Would you stay at your own hotel?
Here’s how you can create a 5-star hotel experience at home.
Walk into a luxurious 5-star hotel like the Hôtel Ritz Paris, and it’s like you’re instantly transported to the best version of yourself and the dreams you have for your life.
Standing in the marble-tiled lobby in your black Dior slingback pumps, you exhale as you take it all in. The gorgeous ambiance. The thoughtful, meticulous service. You feel like a whole new person, and there’s this subtle warmth and excitement brewing inside you.
There’s a legit scientific reason you feel this way. According to research by Paul Nussbaum, clinical neurologist, and professor of neurological surgery at the University of Pittsburgh, when traveling and immersing ourselves in new environments, our brains fire new neurons so that our senses are heightened and we experience even the most basic rituals like taking a shower or having a cup of coffee with more excitement than we would at home.
I imagine that this looks like fireworks going off in our brains.
There is a code to luxury.
The world’s best hotels have a code for luxury dialed in so that the moment you book your stay, before you even show up, they curate every detail to create an experience you’ll never forget, and they also share with you their standard of what luxury means.
What if you could create a code like this for your home? What if you could create a lux environment and lifestyle that isn’t just reserved for the occasional indulgence?
Bringing luxury - whatever that looks like for you - into your home is one of the keys to a swoon-worthy life.
My number one secret:
Learning how to reverse engineer the experiences that make you swoon is one of the best ways to create and curate your luxury code.
Create your luxury-inspired living at home.
Going to hotels is one of my favorite things to do for inspiration and self-care, and so I’d love to share a few upgrades and rituals I do to bring a luxury hotel vibe into my home:
NO. 1 Introduce a subtle, consistent fragrance.
There’s a powerful connection between scent and memory, and everyone’s home has a scent (whether they realize it or not) so let’s be intentional about it. Pick a fragrance that is categorically you, that you want people to associate with you, and use diffusers or room sprays to permeate your home with your signature scent.
As you decide on your picks, think about your favorite smells. What scent brings happy memories flooding back to you or helps you remember a favorite time of year, city or vacation? What mood and vibe do you want to recreate?
These are the scents you need at home.
NO. 2 Refresh your bathroom:
One of the simplest ways to bring a 5-star vibe into your day-to-day life is to replace your towels with the plush white ones hotels use. Store them rolled up - in baskets or on shelves - for an even more luxurious look.
To go further with the hotel ambiance, you can add curated shower essentials + personal hygiene items to your shower or bath and possibly some candles, too.
Think about bubble baths from your fave movie that spark a feeling of thrill (mine is pretty woman) or a specific brand of soap that makes you feel extra pampered and try to replicate that feeling in your bathroom now.
NO. 3 Don a robe + slippers:
There’s something about wrapping yourself in a soft fluffy robe and stepping into cushy slippers that instantly makes you feel like you’re at the hotel spa. It slows down your lounging and getting-ready ritual and makes you more intentional and present about spending some extra time to take care of yourself.
NO. 4 Put a mini-bar or coffee/tea service in your bedroom:
Think of this as leveling up your snack game and creating an intentional space to enjoy a hot cup of tea or a glass of wine at the end of the week.
NO. 5 Create serenity for sleeping with all-white bedding:
You’ll notice most luxury hotels don't have brightly patterned sheets and comforters. If you want to create the same vibe, you shouldn’t either, no matter how much you might love ditsy florals or animal prints.
I also think about how well I sleep in hotel beds with their high-thread-count white cotton sheets (or linen in the hotter months) that create a soft and serene environment and elevate sleeping to an art.
NO. 6 Create your own room service:
You just can't deny the magic that is having food delivered to your door. And even though at home you might not have the delivery, you can stock your pantry with the best snacks and treats (and don't forget the tray).
NO. 7 Be known for something:
Maybe you’re stylish and quietly elegant like the Cara Hotel in Los Angeles. Or maybe you’re extravagant and romantic like the Hôtel Ritz Paris. Whatever your vibe, your home can embody it.
Ask yourself these three things and focus your attention here, like a seasoned hotelier would, to create an unforgettable experience for your guests - and yourself:
What do you want people to remember when they visit you?
What’s your favorite thing to do at home?
What’s your favorite room?
The Lyst: my hotel-home inspired picks
1. White sheets2. Bodum French press3. Splurge! Parachute Waffle robe5. Waffle spa slippers6. Breakfast tray7. Tuberose candle8. Waffle towelsThe way you design and run your home is going to determine how you feel in it.
Think about standing in the lobby of a 5-star hotel. Now think about your home-does it feel like a place you want to check into for an extended stay, or a place you can’t wait to escape?
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xx
