Luxury hotels have that wonderful effect of making you think, “If only my place could be this nice!” The gorgeous lighting makes everything look bathed in gold, the sophisticated decor is easy on the eyes, and the artfully layered textures make boutique hotels feel ultra-relaxing and incredibly luxe. You can learn how to make your home feels like a hotel with a few easy upgrades and a little planning.

Table of Contents

Decide what to (and not to) spend money on

Bougie on a budget

Layering on the luxury

 

Decide what to (and not to) spend money on

Most of us have a budget, or lack thereof, for home decor. This makes it particularly important to identify which rooms in your home you spend the most time in and prioritize your decorating efforts accordingly when planning how to make your home feel like a fancy hotel. If you’re an avid home chef, put your budget into your kitchen and upgrade your cookware, utensils, and lighting. This is a great way to treat yourself and make your kitchen feel like a five-star restaurant. 

Some items are fantastic for creating a luxury feel on a budget. Beautiful kitchen canisters, for example, are available online for much less than in retail stores. Items like your mattress, however, are important places to invest in good quality purchases.

 

Bougie on a budget

Gone are the days when only the wealthy could have Instagram-perfect homes. These days, creating an aesthetic and functional home environment is easier than ever, thanks to online marketplaces that offer upscale home decor touches at budget-friendly prices.

Adding touches like under-cabinet lighting used to be an upgrade that only cabinet installers could do for you — for a fee. Now, low-profile strip lights that you can install yourself are readily available on Amazon for under $20. Finding simple places like this where you can save money will let you create that perfect, bougie-feeling home while staying on budget.

Establish a scent

The scent is one of the most powerful ways to create an impression — that’s why luxury hotels opt for a signature fragrance in their lobby and rooms. If you’re wondering how to make your home smell like a hotel, all you need to do is identify what scent you love and use it throughout your home. Many hotels will tell you which scents they use if you search their website or call the lobby and ask. 

Bring in plants and fresh flowers

There’s no question that fresh flowers bring a lovely, upscale vibe to any room. Not only do they smell wonderful and bring an element of the outdoors inside, but they create a feeling of order, care, and polish that’s common in luxury hotels. 

Keep it organized

You can transform a room almost instantly by adding an esthetic storage solution and getting all the visible clutter put away. Behind the doors to your closet or armoire, it might look like the Wild West — but keeping clutter hidden will instantly make a room feel calmer and more relaxing. 

Use gold spray paint

Gold elements placed around your home give off a feeling of opulence and luxury. Don’t worry, though — we’re not recommending that you buy expensive gold furniture or decor pieces. 

Round up mismatched items like old vases, knickknacks, and furniture, then hit them with gold spray paint. Wait for them to dry, and you’ll be amazed at how much more pulled-together your space looks. 

Get a statement piece

Statement pieces draw attention and give your eye a lovely place to land in a room. These pieces can make an otherwise bland space look amazing. Statement pieces, like couches, desks, and bedframes, tend to be expensive but try to fit one or two pieces a year into your budget, so you don’t overstretch your finances.  Keep this in mind when brainstorming how to make your home feel like a hotel.

Add some mirrors

One of the best ways to upgrade the look and feel of your space is to add mirrors. Placing them in prime areas will bring more natural light into your space and make your rooms look larger. The best part is that you can pick up inexpensive mirrors at your local dollar store or go thrifting and see what you can find secondhand.

Buy fuzzy accents

Adding texture to a room by incorporating fuzzy or plush materials is a terrific way to bring that luxury hotel vibe to your home — and you can absolutely get in on this trend while staying on a budget. Bouclé fabric is having a big moment in interior design, but purchasing this style of plush upholstered furniture can be expensive. Try your hand at a DIY upholstery project, or add textured touches with throw pillows, blankets, and an ottoman.

Bedazzle things you already own

If you’re going for a classic glam style, you can’t beat rhinestones for adding a touch of sparkle to your home. Grab your hot glue gun and a pack of rhinestones from the craft store, then add luxe glitter to your table lamps, desk organizer, bulletin board, or anything you think could use some extra glam.

 

Layering on the luxury

If you have funds set aside for decorating your home, here are a few places where investing can pay off in a big way.

Invest in your bed

Curious about how you can make your bedroom feel like a luxury hotel? From your mattress to your duvet cover, investing in good bedding will upgrade your bedroom decor. There’s nothing quite like ending a long day by sinking into a comfortable, soft, and luxurious bed. Good quality cotton or bamboo sheets and bedding are available at all price points — never mind 5 stars, upgrading your bedding will make you feel like you have a 7-star hotel bedroom design!

Opt for warm lighting

Lighting can immediately change the look and feel of a room. Think about the nicest hotels you’ve stayed in — chances are, they use soft, warm light to make their space feel opulent and upscale, and you can, too. This easy change can transform your home by simply swapping out lightbulbs instead of replacing light fixtures.

Create a nice bar space

Depending on your space, creating an upscale bar area might mean new chairs, shelving, and barware. If you’re working with a smaller area, consider moving your crowded liquor cabinet onto a ritzy bar cart with nice glassware and fresh flowers.

Give your bathroom spa vibes

Upgrading your bathroom can be done in a few different ways depending on what type of budget you have. If you’ve got a renovation fund set aside, redoing your shower or installing a new bathtub will instantly make your space feel more luxurious. If not, don’t underestimate the power of Turkish bath towels, a plush robe, and beautiful bathroom products. If you’re wondering how to make your house smell like a hotel, candles in the bathroom are a great place to start.

Use art as a visual tool

Many of us are guilty of simply putting art up to fill a blank space but not thinking about how we can use art to direct the eye through our homes. Correctly scaled art can significantly affect how balanced a room feels, drawing attention to a particular area or hiding an awkward room transition. You can also paint your rooms to refresh the space without spending a ton of money. 

Incorporate conveniences

Luxury hotels are renowned for their attention to detail. Simple things like a nice charging station instead of cords hanging everywhere or a water decanter and glass on your nightstand can make a huge impact. Incorporating AI into your home via smart devices is an excellent way to add luxurious conveniences to your everyday life. 

Room service breakfast buffet

If you love ordering room service when you stay in hotels, set yourself up with an at-home breakfast buffet. Prepare a breakfast basket full of pastries and fruit to enjoy with fresh coffee, ideally while wearing that plush robe and relaxing with a crossword puzzle on a Sunday morning.

Gorgeous glassware

Instantly upgrade your evening happy hour with elevated glassware. Even if you’re drinking the same wine you normally do, you’ll feel way more bougie when sipping it out of a beautiful wine glass. 

Focus on choosing bespoke pieces that add something unique

Bespoke pieces are what really elevate luxury hotel design. The design elements aren’t all mass-produced, and there are custom pieces that bring character and uniqueness to the space. Once your overall style is narrowed down, think about what statement piece you could add to give your home the same feel.

Color coordinate

Color coordination in rooms doesn’t mean everything has to match — instead, all of the colors in a room should complement each other. When thinking of how to make your bedroom feel like a fancy hotel, for example, think of all the layers of bedding hotels use. Sheets, duvet covers, pillow shams, throw pillows, and blankets can all be coordinated without matching. 

Whatever your personal style is, there are ways to bring it into your home decor on any budget. Feeling calm, relaxed, and content at home is much easier when your space is welcoming, so get decorating so you can enjoy your new bougie on a budget home.