7 (Attainable) Decor Ideas to Steal from Chic Hotels

Hotels rely on first impressions. And while in theory you don’t have to worry about that (your friends probably won’t turn around and leave), it never hurts to make your entrance as memorable as possible. Even if you don’t have 30-foot-high ceilings like Richmond, Virginia’s Quirk Hotel, a dramatic light fixture or piece of art makes a statement right away.

Think of your living room as a microcosm of a hotel lobby, replete with different areas for different activities: working on your laptop, curling up with a book or having tea with a friend. The primary furniture should face inward to encourage conversation (as at The Hoxton Amsterdam) while an outward-facing reading chair is perfect for solo time.

Love a minimalist palette but don’t want it to be boring? The lobby at Miami's 1 Hotel South Beach adds depth to a mostly white color scheme by incorporating fuzzy rugs and worn wood alongside crisp, sleek furniture.

A full-on canopy bed can feel fussy. But a single white veil feels fresh and luxurious, as evidenced by The Ivy Baltimore. It can also help break up an oddly shaped space or create privacy if your bedroom also happens to be your spouse’s home office.

At Foxfire Mountain House in the Catskills, there are colorful Moroccan tiles everywhere. They’re a great way to draw attention to areas our eyes would otherwise skip over, like the stairs. (And bonus—they’re way easier to clean than a rug.)

OK, maybe don’t attempt this one if you’re a serial plant-killer, but oversize greenery—like this money tree at San Francisco’s Tilden Hotel—helps make an otherwise minimal space feel inviting. In fact, flora of any kind instantly relaxes us, reinforcing the whole “escape” thing hotels do so well.

Dinner in our non-vacation life might be an informal rushed affair, but it doesn’t have to be. Investing in extra-comfy upholstered chairs, à la Le Roch Hotel in Paris, makes suppertime feel like a luxury, even if the meal itself is microwaved leftovers.