before dinner, tea and scones served on a gorgeous tray or linen napkins used at dinner.

Perhaps you went a little further afield on your holiday… and it’s left you with a serious case of holiday blues now you’re back. The interior of that tropical lodge has got you thinking – perhaps you could give your home a few artisanal touches to create a space with energy.

Think big when it comes to lighting. An oversized wicker or rattan pendant light will give your bedroom or living room a new focus. Hang it as low as you like, and enjoy the shadows it will cast on the ceiling and walls.

Bring in interesting textures. Throws, blankets and cushions with an artisanal feel are a quick and easy way of recreating a retreat look at home. Make sure you layer up, grouping cushions together and overlapping rugs and throws on your bed, adding depth to your scheme.

Swap your everyday crockery and table linen for something a little more exotic. Try a colour palette of teals, ochres and terracottas, with brass used as an accent.